Which formative assessment can help gauge a child's reading level?

Running records are a highly effective formative assessment tool used to gauge a child's reading level. This method involves observing and documenting a student's oral reading, which helps in understanding their fluency, accuracy, and comprehension skills. By analyzing the miscues and errors a student makes, educators can gain insight into specific reading behaviors and strategies, allowing them to identify areas where the child may need additional support or instruction.

In contrast, standardized tests typically measure reading skills against a national benchmark and may not provide detailed insights into an individual child's specific reading process. Reading logs can help track reading habits and preferences, but they do not directly assess reading proficiency or level. Essay writing, while useful for evaluating writing skills, does not specifically indicate a student's reading ability. Thus, running records stand out as a precise and informative approach to assessing reading levels in young learners.