If you are in the classroom like me, then you know that getting a one-to-one reading assessment completed without interruptions is a miracle.  I have perfected the art of peripheral vision scanning of the other students as I conduct running records, and my frantic hand gestures to those that would interrupt are unmistakable.  What I have not perfected is the art of completing the forms and checklists that accompany the reading assessment right after I have met with that student.  How could I possibly sit and focus on 

that when there are myriad things to do in a bustling third-grade classroom?   

     This is where my Xperia tablet is key to accurate assessment.  All I have to do is record my students reading so I can play it back later using the app Easy Voice Recorder Pro ($3.99).  True to its name it really is easy.  You simply touch the record icon on the screen.

If you need to stop the recording (like when your frantic gestures to wait are ignored due to an urgent matter), just press the pause button and you can resume when you are ready.  I looked up the specs on the developer’s, Digipom, Web site and you can:

• Record Mp4, 3GP, and WAVE files,

• Use the widget to record in the background while you use other apps,

• Control the app from the status bar,

• Record without any time limits or distracting advertisements.

   When you are done recording, moving the file is easy.  The Easy Voice Recorder Pro app allows you to transfer and send the file to a number of third party apps and email.  Possibly the best aspect of the Xperia’s Android base is that you can transfer the file to your SD storage card into folders that are separated by student.  That is something you definitely cannot do on an IOS device! All of your students’ data is neat and organized.  I love that I have many choices for where to store the data, especially the option to send it to Google Drive.

     When things are less hectic, you can play back the students’ reading and oral responses to prompts for a more accurate assessment of oral fluency and accuracy (CCSS-ELA-Literacy. RF.3.4) that will allow you to make important decisions concerning future instruction.  An added bonus is that the student can listen to themselves reading for self-reflection or share with parents as well.
     You might wonder how you ever assessed without your Xperia.