What is a running record primarily used for in an educational context?

A running record is primarily utilized in the educational context as a tool to provide an informal reading assessment that focuses specifically on a student’s fluency. When administering a running record, an educator observes and records a student's reading behavior as they read aloud from a text. This includes noting mistakes, self-corrections, and the overall pace of reading.

The purpose of this assessment is to determine the student's reading abilities, including their level of comprehension, accuracy, and fluency. It helps educators identify which strategies a student is using to decode words and understand text, guiding further instruction. By analyzing the data collected, teachers can make informed decisions about the appropriate next steps in instruction to enhance reading skills.

The other options do not align with the primary function of a running record. While assessing memorization, evaluating writing skills, or tracking attendance may be important educational tasks, they do not reflect the specific purpose and methodology of running records, which is centered around understanding and improving reading fluency.