Which assessment method is an example of formative assessment for early reading progress?

• A. Fluency checks and running records
• B. A single end-of-year test
• C. Final portfolio reviewed at year-end
• D. An unrelated survey

Answer: (A)

Formative assessment involves ongoing checks during instruction to monitor progress and guide teaching. Fluency checks and running records fit this approach because they’re used repeatedly as students read, giving immediate, specific information about how well a student is decoding, how fluently they read, and where they may need targeted support. This data lets the teacher adjust instruction, provide timely feedback, and set next steps that keep the learning process moving.

A single end-of-year test, while useful for a summary of what was learned, doesn’t inform day-to-day teaching and is considered summative. A final portfolio reviewed at year-end also tends to summarize progress rather than guide ongoing instruction. An unrelated survey doesn’t measure reading progress at all. So fluency checks and running records are the approach that most clearly supports ongoing, instructional decisions in early reading.