Balmoral School

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

2026 Read Live School of the Year Runner-up

Submitted by Fatima Saeed, Reading Specialist

Balmoral School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

This was Balmoral’s first year using Read Live, and thanks to the dedicated efforts of staff members implementing the program consistently and with fidelity, they have already seen significant results. Students have made gains not only in reading fluency and comprehension, but also in confidence, and staff report improvements in English learners’ language skills as well.

Students themselves are noticing the impact. One student explains, “I’ve seen a huge improvement in my schoolwork thanks to Read Live. It makes my reading so much fun and I’m constantly learning interesting new words.” Another shares, “Read Naturally Live has made a huge difference for me. While I used to find bigger books in class difficult to read, the read along feature give me the confidence I need. Now reading is much more pleasant and fun.”

Balmoral strives to provide a personalized learning experience for each student and support them in reaching their full potential. Read Live is an integral part of this effort, allowing teachers to spend efficient, effective one-on-one time with students, make adjustments based on each student’s unique needs, and use consistent progress monitoring to provide responsive instruction.
 
Balmoral School is a model of excellence in literacy instruction and a very deserving awardee of the Read Live School of the Year scholarship

Check out their full nomination below including their video submission and their story.

Balmoral School is a Traditional Learning Centre (TLC) within the Calgary Board of Education, the largest school district in Western Canada. At Balmoral, we are committed to supporting each student's unique learning needs and interests, ensuring they have the tools to succeed. This is our first year implementing Read Naturally Live, and the progress we have seen in such a short time has been very encouraging. We are fortunate to have a dedicated Educational Assistant (EA) who facilitates the program for students in Grades 5-9, providing consistent and focused support.

As part of our daily reading intervention, students engage with Read Naturally Live, including One Minute Reader Live and Word Warm-up. Each student's level and sequence are carefully tailored to their individual strengths and learning needs. Our diverse student population includes learners reading below grade level as well as English language learners. Through Read Naturally Live, students have shown measurable growth in reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence in English literacy. The program also allows teachers to effectively monitor and respond to student progress.

Our Student Services Centre serves as a dedicated reading lab, where small groups of four to five students work at a time. In this space, students actively engage in both independent and aloud reading. Our EA provides one-on-one support, assisting with technology and guiding students through the program. Student progress is closely tracked, and adjustments are made regularly to ensure appropriate challenge and continued growth in both fluency and comprehension.

Based on our experience, we recommend that new users begin students at a slightly higher reading level and then adjust accordingly to best meet individual needs. The platform makes it easy to modify sequence levels and words-correct-per-minute (WCPM), even during active use. Additionally, the Read Naturally Live support team has been exceptionally responsive. When a new staff member joined our team mid-year, we were able to schedule an onboarding session within hours, allowing her to become confident with the program in a very short time.

We would be honored to receive the Read Naturally Live School of the Year award, as this program has become an invaluable part of our literacy intervention. It motivates students by allowing them to see their own progress through earned medals and personal achievements, building both confidence and independence. It also serves as an important diagnostic tool, helping us better understand student growth and areas for continued development.

In closing, Read Naturally Live works. We see the progress in our students every day, and we value the positive impact it has had on their learning and confidence.