What does a running record document to inform instruction?

• A. The student's handwriting style.
• B. The student's preference for colors.
• C. The student's reading behaviors and errors, informing instruction, grouping, and intervention needs.
• D. The student's math performance.

Answer: (C)

A running record focuses on a student’s reading behaviors and errors during oral reading, capturing which words are read correctly, which are misread, and where the student self-corrects, along with cues the reader uses (meaning, structure, and visual). This detailed snapshot helps teachers decide what to teach next, how to group students for guided reading, and what interventions may be needed to support growth. For example, if a student consistently substitutes words that look alike, instruction can target decoding and sight-word recognition; if fluency is smooth but understanding is limited, the focus might shift to comprehension strategies. It’s specifically about reading performance, not handwriting, preferences, or math—so it directly informs how instruction is planned and adjusted.