Most parents of toddlers don’t understand how their children learn to read; when I sat and read to my children, I took for granted that they would someday magically be able to read on their own. It wasn’t until I began teaching struggling readers that I appreciated how complex and challenging learning to read is for many students. Many of my students got stuck reading individual words, and they became frustrated with reading. These students—and many students in our schools today—benefit from direct, explicit instruction in pairing letters and letter combinations with sounds, also known as phonics. Becoming automatic in reading individual words frees up the mental energy necessary for readers to make sense of texts. And, since 87% of English words are either completely decodable or have just one exception, teaching beginning readers to decode automatically gives them a large bank of known words.
Read more Independent placement allows newly enrolled Read Live students to complete the placement process independently--saving teachers valuable time! Independent Placement uses speech recognition technology to analyze students' fluency as they read placement stories. Based on this data, the program assigns students an appropriate level and goal so they can begin working in Read Live as efficiently as possible. If you intend to take advantage of this amazing new feature, here are some tips:
Read more Congratulations to Olivia, our first Star of the Month for the 2025-2026 school year! Olivia is now a fifth grader at McAuliffe Elementary School in Riverside, CA. She has made amazing progress in Read Naturally programs over the last few years.
Read more To decide Read Live program(s) to assign, you need to determine the student's instructional needs via placement and assessment.
Read more We are very excited to announce the release of a new feature now available within Read Live: Periodic Assessment of Fluency (PAF)! PAF provides a streamlined method for teachers to measure the oral reading fluency of a student working in Read Naturally Live (RNL) using passages from outside that program a few times throughout the school year.
Read more One Minute Reader Live is an independent reading program included with all Read Live licenses. This program is designed to motivate students while helping them develop fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. It’s an ideal way for students to master essential reading skills while working on their own.
Read more When it comes to reading intervention, the importance of a quality program cannot be overstated. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which program will best suit the needs of your students. Here are eleven key features to consider when looking for a reading intervention program:
Read more What is the number one thing on nearly every teacher's wish list? We've worked with teachers for over 30 years, and the answer is always the same.
Read more For a developing or struggling reader, every minute in the classroom is precious. The same is true for busy teachers. A student will make the most improvement—and a teacher will be the most effective—when the student is on the individualized learning path that best meets their needs....
Read more What kind of learning can happen on the first day of school? Naturally, students will learn who you are, the rules of your classroom, and where to put their materials. Our hope is that they will do some effective work toward their literacy goals too. Is it realistic to expect this on day one? With One Minute Reader Live, it certainly is!
Read more 
Share your student’s success story—nominate him or her for our Star of the Month award. Win a Barnes & Noble gift card for the student and a Read Naturally gift certificate for your class!
