Running Records

WHEN?
Running records (RR) should be done on a regular basis with your students (on level = 1x per month; below = bi-weekly).

WHY?
The purpose is to record the process and behaviors the student exhibits while reading to inform our instruction on both fluency (accuracy, rate, expression) AND comprehension. We want to see what the students are doing and understanding independently with the texts they are choosing.

If you have a very fluent reader, who is accurate and expressive, you will want to focus on the comprehension discussion after the sample of the student's reading.

WHAT TO USE?
You can pre-count words in a common text for a student to read during small group instruction. If you are conferring with a student, make sure you know the level of the student's own book, and listen to them read. Depending on the type of book the student is reading, usually a page and a half to a page is usually 100 words.


HOW?

Shared Reading Vs Interactive Read Aloud

Someone emailed me asking on clarification on the difference between these two types of whole group reading. 

I know watching these videos and reading the websites takes time away from planning; however, the better your understanding is of these structures, you will be able to plan better and quicker for using them.

Notice I got very excited about one video in particular. I hope you take the time to look at some of these resources. 
Remember, these are good examples of how you CAN do these types of whole group reading instruction; they are not the perfect way that you must do it.

I get emailed when you leave comments, so feel free to comment any questions or reflections.




Shared Reading

This website illustrates an example of shared reading in a primary classroom.
It also includes:
- why its important
- benefits
- two strategies

Shared Reading Video pt.1
- This lady talks to us more than she models. She does which back and forth a little between talking to us and modeling.

Description of Shared Reading Video
- teacher models what she would do with a class, and talks to us directly
- this video may be more helpful


Interactive Read Aloud

Description of Interactive Read Aloud and suggested interactive read a loud books from the Reading and Writing Project website.

***Love this Interactive Read Aloud Video***

- My favorite reading expert is Debbie Miller. I am 90% positive this teacher is also a fan of Miller's by her anchor chart and how she talks to her class.

- While this teacher uses a picture book, I do a similar interactive read aloud with 4th graders using a picture book and focusing on the Great 8 strategies as well.

- *After searching for 45 minutes, this is my favorite video! I am so excited for all of you to watch it!**

- NOTICE how she tells the students what  she will be thinking about while reading, and how the students will have a turn to try

- NOTICE how when she is thinking out loud she puts the book down/closes it most of time, so students know she is thinking aloud and not still reading

- NOTICE how she has the students turn and talk about the teacher's thinking... later they talk about their own

- NOTICE how the main focus is on word solving strategies, but they are using other strategies previously practiced as well (inferring, re-reading).

- I rarely make a chart, most of the time I have the students "turn and talk" or "stop and jot" down their thinking in their reading notebooks, after I have modeled my own.

This video says Primary Shared Reading but to me it seems more like an Interactive Read Aloud since the kids aren't doing any reading. Furthermore, the teacher is sharing a LOT of her thinking and the students are responding with what they think or if they agree.
- 30 minutes... has 3 lessons from 3 days in one video. I only  watched the first 10 minutes straight, then fast forwarded and stopped at a couple parts for the rest

Video: Close reading and accountable talk in an Interactive read aloud
- Caulkins endorsed ;)
- this is special kind of interactive read aloud... not your typical one, but a neat example.
- specifically incorporates common core standards

UPDATE 9/15/13

FnP videos modeling Shared Reading and Interactive Read Alouds - Click here (must be signed into Google Docs)