Seeking Middle Ground: Analyzing Running Records From the Top and Bottom

Responding to recent challenges Clay’s Running Records (2019) and their analysis using a three-cueing system, the authorI examines this reading assessment from an additive perspective of both bottom-up top-down orientations instruction. Endorsing inclusion among classroom assessments, author I navigates tension between two by examining signposts that can be found in Records. In discussion, include corresponding framework assist teachers’ interpretation instructional planning for strategic actions, including searching for, using, cross-checking various sources information; solving words; monitoring; self-correcting; maintaining fluency. When applied formatively, may assistive component assessment, yielding instruction targeting automaticity decoding deeper comprehension.