Read Naturally Software Edition (SE) v2 Steps

Step 1: Select a Story
Students click a picture to select a story to read. Each level includes 24 stories, but SE normally makes them available 12 stories at a time.

Step 3: Write a Prediction
Students use the picture, key words, and title to write a sentence about what they think the story will say about the topic.

Step 4: Cold Timing
The computer times the students reading the story aloud for one minute. As they read, they should click difficult words—words they stop in front of, skip, or stumble on—the three Ss. SE subtracts the number of errors from the total number of words read to get their cold timing score. A graph shows their cold timing score in blue.

Step 5: Read Along to the Story
The student reads along quietly while the computer plays a recording of the story. Subvocalizing with the recording ensures that they actually read along and helps them learn proper pronunication, expression, and phrasing. SE includes three recordings of the story, each one slightly faster than the previous one. Teachers can customize the read along step for each student by adjusting the number of read alongs and selecting the reading speeds.

Step 6: Practice Reading the Story
Students practice reading the story without the recording several times until they can read at the predetermined goal rate. The computer times each practice.

Step 7: Answer the Questions
Students answer up to nine questions about the story. For most of the levels, the questions follow a specific pattern, which can help you detect when students have trouble with particular types of questions. SE corrects the multiple-choice questions. The teacher corrects the open-ended questions during the Pass step (step 9).

Step 8: Retell the Story
In the sequenced levels, students write what they learned from the story. The teacher can specify how much time is allowed for the retell step. If time is limited, teachers may decided to have students retell the story orally or skip this step.

Note: Students working in the phonics levels skip this step.

Step 9: Pass Timing
Students read the story to the teacher to ensure that they can read the story at the goal rate. To pass a story, students must reach their goal, make no more than three errors, read with good expression, and answer the questions correctly.

The teacher and student view the results together. If the student passes, a graph shows their pass timing score as a red bar above their cold timing score. If they do not pass, the teacher can assign some remedial work and then test them again.

Note: Students working in the phonics levels also practice and pass word lists that feature specific sounds and letter patterns.