Update: One Minute Reader Live is now included as a component of Read Live. The One Minute Reader iPad App has been discontinued.

Distance learning is a challenging new reality for most of us. You and your students likely need extra support during this time, and Read Naturally is here to help. Many of our solutions can be effectively implemented at home to ensure your students continue to make progress in reading. 

Our most popular program, Read Naturally Live, is particularly well suited for distance learning. Current Read Live users are encouraged to follow the instructions listed here in order to get a distance-learning model up and running. Additionally, please view our webinar, “Using Read Live in a Distance Learning Model,” (recorded March 25, 2020) for helpful information from our staff on how to optimize success. Both links include detailed information on using remote desktop apps such as Zoom or Google Remote Desktop to interact with your Read Live students.

If your school is not currently using Read Live, consider signing up for a free 60-day trial. Now is a great time to implement this program free of charge and experience the benefits. After signing up, follow the steps below:

1. Set up your account and add students.
2. Place students.
3. Teach students to use the program.
4. For greater student independence, adjust Story Options to allow students to perform the Cold Timing step without a teacher.
5. For the final Pass step and/or ongoing support of the student, use a program like Zoom, Google Remote Desktop, or something similar. At a minimum, applications should allow for screen sharing of teacher and student devices. Remote control of the student’s computer by the teacher allows for greater flexibility during Pass activities. For more information, see our Knowledgebase article on this topic.
6. You can also enter parents as Read Live Assistants allowing them to conduct timings, choose remedial actions, and pass stories.
7. Use Read Live reports to monitor student progress and adjust students’ levels and goals.

In addition to Read Live, we offer several programs designed for use at home. Students work mostly independently in these programs to build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Most are available for free or little cost. These programs include:

  • Splat-O-Nym Vocabulary iPad App
    Students play a vocabulary word game that includes over 7,000 synonym questions, 1,000 antonym questions, and 600 meaning-from-context questions. From now until April 30, we are offering this program free of charge. Students and parents may use this link to download the program. No coupon code required.
  • One Minute Reader
    One Minute Reader utilizes the Read Naturally Strategy to improve fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. This engaging program allows students to work independently and remain motivated by exciting reading passages, instant feedback, progress graphs, and more.
  • One Minute Reader Books/CDs
    Students work mostly independently to build fluency with books and audio CDs. Each One Minute Reader book includes five high-interest stories that are the right length to encourage readers to practice without feeling overwhelmed. Each book also comes with an audio CD featuring recordings of each story at various speeds as well as all glossary words, graphs for progress monitoring, comprehension quizzes that students can correct themselves using a “joke jumble,” fun facts about the topics, and more. One Minute Reader books are written at different reading levels so readers can find the level that fits their ability. 
  • Word Nerd Card Games
    High-frequency words account for up to 75% of the words students read. Becoming automatic with these words is a critical component of attaining reading fluency. The Word Nerd games—inspired by old favorites like Crazy Eights and Go Fish—can be used anywhere to help students develop automaticity with high-frequency words. The words on the cards are printed in the OpenDyslexic font, a special font designed to increase readability and reduce letter confusion for readers with dyslexia. (Note: Word Nerd Card Games are no longer available from Read Naturally).

We understand that implementing a new model of learning without much warning is difficult in any case—especially so during required school closures. Read Naturally staff are working remotely to ensure your needs are met, your questions are answered, and your students have the best chance at success. If you have difficulty reaching us by phone, please leave a message and we will return your call, or email us at info@readnaturally.com. Additionally, if you have thoughts to share on what is working well for you as you use our programs remotely, please let us know. We would love to pass your tips and tricks along to other teachers.