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We recently expanded Read Live to include Word Warm-ups Live—an effective solution for students who need extra phonics support. Read Live now includes the Read Naturally Live Sequenced/Idioms Series, the Read Naturally Live Phonics Series, and Word Warm-ups Live. Which of these programs is the best fit for your students?

Students working in Read Live generally fall into one of the following four categories:

1. Students who need support in fluency only.
2. Students who need support in phonics only.
3. Students who need support in both fluency and phonics—and who read above a third-grade reading level.
4. Students who need support in both fluency and phonics—and who read at or below a third-grade reading level.

An Oral Reading Fluency assessment (such as DIBELS) and the Quick Spelling Survey included in our Quick Phonics Screener assessment will help you determine which of these categories your students fall into. Then, use the detailed information below to select the right Read Live program for your students. This information is also available in a table you can download and print.

Category 1: Students who need support in fluency only.

Students who need support in fluency should work in the Read Naturally Live Sequenced/Idioms Series. These students will take the Read Naturally Live built-in placement test and place in the appropriate Sequenced or Idioms level.

Category 2: Students who need support in phonics only.

Students who need support in phonics only should work in Word Warm-ups Live. These students will take the Word Warm-ups Live phonics assessment and place in the recommended Word Warm-ups Live section.

Category 3: Students who need support in both fluency and phonics—and who read above a third-grade reading level.

Students who read above a third-grade level and need support in both fluency and phonics should combine Word Warm-ups Live with the Read Naturally Live Sequenced/Idioms Series. These students will complete both the Read Naturally Live built-in placement test and the Word Warm-ups Live Phonics Assessment to determine placement in both programs. These students need to combine Read Naturally Live Sequenced/Idioms and Word Warm-ups Live—as opposed to working in the Read Naturally Live Phonics Series—because our Phonics Series ends at level 2.7 (mid-second-grade reading level). The Phonics Series does not offer an appropriate reading level for students who read above the third-grade level. Combining our Sequenced/Idioms series and Word Warm-ups Live will thus provide an appropriate fluency challenge for these students while also addressing their needs in phonics. 

Category 4: Students who need support in both fluency and phonics—and who read at or below a third-grade reading level.

Students who read at or below a third-grade reading level and need support in both fluency and phonics have two options. Some should work in the Read Naturally Live Phonics Series. Others should combine Word Warm-ups Live with the Read Naturally Live Sequenced/Idioms Series. To pick the appropriate route, you’ll do the following:

First, determine if the student’s fluency and phonics needs can be met with the Read Naturally Live Phonics series. To do this, assess the student using the Word Warm-ups Live Phonics Assessment. Then, use the Read Naturally Live testing level listed under the student’s results on this assessment to assess the student using the Read Naturally Live placement test. If Read Naturally Live recommends placement in this level, your student can work in the Read Naturally Live Phonics series. You’ll select the Read Naturally Live Phonics level listed on the Word Warm-ups Live assessment.

If Read Naturally Live does not recommend placement in the level suggested by the results of the Word Warm-ups Live Phonics Assessment, you’ll need to provide the student with a combination of Word Warm-ups Live and the Read Naturally Sequenced series. To determine appropriate placement for these students:

1. Continue assessing in Read Naturally Live to place the student in the recommended Sequenced level.
2. Use the Word Warm-ups Live assessment to place the student in the recommended Word Warm-ups Live section.

It is important to remember that the only students who will work in the Read Naturally Phonics Series are those who read at or below a third-grade level and who test into the specific level that matches their earliest phonics need. All other students with needs in both fluency and phonics should use a combination of Word Warm-ups Live and the Read Naturally Live Sequenced/Idioms Series.

You can find more information about placing students in our various Read Naturally Live Series here in the Read Live User Guide. Specific information about placing students in Word Warm-ups Live can be found here.

Proper placement in Read Live will ensure optimal success for your students, so please get in touch if you have any questions. Our curriculum experts will be happy to advise on which Read Live program(s) are best for your students.