Before I begin formal reading assessments, I like to touch base with each reader individually. Using the information I have already collected from the reading interview and the parent interview, I continue to study each reader to help me learn more about his or her reading patterns and behaviors.

During these short five-minute conferences, I ask my readers questions and browse their book choices to learn more about them. Here are some things I am looking for:

• Does the student choose books from a specific author or series?
• Is the student choosing a variety of genres? • What level of books does the student think are "just right" for her?
• How comfortable is the student when discussing what he has read?
• Is the student recording books correctly on her reading log?
• What reading strategies does the student demonstrate successfully (or need more work on)?