ABCTE Professional Teaching Knowledge Practice Exam

What type of assessment should a teacher use to monitor students' reading fluency most effectively?

1. Students read a selected passage while the teacher keeps a running record of errors

2. Students read several pages of their choice to the teacher

3. Students read silently and answer comprehension questions aloud

4. Students write reflections on their reading

The correct answer is: Students read a selected passage while the teacher keeps a running record of errors

Using a selected passage for students to read aloud while the teacher keeps a running record of errors is an effective assessment method for monitoring reading fluency. This approach allows the teacher to observe key components of fluency, such as accuracy, speed, and expression, as the student reads the text. By analyzing a running record, the teacher can identify specific areas where the student may struggle, such as phonemic awareness or decoding skills, and quickly assess the fluency rate by noting the time taken to read the passage. This method provides immediate, actionable data that can guide instruction and interventions tailored to individual student needs. Monitoring fluency through direct observation during a selected reading passage ensures that the assessment is consistent and focused on particular benchmarks, making it easier to track progress over time. This targeted approach to assessing fluency is more effective than less structured options that may lack the specificity needed to accurately gauge a student's reading capabilities.