Students...
- Build fluency and motivation by reading short, nonfiction passages.
- Increase reading accuracy and expression with audio support.
- Strengthen comprehension and vocabulary.
- Develop automaticity in decoding (Phonics levels).
- Work independently most of the time.
- Experience success and an improved attitude toward reading.
Read Naturally Live provides...
- An interactive reading intervention, often used for RTI or MTSS implementations.
- Options to easily differentiate the program to meet individual needs.
- Motivating informational texts for reluctant readers, from beginning readers to adults.
- Extensive, computer-generated reports on student progress.
- Opportunities for teachers to work with students one-on-one.
- Three curriculum series (Sequenced, Phonics, Idioms) with a total of 23 levels.
- Nonfiction reading opportunities as required by state standards.
- Spanish translations for stories in early Sequenced levels.
Read Naturally Live is an online reading program that accelerates reading achievement by combining the research-proven strategies of teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring. A student works at his or her own pace in an appropriate level of material. Text and audio guide the student through the steps. The student masters a story by reading along with audio and then practicing the story until he or she can read it fluently and with comprehension. The program automatically tracks student progress.
Research basis for the Read Naturally Strategy

Read Naturally Live Steps
- Select a Story
The student clicks on the story he or she wants to read. Choosing the story deepens the student’s investment in the material. - Key Words
In the Sequenced and Idioms series, the student reads the key words and their definitions while listening to an audio recording. The key words provide definitions that are important to understanding the story. In the Phonics series, the student listens to a phonics lesson and reads words that have the featured phonics patterns. - Prediction
The student uses the title, picture, and key words to write a prediction of what he or she thinks the story is about. The prediction prepares the student’s mind for reading the story. - Cold Timing
The teacher may time the student for one minute as he or she reads the story, or the student may complete this step independently. The student clicks unknown words while reading, and then clicks the last word read during the timing. Read Naturally Live subtracts the unknown words from the total number of words attempted to obtain a cold-timing score and displays it on a graph. This step establishes a baseline for progress monitoring, the component of the Read Naturally Strategy that motivates the student to improve. - Read Along
The student reads along quietly with a recording of the story, typically three times. This step is the teacher-modeling component of the Read Naturally Strategy, which helps the student learn new words and master others as well as learn proper pronunciation, expression, and phrasing. - Practice
The student practices reading the story without audio support three to ten times until able to read it accurately, with expression, and at the goal rate. This step is the repeated-reading component of the Read Naturally Strategy, which helps the student improve fluency, master difficult words, and understand the story. - Quiz
The student answers questions about the story. Responding to the text holds the student accountable for meaning, develops the ability to answer many types of questions, and provides teachers with information about how well the student comprehends the story. - Retell/Word List
In the Sequenced and Idioms series, the student retells or summarizes the story to improve comprehension.
In the Phonics series, the student works on decoding skills by practicing the word list until able to read it accurately at a predetermined rate. The Phonic series also includes a spelling step to give students practice encoding words from the word list. - Pass
The student reads the story for the teacher to show that he or she can read it at the goal rate, with appropriate expression, and with three or fewer errors. The teacher corrects the comprehension questions and the retelling of the story (if applicable) and reviews the results with the student.
In the Phonics series, the student also reads the word list to show that he or she can read it with three or fewer errors at the goal rate. A graph shows how much the student’s fluency has improved since the cold timing.
Additional graphs show results for the comprehension questions, the retelling, and the word lists (if applicable).
Read Naturally Live is a component of Read Live, a subscription program that is licensed per student. Teachers can reassign licenses if students leave the program. Read Live subscriptions include access to all 23 levels of three series. All series have the same basic design with strategic differences.
- Sequenced series is the basic series and has 13 levels (1.0 – 8.0) with 24 stories per level.
- Phonics series adds phonics lessons and activities to the basic design and has 6 levels (0.8 – 2.7) with 24 stories per level.
Phonics elements taught in the Phonics series - Idioms series teaches common American idioms as students work on reading skills. Idioms has 4 levels (3.0 – 4.5) with 12 stories per level.
Featured idioms
The teacher assigns the appropriate series and level for each student. The student works through the level in the student program, and the teacher manages the student's progress in the teacher program.
STUDENT PROGRAM
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High-interest, leveled, nonfiction stories include:
- Key words, clickable vocabulary words, and comprehension activities.
- Spanish translation of each story in Sequenced levels 1.0 – 5.6.
Extensive audio support includes:
- Audio directions for each step of the process.
- Three appropriately paced recordings that model correct pronunciation and expression.
- Pronunciation of words in stories when clicked.
- Audio definitions of key words, or, in the Phonics series, an audio phonics lesson.
- Clickable vocabulary words with audio-supported, student-friendly definitions.
- Spanish translation of each story in Sequenced levels 1.0 – 5.6.
- Auditory signals that indicate if a student's responses to multiple choice items are correct or incorrect.
Structured instructional process includes:
- Automated steps built around teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring.
- A wait-time vocabulary-building activity.
Computerized scoring and extensive reports include:
- Automated correction of multiple-choice questions.
- Calculation of fluency, phonics, and comprehension scores.
- Graphs and reports showing student performance.
TEACHER PROGRAM
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Set up of account for district, building, classroom, staff, and/or students include:
- Enrolling staff and students.
- Licensing students.
- Support for single sign-on tools from ClassLink and Google Classroom.
Management of student programs includes:
- Placement of each student in a level and series with an appropriate reading-rate goal.
- Easily customized options for individual students and extensive student reports.
- Printable stories, reports, parent letters, awards, and completion certificates.
Online documentation includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for working in the software and "how to" section on setting up Read Naturally Live.
- A lesson plan for introducing the program to students.
- Training videos that explain how to set up the software and work with students in the program.
ONLINE RESOURCES AND TECH SUPPORT
To help you implement Read Live successfully, Read Naturally provides free web resources and tech support.
Learn more about Read Naturally's online resources and tech support
Read Naturally Live is an integrated component of the Read Live platform.
- Students At-a-Glance Report
This report includes a student-by-student summary of results for Read Naturally Live stories passed. This report is used to quickly identify students who may not be making adequate progress in fluency and comprehension and therefore may require adjustments in their programs or additional instruction. - Student Level Summary Report
This is a table summarizing results for each story a student has passed at a given Read Naturally Live level, including cold- and hot-timing results, number of practices, quiz results, and more. - Student Fluency Graph
This bar chart displays a student's cold- and hot-timing scores for all stories passed in a specified series and level. - Student Comprehension Graph
This graph shows the quiz questions a student answered correctly on the first try for each story in a specified level. Quiz results are reported by question type and story. - Student Retell Graph
This graph shows the number of words a student used to retell each completed story on the first try and whether or not the student met the teacher's expectations on the first try. - Word List Graph
This graph shows how long it took a student to read the word list on the most recent attempt for each story the student completed in a specified level. - Story Details Report
This report provides a student's detailed results for a specific Read Naturally Live story. - Student Placement Results
This report shows the results of a student’s placement test conducted using the Read Naturally Live placement program—the test results, recommendations, and decision.
Read Naturally Live is an integrated component of the Read Live platform. All Read Live licenses enable full access to the Read Naturally Live curriculum as well as access to the Word Warm-ups Live curriculum, One Minute Reader Live curriculum, and Read Naturally Live-Español curriculum.
Customer Reviews
Angela C. Mar 21, 2025
5
We use read live with our students in small groups. Our students love the program and so do we. We have seen growth in every student that is using this program!
Reply Koya T. Mar 18, 2025
5
Read Live has made such a difference for students within my classroom. My students made significant improvements in their fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students love the engaging texts and are motivated to start each new story.
Reply Ana Maria L. Mar 17, 2025
5
Read Live is a comprehensive reading program that helps students develop vocabulary, fluency, reading comprehension and written expression while keeping them motivated to reach their goals. The stories are interesting and keep students engaged. You can adjust your student's reading level, the amount of practices they may need to reach their fluency goal and the time they have to complete their retell. Another excellent feature is that the program includes Read Live in Spanish!! That is a big plus for my students who are learning in a DUAL language program. Last, but not least, I love using the detail reports to discuss with students what they are doing well and where they can improve.
Reply Stephanie Strasser Mar 16, 2025
5
Read Live is the solution we've been searching for to deliver differentiated, targeted instruction. It encompasses all the essential components for effective literacy teaching. My students are making noticeable progress and gaining more confidence in their reading.
Reply Patricia Perkins Mar 15, 2025
5
Read Live is one of the few resources I’ve tried and felt my district definitely needs to invest in it. With so many students coming in with dyslexia diagnosis, Read Live has been my support to help target those deficits in phonics and fluency, I’ve videoed one of my students reading a fluency passage and sent it to my SPED Director. She immediately asked how many seats we need. I am so excited we are purchasing seats for the upcoming year, and I am so eager to see how much growth our students will show after using it with fidelity. I’ve seen much growth in the one student I’ve used it with faithfully. He is now able to work the program on his own as I work with other students. He’s taking ownership of his own learning which is so important for students. I love it! I just love it!
Reply Michelle Zamaites Mar 12, 2025
5
Read Naturally has made my 4th & 5th graders stronger at retelling what they have read. My students are really honing in on the 5 W's & H.
Lower Elem are becoming stronger readers!
Reply Michelle Scarborough Mar 12, 2025
5
Read Live has been our go-to resource this year! The students are enjoying the stories and answering the questions! Once the students realize they can succeed with the Read Live program they are encouraged to keep learning and growing in their reading skills! It has been wonderful to watching their individual needs being met through this reading program! We love it! Reply Amanda Brand Mar 12, 2025
4
Read Live has given our students confidence! They enjoy reading stories, with the goal of earning blue ribbons for a job that went above and beyond. We pass out certificates to our students when they get blue ribbons, so parents know their child has excelled in their reading. We like how there are stories, as well as phonics levels, so we can place students where they learn best.
Reply Linda C. Mar 12, 2025
5
I am an interventionist teaching grades 4-6. I have a 4th grade student that was not progressing in Reading fluency. After instructing her on how to read multiple syllable words, she was able to read most words independently. Yay, she's making progress! But she was only reading 61 words per minute and we could not get past it with consistency. During the I&RS meeting, she was given a goal to increase 20 words within 3 months. My fear was "How was I going to do that?" My school has been using Read Naturally Live for a few years. It was suggested that I try it for her. She began on the 3.0 level. This shy girl began reading aloud when following along, not caring about that others in the room were hearing her. Within 2 months her cold time went from 83 to consistently (3 times) over 100. Now mind you that is a grade level behind. After assessing her on 4th grade she is now consistently reading above 83 words per minute. Not only has her fluency increased, her confidence in reading has made tremendous progress in small group instruction and whole class. This "shy" girl wants to read everything aloud. I am in awe of the fluency progress and confidence in such a short amount of time. This is not my only testament. I am a first-year interventionist, and I have multiple students making significant progress while using this program. My colleagues and I love Read Live. Reply Kim Mar 12, 2025
5
I was introduced to Read Naturally as I was observing our district's Intervention Specialist for a college course I was taking. The Intervention Specialist uses this program daily and I soon learned how much time it save and what a valuable resource it is to have. She showed me how to use is and how it helped her students succeed who have been struggling for years. As a future Intervention Specialist myself, I look forward to using read Naturally in my daily interventions. Thank you for such a great program! Reply Debra Limberg Mar 12, 2025
5
I am a Title 1 reading teacher. I have used the Read Live program with my students for several years. It is a great program that allows us to meet the needs of the students (different levels, increase goals etc.) I have seen growth in the student's fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. They really enjoy choosing the stories and learning new things. Reply Sandra Owens Mar 12, 2025
5
I am excited to use Read Naturally. I participated in a one-on-one Personalized Read Live Setup Meeting that was extremely helpful in getting students set up and reviewing the program's components. Reply Kelly Moffitt Mar 12, 2025
5
This is the best reading program I have ever used! My students are being successful and showing gains as well as shortening their gaps. They love it and are excited when they see how successful they can be with the program. Thank you and we will keep using it from here on out. This is my first year using this program and I instantly fell in love with it. Keep it up! Reply Laurie Mar 12, 2025
5
Read Live has really helped my students with their reading fluency and comprehension skills. They love using the program and it has helped them build confidence. I love that the students can work independently in the One-minute reader and how the programs can be individualized to meet each child's specific learning needs.
Reply Amy Diefendorf Mar 12, 2025
5
I've been using RNL for 5 years and received amazing results for my students. Looking forward to many more years to come. Reply Michelle F Mar 12, 2025
5
Best program I have used! I have worked in reading intervention for 17 years. Over the years we have seen many programs come and go but this has stayed with our school the whole time. We have been using it clear back when it was on cds only. We love it even better now that it’s on the computer. And I should say the students do also. We find the ease of being able to track a students progress and easily print out reports to be an added bonus. The students that we have helped through the years is tremendous. Thank you Read Naturally!! Reply Jeff Brummett Mar 11, 2025
5
I have used Read Naturally Live for Special Education Reading for over five years. It has been beneficial for multi grade levels and a diverse set of reading abilities. Students show progress over the years they use it. I even pass on their logins and have parents use it with the students at home. Students show progress, in Vocabulary, comprehension and fluency skills.
I enjoy that it is individualized for the student for their IEPs to track their growth.
Reply Leslie Lewellen Mar 11, 2025
5
Our students use Read Live as part of our intervention program. The program is engaging and increases fluency skills. Reply Joan Honor Mar 11, 2025
5
I am new to the Read Live program, and I must say, I never anticipated that such a program existed. It has been incredibly helpful in assisting our readers in developing the fluency they need. The stories available are engaging and offer a wealth of learning opportunities. Witnessing my students make progress in their reading journey is truly priceless. This program has proven to be an invaluable resource for both educators and students alike.
Reply Rebecca Keddy Mar 11, 2025
5
Michele Calvin has provided our school with exceptional support! My initial set-up meeting could have been extremely complicated since we were attempting to merge numerous trial accounts into one site license account. She gave me the answers I needed and also gave my information to others that could help with additional tech. support. I explained what my ideal training would look like for our school and she went out of her way to deliver it. We just completed her training today, and I have heard numerous comments about how valuable it was. Not only did she give our staff clear practical information on how to use Read Naturally with fidelity, she was also able to answer our specific questions. The staff feels motivated, confident and has the resources/contact information they need to be successful. Thank you Michele!
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