Read Naturally Live is a powerful intervention for striving readers. Read Naturally Live is designed to improve reading fluency, support comprehension, develop vocabulary, and provide phonics instruction (Phonics series). The evidence-based Read Naturally Strategy is the core of this effective and motivating reading program. Read Naturally Live offers 23 levels of nonfiction stories among three series. All series have the same basic design with strategic differences.

• The Sequenced series (levels 1.0–8.0) is the basic series and is appropriate for any reader needing improvement in fluency, comprehension, and/or vocabulary. Stories in Levels 1.0–5.6 in this series also include a Spanish translation of each story, which is useful as a pre-reading activity for English learners who are native Spanish speakers.
• The Phonics series (levels 0.8–2.7) supports the reading development of students who read below level 3.0 and need phonics instruction or review. Each story includes many words with the phonics pattern(s) featured at that level. See the Phonics Series Scope and Sequence for specific phonics patterns covered in each level. Each story includes a phonics lesson, a word list, and an encoding activity where students practice writing words from the word list.
• The Idioms series (levels 3.0–4.5) provides native English speakers or English language learners with an opportunity to learn common American idioms. Stories in this series also include comprehension questions. See the list of idioms covered in this series.

The lessons in Read Naturally Live are systematically presented to the student in a manner that scaffolds knowledge and understanding. After being placed in the program by their teacher, students in Read Naturally Live progress through a series of highly structured steps systematically designed to accelerate their reading proficiency:

1. Select a Story: The student selects a story to work through.
2. Key Words: The student clicks each key word to read along to the pronunciation of the word and learn more about the word. In the Phonics series, this step contains an explicit phonics lesson and modeling of a particular phonics element.
3. Prediction: The student uses the title, picture, and key words to write a prediction about the story.
4. Cold Timing: The student reads the selected story for the first time for one minute, marking any difficult words. Then, the computer generates a graph that shows how many words the student read correctly.
5. Read Along: The student reads the story along with an audio recording for a predetermined number of times, vocalizing quietly with the narration.
6. Practice: The student practices reading the story, without audio support, several times until the student can read it accurately at the predetermined goal rate.
7. Quiz Questions: The student answers the comprehension questions.
8. Retell or Word List: The student retells the story or writes a summary. Or, in the Phonics series, the student reads a word list until they can read it accurately at a predetermined goal rate.
9. Spelling: In the Phonics series, the student tries to spell three words related to the story's text.
10. Pass: The student reads the story for the teacher. To pass, the student must read at their goal rate, using appropriate expression and making three or fewer errors. Then, the computer generates a graph that shows how many words the student read correctly. The student must also answer all comprehension questions correctly and retell the story well enough to meet the teacher's expectations (or pass the Word List step).

While waiting for their teacher to listen to their hot timing, students play Wordtastic, a vocabulary word game designed to keep students engaged and learning. Students learn hundreds of new words by playing this vocabulary game, which automatically opens as they wait for teacher support. Students are presented with one word and three answer possibilities. Their job is to click on the correct answer, which is either a synonym or an antonym for the word. The words and answer choices were carefully developed to be challenging yet appropriate for each level.

Important: While students work through the steps of Read Live programs mostly independently, the teacher-student connection is critical to each student’s success. In particular, the cold timing and pass steps in Read Naturally Live and Read Naturally Live—Español require the teacher to listen to the student read aloud and evaluate their expression and comprehension. Guidance is also provided for students who don’t pass a story or need additional comprehension support. Our materials stress the value of remediation for students who struggle with meeting their goals in the program.

Read Naturally Live is a component of Read Live and cannot be purchased separately from a Read Live Subscription. Read Live is an online platform purchased as individual licenses for a 12-month subscription.