Placing Students in Read Naturally Live

Placement is the process of selecting reading material and setting an initial goal for a student who is about to begin using Read Naturally Live. Placing a student in Read Naturally Live involves determining the following:

• Level: Which level of material is most appropriate for this student?
• Series: Which series would most benefit this student?
• Goal: Which goal rate will challenge but not frustrate the student?

Correct placement is crucial to success in Read Naturally Live. You must select a combination of reading material and goal rate that will challenge the student without being discouraging. The material and the goal rate need to be difficult enough to require the student to practice reading the story several times to reach his or her goal, even after the student has read along with audio recordings of the story. However, the level and goal should not be so difficult that the student gives up due to frustration.

After placing the student, observe the student to make sure the placement is appropriate. Check the student's placement after he or she completes three stories. Once you confirm the placement is correct, the student will remain in the same level of material with the same goal for several stories. As he or she continues, you will adjust the level and goal to keep the student appropriately challenged.

Note

• You may have already assessed a student using a fluency assessment tool. Do not attempt to use the assessment results to place a student in Read Naturally Live. To appropriately place a student, you must conduct the Read Naturally Live placement test.

Topics

• Series and Levels
• Goals
• Conducting a One-Minute Timing
• Counting Errors
• Conducting the Placement Test
• Independent Placement for Students
• Conducting the Placement Timing Manually
• Entering the Series, Level, and Goal
• Troubleshooting Placement
• Assigning Access to Read Naturally Live–Español

See Also

• Checking Initial Placement

Series and Levels

Read Naturally Live stories are grouped into levels based on their degree of difficulty. Read Naturally Live assigns levels to its materials based on several readability formulas.

Read Naturally Live levels range in difficulty from a first-grade to an eighth-grade reading level. Because struggling readers can rarely make full-year leaps as they progress, levels are available at almost every half year.

For some of the Read Naturally Live levels, you have a choice of series. Regardless of the series you choose, the primary purpose of Read Naturally Live is to build fluency in developing and struggling readers. Each series additionally works on other areas of reading development, such as phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. The following series are available:

Sequenced Series

The Sequenced stories make up the basic series and are appropriate for any developing or struggling reader. This series spans first- through eighth-grade reading levels. The Sequenced series builds fluency and supports comprehension and vocabulary growth.

Levels available: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.6, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0

Phonics Series

Each story includes many words with the featured pattern, a short audio phonics lesson, and a word list activity to support the development of phonics skills.

Idioms Series

The Idioms series is designed to provide native English speakers and English language learners an opportunity to learn common American idioms as they work on reading fluency and comprehension.

Levels available: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5

Español Series

The Read Naturally Live–Español series includes complete sets of stories with supporting material in Spanish. When students work in an RNL–Español story, the application itself is also delivered in Spanish.

Levels available: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.6

Goals

In addition to selecting a level and series, the teacher must set an individualized, developmentally appropriate goal reading rate for each student.

This Words Correct Per Minute (wcpm) goal is the number of words a student must read correctly in one minute to pass a story. The goal needs to be sufficiently high to require the student to practice reading the story many times before achieving the goal rate, but not so high that the student becomes frustrated.

Conducting a One-Minute Timing

Follow the same steps to conduct a one-minute timing when placing students and during hot timings.

1. Sit next to the student so that you can both see the story on the screen.
2. Explain the purpose of the timing in terms the student can understand.
3. Read the title of the story to the student.
4. Tell the student to click Start Timing when he or she is ready to begin reading.
5. As the student reads, count his or her errors.
6. If the bell sounds, tell the student to stop reading and click on the last word he or she read. If the student finishes before the bell sounds, he or she should click Finished.
7. Enter the number of words the student missed. (If this is a hot timing, you also need to enter an expression score for the student.)
8. Click Next.

See Also

• Counting Errors
• Conducting a Hot Timing

Counting Errors

During all story timings (for placement, cold and hot timings, and practices), follow these guidelines for counting errors. If the student says an incorrect word, do not say the correct word unless the student stops and is unable to continue. Wait three seconds before supplying a word to a student stopped on a word.

Count the following as errors:

• Mispronunciations and dropped endings
• Words out of sequence or transpositions (count each word read out of order as an error)
• Omissions
• Words supplied by teachers
• Substitutions with synonyms

Repeated errors (including proper nouns) are counted each time a student commits the error.

Do not count the following as errors:

• Mispronunciations due to dialect or speech problems
• Insertions (or repeating a word read correctly)
• Self-corrections

Teacher-Conducted Placement

Teacher-conducted placement can be performed in either the Staff Member Module or the Student Module. 

• In the Staff Member Module, the Student Activity page can be used to place students.
• Any student who logs into the Student Module without having been placed will be directed to the placement process. 

To perform teacher-conducted placement with a student:

1. Either:
   • Log into the Staff Member Module. From the navigation menu, select Student Activity, and then click the Placement button in the Read Naturally Live row for the student you need to place.
   • Have a student who has not been placed log into the Read Naturally Live Student Module.
     • Click the yellow Conduct Placement button, and log in using your staff member user ID and password.
     • Note that students with a microphone can also use the independent placement feature to place themselves.
2. Estimate the level at which the student is currently reading, and select that level in the "Select a level to test" column. You can base this estimate on assessment results, test results, or your own knowledge and experience regarding the student.
3. Click Next.
4. Seat the student at the computer, and explain how the placement process will work. When the student is ready to start reading, tell him or her to click Start Timing.
5. As the student reads aloud, listen and count the number of errors.
6. When the bell sounds, tell the student to click the last word he or she read.
   If the student finishes the story before the bell sounds, tell the student to click Finished.
7. Under Timing Results, enter the number of words the student missed.
8. Click Next.
9. Look at the test results and the software's recommendation. Then, under Choose an option and click Next, select an option.
   • Choose Continue testing to return to the first placement step and select a different level to test. Then repeat the steps for conducting a placement test, but using a different level.
   • Choose Stop testing and pick a level to select one of the recommended series/level/goal combinations. This option is available only if the software has enough information to make a recommendation; if this option is unavailable, continue testing the student to gather more information. 
10. If you chose Stop testing and pick a level, click one of the Series, Level, and Story Goal options in the table to highlight it. Use your knowledge of the student to choose an appropriate option. If desired, you can print the placement results for later reference by clicking the printer icon on the upper right.
11. Click Next. 
    A window opens with detailed information about the student's placement. 
    If the student has been placed in a Read Naturally Live Phonics series, the window includes the student's word list goal. Like the story goal, word list goals are in words correct per minute (wcpm). The default word list goal for each Phonics level is based on the student reading that level's word list twice, first down the columns and then across the rows, as follows: 

    Phonics Level	Word List Goal
    0.8a, 0.8b	30
    1.3a, 1.3b	35
    1.8a, 1.8b, 2.3a, 2.3b, 2.6a, 2.6b, 2.7a, 2.7b	40

12. Click OK to confirm the student's placement information.

Note

• The software's recommendations are only suggestions. Based on the results and your knowledge of each student, select the materials best suited for him or her.
• In the Staff Member Module, users in the Teacher role can place most students. If another staff member is a student's lead teacher, a Teacher cannot place that student unless the Teacher is on that staff member's team. Account Administrators and School Coordinators can place any students. 
• From the Staff Member Module, on Placement Step 1, you can click Print Placement Stories to print the placement stories so you can follow along and mark errors on paper as the student reads.

See Also

• Conducting a One-Minute Timing
• Counting Errors
• ​Turning the Reading Guide On or Off
• Viewing Additional Pages in a Multi-Page Story
• Troubleshooting Placement
• Conducting the Placement Timing Manually
• Permissions by Role

Allowing Independent Student Placement

To allow independent student placement in Read Naturally Live:

In the Staff Member Module: 

1. Add a new student.
2. Assign a license to the student, and give the student access to Read Naturally Live.
3. Provide the student with their login credentials.

In the student module:

1. When the student first logs into Read Live, they will open a page with tiles for all the Read Live applications to which they have access.
2. The student should choose the yellow Conduct Placement button on the Read Naturally Live tile.
   Read Naturally Live's placement process opens.
3. The student should choose No, I am working by myself.
   The student will begin testing in a placement level as follows:
   1. Grades K, 1, and 2 start with level 1.0.
   2. Grade 3 starts with level 2.0.
   3. Grades 4 and above (including adults) start with level 3.5.
4. A sound check asks the student to read the sentence "A wet dog sat in the hot sun."
   If the student's microphone works and their voice can be heard well by the application, they can continue with independent student placement. If not, the application tells the student to get help from their teacher.
5. An introductory video plays describing the independent student placement process.
   The student should follow the instructions given in the application. For each placement level in which they are tested, the student will:
   1. Choose Start Timing.
   2. Read the passage aloud while being recorded. The student should speak clearly into the microphone.
   3. Finish the reading:
      1. If the one-minute timer expires, the student should click the last word they read to continue.
      2. If the student reads the entire passage before the timer expires, they should click the Finished button at the end of the passage.
   4. Wait while the recorded reading is uploaded and analyzed for accuracy.
      After a few seconds, the results will be returned, and one of three things will happen:
      1. If the student scored below the range for the level being tested, they will be asked to try again at the next lower level.
      2. If the student scored above the range for the level being tested, they will be asked to try again at the next higher level.
      3. If the student scored within the range for the level being tested, they will be placed in that level with an appropriate beginning story goal.
   5. Continue reading placement passages until Read Naturally Live identifies an appropriate initial assignment for the student.

Notes

• A teacher should continue to monitor the student’s progress to ensure the level and goal are appropriate.
• Other series and/or level suggestions for the student can be viewed from the Staff Module using the Placement Report once the placement process has been completed.

Conducting the Placement Timing Manually

Use the Read Naturally Encore Placement Packet to place students manually. The placement packet includes instructions for placing students manually and copies of all of the placement stories. You need to print paper copies of the stories, and you also need a timer.

Download the Read Naturally Encore Placement Packet

Once you have conducted a manual timing, enter the student's series, level, and goal in the staff member module.

See Also

• Entering the Series, Level, and Goal

Entering the Series, Level, and Goal

To enter or change a student's series, level, and goal:

1. Log in to the Staff Member Module.
2. From the navigation menu, select Student Activity.
3. In the list, find the student whose series, level, or goal assignment you need to enter or update.
4. From the student's row on the page, expand the Applications level.
5. To the right of the Assignment column for the student, click the Edit symbol.
6. On the Change Series, Level or Goal page, enter or change the information for the student. 
7. Click Save & Close.

Note

• IMPORTANT  If your student is new to Read Naturally Live, use the built-in placement test to determine the appropriate series, level and story goal.  Do not manually set the series, level, and story goal as described above without first going through the placement process, unless the student previously worked in a different Read Naturally strategy program, such as the paper-based Read Naturally Encore.  If the student previously worked in a different Read Naturally strategy program, you can just transfer the student's series, level, and story goal using the steps above, without going through the placement process.
• A student's series, level, story goal, and word list goal can be entered or updated only by the student's lead teacher, or by a staff member in an Account Administrator or School Coordinator role.

• Troubleshooting Placement
• Conducting the Placement Test
• Monitoring Student Performance
• Assigning Students to Read Naturally Live–Español

Enabling and disabling individual stories in a level

Teachers can disable individual stories in Read Naturally Live and Read Naturally Live-Español. Disabled stories on a student's Select a Story page are dimmed and display the word "Off."

To enable or disable individual stories in Read Naturally Live and Read Naturally Live-Español:

In the Staff Member Module:

1. From the navigation menu, select Student Activity.
2. In the list, find the student for whom you need to enable or disable a specific story.
3. From the student's row on the page, expand the Applications level.
4. To the right of the Assignment column for the student, click the Edit symbol.
5. On the Change Series, Level or Goal page, set the toggles under the Stories in this level list to ON or OFF. 
   Use the Set 1 and Set 2 buttons at the top of the list to choose stories in 24-story levels, as needed.
6. Click Save & Close.

In the Read Naturally Live or Read Naturally Live-Español Student Module:

1. Open the Teacher menu.
2. Select the Change Series/Level/Goal menu item.
3. On the Change Series/Level/Goal page, set the toggles under the Stories in this level list to ON or OFF. 
   Use the Set 1 and Set 2 buttons at the top of the list to choose stories in 24-story levels, as needed.
4. Click Save & Close.

Troubleshooting Placement

During the placement test, a level is considered a match for a student if the number of words the student read correctly falls within the range listed in the Placement Range table. The abbreviation "wcpm" stands for words correct per minute.

Placement Range

During placement, if a student does not fit in a given level, continue testing the student. If the student does not fit in any of the levels tested or fits in more than one level, you need to decide how to proceed. The following information gives you options for how to continue if the student's score fits in either multiple levels or no levels, or if the score is below level 1.0 or above level 8.0.

If the Student's Score Fits in Multiple Levels or Does Not Fit in Any Levels

Use your knowledge of the student's strengths and needs based on the student's age, background knowledge, and motivation to select a series, level, and goal.

If the Student's Score Is Below Level 1.0

If the student can recognize at least 50 written words and knows most beginning sounds, he or she can work in level 0.8 or 1.0.

If the student cannot recognize at least 50 written words and/or does not know most beginning sounds, the student is not ready to work in this program.

If the Student's Score Is Above Level 8.0

This program does not offer stories above this level.

See Also       

• Conducting the Placement Test
• Entering the Series, Level, and Goal

Assigning Access to Read Naturally Live–Español

Read Naturally Live–Español is a separate Read Live application including Spanish-language stories with supporting materials in Spanish.

Students can have separate assignments in Read Naturally Live's English and Español applications. Students can be assigned to work in the Read Naturally Live–Español application using the Student Details page in the Staff Module. After logging in, those students will see a separate tile for the Spanish application.

How to assign a student to RNL–Español stories from the Staff Module:

1. From the navigation menu, select the Student Administration or Student Setup link.
   If you are an Account Admin or School Coordinator, choose Student Administration from the menu. Then choose the Student Setup tile
   If you are a Teacher, choose Student Setup.
2. Select the student's name from the list of students. 
   The Student Details page opens for the chosen student.
   
3. Select the Read Naturally Live–Español Access checkbox.
   Note: The default assignment in Read Naturally Live–Español is Level 1.0, with a goal of 50 wcpm. You can change that assignment on the Read Naturally Live–Español Students page.
4. Click Save & Close.

Additional Resources

• Assigning a Level and Goal in Read Naturally Live–Español
• Using Read Naturally Live–Español and its Steps

Assigning a Level and Goal in Read Naturally Live–Español

When students are given access to Read Naturally Live–Español, their default assignment is Español Level 1.0, with a goal of 50 wcpm. Note that there is currently no Placement process in the Read Naturally Live–Español application.

You can change a student's current assignment at any time from the Student Activity page in the Staff Module. You can also assign a new Level or Goal in the Student Module using the Teacher menu.

How to change a student's Level and Goal assignments in Read Naturally Live–Español from the Staff Module:

1. Log in to the Staff Member Module.
2. From the navigation menu, select the Student Activity link.
   
3. Find the student whose assignment you need to change in the list of students, and open the application level of the list for that student.
4. To the right of the Assignment column in the Read Naturally Live-Español row, click the Edit symbol.
   The Read Naturally Live–Español > Change Level or Goal page opens.
5. Select a new Level from the Level dropdown.
6. Adjust the student's wcpm goal using the Goal ticker's minus and plus buttons.
7. Select the Save & Close button to apply the changes.
8. If the student has a story in progress, choose whether to apply the changes immediately or after the current story is finished.
   
   Note that if you apply a change to the student's Level immediately, you will be reminded that the current story is reset as a result.

How to change a student's Level and Goal assignments in Read Naturally Live–Español from the Student Module:

1. When the student is logged into the application, select the Teacher menu in the page header.
2. Choose Change Level/Goal from the menu.
3. Select a new Level from the Level dropdown.
4. Adjust the student's wcpm goal using the Goal ticker's minus and plus buttons.
5. Select the Save button to apply the changes.
6. If the student has a story in progress, choose whether to apply the changes immediately or after the current story is finished.
   
   Note that if you apply a change to the student's Level immediately, any current story will need to be reset.

Additional Resources

• Assigning Students to Read Naturally Live–Español
• Using Read Naturally Live–Español and its Steps