Students...
- Build fluency and motivation by reading short, nonfiction passages.
- Increase reading accuracy and expression with audio support.
- Strengthen comprehension and vocabulary.
- Develop automaticity in decoding (Phonics levels).
- Work independently most of the time.
- Experience success and an improved attitude toward reading.
Read Naturally Live provides...
- An interactive reading intervention, often used for RTI or MTSS implementations.
- Options to easily differentiate the program to meet individual needs.
- Motivating informational texts for reluctant readers, from beginning readers to adults.
- Extensive, computer-generated reports on student progress.
- Opportunities for teachers to work with students one-on-one.
- Three curriculum series (Sequenced, Phonics, Idioms) with a total of 23 levels.
- Nonfiction reading opportunities as required by state standards.
- Spanish translations for stories in early Sequenced levels.
Read Naturally Live is an online reading program that accelerates reading achievement by combining the research-proven strategies of teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring. A student works at his or her own pace in an appropriate level of material. Text and audio guide the student through the steps. The student masters a story by reading along with audio and then practicing the story until he or she can read it fluently and with comprehension. The program automatically tracks student progress.
Research basis for the Read Naturally Strategy

Read Naturally Live Steps
- Select a Story
The student clicks on the story he or she wants to read. Choosing the story deepens the student’s investment in the material. - Key Words
In the Sequenced and Idioms series, the student reads the key words and their definitions while listening to an audio recording. The key words provide definitions that are important to understanding the story. In the Phonics series, the student listens to a phonics lesson and reads words that have the featured phonics patterns. - Prediction
The student uses the title, picture, and key words to write a prediction of what he or she thinks the story is about. The prediction prepares the student’s mind for reading the story. - Cold Timing
The teacher may time the student for one minute as he or she reads the story, or the student may complete this step independently. The student clicks unknown words while reading, and then clicks the last word read during the timing. Read Naturally Live subtracts the unknown words from the total number of words attempted to obtain a cold-timing score and displays it on a graph. This step establishes a baseline for progress monitoring, the component of the Read Naturally Strategy that motivates the student to improve. - Read Along
The student reads along quietly with a recording of the story, typically three times. This step is the teacher-modeling component of the Read Naturally Strategy, which helps the student learn new words and master others as well as learn proper pronunciation, expression, and phrasing. - Practice
The student practices reading the story without audio support three to ten times until able to read it accurately, with expression, and at the goal rate. This step is the repeated-reading component of the Read Naturally Strategy, which helps the student improve fluency, master difficult words, and understand the story. - Quiz
The student answers questions about the story. Responding to the text holds the student accountable for meaning, develops the ability to answer many types of questions, and provides teachers with information about how well the student comprehends the story. - Retell/Word List
In the Sequenced and Idioms series, the student retells or summarizes the story to improve comprehension.
In the Phonics series, the student works on decoding skills by practicing the word list until able to read it accurately at a predetermined rate. The Phonic series also includes a spelling step to give students practice encoding words from the word list. - Pass
The student reads the story for the teacher to show that he or she can read it at the goal rate, with appropriate expression, and with three or fewer errors. The teacher corrects the comprehension questions and the retelling of the story (if applicable) and reviews the results with the student.
In the Phonics series, the student also reads the word list to show that he or she can read it with three or fewer errors at the goal rate. A graph shows how much the student’s fluency has improved since the cold timing.
Additional graphs show results for the comprehension questions, the retelling, and the word lists (if applicable).
Read Naturally Live is a component of Read Live, a subscription program that is licensed per student. Teachers can reassign licenses if students leave the program. Read Live subscriptions include access to all 23 levels of three series. All series have the same basic design with strategic differences.
- Sequenced series is the basic series and has 13 levels (1.0 – 8.0) with 24 stories per level.
- Phonics series adds phonics lessons and activities to the basic design and has 6 levels (0.8 – 2.7) with 24 stories per level.
Phonics elements taught in the Phonics series - Idioms series teaches common American idioms as students work on reading skills. Idioms has 4 levels (3.0 – 4.5) with 12 stories per level.
Featured idioms
The teacher assigns the appropriate series and level for each student. The student works through the level in the student program, and the teacher manages the student's progress in the teacher program.
STUDENT PROGRAM
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High-interest, leveled, nonfiction stories include:
- Key words, clickable vocabulary words, and comprehension activities.
- Spanish translation of each story in Sequenced levels 1.0 – 5.6.
Extensive audio support includes:
- Audio directions for each step of the process.
- Three appropriately paced recordings that model correct pronunciation and expression.
- Pronunciation of words in stories when clicked.
- Audio definitions of key words, or, in the Phonics series, an audio phonics lesson.
- Clickable vocabulary words with audio-supported, student-friendly definitions.
- Spanish translation of each story in Sequenced levels 1.0 – 5.6.
- Auditory signals that indicate if a student's responses to multiple choice items are correct or incorrect.
Structured instructional process includes:
- Automated steps built around teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring.
- A wait-time vocabulary-building activity.
Computerized scoring and extensive reports include:
- Automated correction of multiple-choice questions.
- Calculation of fluency, phonics, and comprehension scores.
- Graphs and reports showing student performance.
TEACHER PROGRAM
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Set up of account for district, building, classroom, staff, and/or students include:
- Enrolling staff and students.
- Licensing students.
- Support for single sign-on tools from ClassLink and Google Classroom.
Management of student programs includes:
- Placement of each student in a level and series with an appropriate reading-rate goal.
- Easily customized options for individual students and extensive student reports.
- Printable stories, reports, parent letters, awards, and completion certificates.
Online documentation includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for working in the software and "how to" section on setting up Read Naturally Live.
- A lesson plan for introducing the program to students.
- Training videos that explain how to set up the software and work with students in the program.
ONLINE RESOURCES AND TECH SUPPORT
To help you implement Read Live successfully, Read Naturally provides free web resources and tech support.
Learn more about Read Naturally's online resources and tech support
Read Naturally Live is an integrated component of the Read Live platform.
- Students At-a-Glance Report
This report includes a student-by-student summary of results for Read Naturally Live stories passed. This report is used to quickly identify students who may not be making adequate progress in fluency and comprehension and therefore may require adjustments in their programs or additional instruction. - Student Level Summary Report
This is a table summarizing results for each story a student has passed at a given Read Naturally Live level, including cold- and hot-timing results, number of practices, quiz results, and more. - Student Fluency Graph
This bar chart displays a student's cold- and hot-timing scores for all stories passed in a specified series and level. - Student Comprehension Graph
This graph shows the quiz questions a student answered correctly on the first try for each story in a specified level. Quiz results are reported by question type and story. - Student Retell Graph
This graph shows the number of words a student used to retell each completed story on the first try and whether or not the student met the teacher's expectations on the first try. - Word List Graph
This graph shows how long it took a student to read the word list on the most recent attempt for each story the student completed in a specified level. - Story Details Report
This report provides a student's detailed results for a specific Read Naturally Live story. - Student Placement Results
This report shows the results of a student’s placement test conducted using the Read Naturally Live placement program—the test results, recommendations, and decision.
Read Naturally Live is an integrated component of the Read Live platform. All Read Live licenses enable full access to the Read Naturally Live curriculum as well as access to the Word Warm-ups Live curriculum, One Minute Reader Live curriculum, and Read Naturally Live-Español curriculum.
Customer Reviews
Rebecca Keddy Mar 11, 2025
5
Michele Calvin has provided our school with exceptional support! My initial set-up meeting could have been extremely complicated since we were attempting to merge numerous trial accounts into one site license account. She gave me the answers I needed and also gave my information to others that could help with additional tech. support. I explained what my ideal training would look like for our school and she went out of her way to deliver it. We just completed her training today, and I have heard numerous comments about how valuable it was. Not only did she give our staff clear practical information on how to use Read Naturally with fidelity, she was also able to answer our specific questions. The staff feels motivated, confident and has the resources/contact information they need to be successful. Thank you Michele!
Reply Honey Hunt Mar 11, 2025
5
We use Read Live with my second grade students. I love the confidence my students gain while using this program! Not only their confidence but their vocabulary is stronger. The kids enjoy going and the miss when they can't be there. I am always being asked, "When is Read Live?". I really believe that Read Live is a key piece in helping out kiddos become stronger, confident and more fluent readers! Reply Emily Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Live has helped my students in intervention gain not only phonics and fluency skills but independent and self-advocacy skills as well! Working through the sections they can do on their own has given them a sense of pride in their abilities. When it is time for the teacher to join, once shy students are confident to raise their hands and say they are ready to pass a story. It has been amazing to see their reading and behavior skills soar with Read Live! Reply Amy Brandriet Mar 11, 2025
5
My students in 2nd-5th grade have improved their fluency tremendously since starting Read Naturally Live. I love the vibe in the learning lab when everyone is working hard and making progress! Thank you for providing a duplicatable tool that has been very easy to teach paraprofessional staff how to implement as well. Reply Christie Potter Mar 11, 2025
4
Read Naturally is a great program. I love the high interest stories, the repetition, the data, and the growth I see in my students. I have used it for 8 years and continue to think it is one of the most powerful tools in our program. One thing I would like to see change would be the ability to speed up the read aloud for my more fluent students. Sometimes it feels slow and robotic through the read aloud portion, and can lose the attention of some students. Reply Customer Service Mar 13, 2025
Thank you for using Read Live! The number and speed of required read alongs can be adjusted in Story Options. Please click here for instructions on how to do so, and feel free to reach out to our Tch Support Team with any questions!
Johnnie M Thompson Mar 11, 2025
5
I am a Intervention teacher for a K - 5 public school. I currently use Read Naturally Live with my 4th and 5th graders.
I love the program because it develops vocabulary, fluency and comprehension all in 1 very well though out program. I have been teaching for 31 years and I have used the Read Naturally paper format for many years.
I am so glad that this Live program has been developed to better develop my readers that are facing reading challlenges, Reply Tracy Joost Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Naturally Live has been an amazing program for all our Elementary School students. The program is engaging for all students. The students love picking the passage that they will read. Each passage allows them to practice fluency, learn vocabulary words, answer comprehension questions, and write a summary of what they have read.
We are able to collect thorough data for each student and love seeing their growth. Thank you Read Naturally Live for an amazing program! Reply Caroline Alexander Mar 11, 2025
5
I have used Read Naturally for the past 20 years and have loved the development of the online program! The program incorporates the components of the teaching of reading from phonemic awareness to Inferential Comprehension. It is most effective when the teacher and student are really working together with intent. The visual graphing needs to be looked at together and discussed to help with motivation and with rigor even written expression skills can be taught and assessed, I can differentiate and individualize the program for any skill level as is essential for any Special Education teacher. The data available is so useful for data-driven intervention planning. The stories are varied and of generally high interest which is also greatly appreciated! Well done over all these years, Read Naturally!
Reply E Chow Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Naturally Live is a great program. My students are very engaged and enjoy reading the stories. They have even gone on to read more about a topic on their own. Students love seeing their fluency graphs go up as they increase their speed with each reading. They love setting goals and then reaching them. The comprehension component is terrific as well. Students get immediate feedback and the opportunity to try again. They also receive immediate coaching from me. Reply Leigh-Anna Sirois Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Live Naturally is such a great program for helping students improve their reading skills! It’s easy to use and keeps kids engaged with interesting stories and fun activities. I love how it helps build their confidence by giving them practice with fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. The progress tracking feature makes it easy to see how much each student is improving, which is so rewarding. Since using this program, I’ve noticed a big difference in my students' reading abilities — it’s definitely a game-changer! Reply Kelli Jensen Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Live has been the perfect tool to differentiate reading! Each student is working, practicing and mastering skills at their level. The non-fiction stories are high interest and keep students engaged. In the higher level stories, students practice retelling the stories by typing and using their summarizing skills. Each level also introduces vocabulary that is useful and grade level appropriate. I love working through stories with students in Read Live! Reply Beth Willis Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Live is a wonderful program that helps with teaching struggling readers. This resource has been a great addition to our school and I can only believe that it's going to get more students on grade level!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Reply Darla Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Live is a fantastic program for increasing vocabulary, summarizing, and especially reading fluency. The stories are interesting and the variety of tasks keep the students engaged. My school has used Read Live for many years going back to the paper days. I often use One Minute Reader for students that need to read in the study hall. Reply Karen D. Mar 11, 2025
5
I have used this program for years, starting with the paper stories and the CDs. So many plusses for my kiddos, and so easy to use. This year I have Covid shut down's first graders as 6th graders, and there are so many holes. I really see them filling in and fluency improving. Reply Amanda Schulte Mar 11, 2025
5
I use Read Live in a middle school special education classroom. I love this program for building comprehension and fluency skills. This program is perfect for getting students materials at their instructional level. It helps build their reading independence while keeping them engaged. We use this program everyday! Reply Christy Malone Mar 11, 2025
5
If you love Read Naturally, Read Naturally Live is that and so much more! This year is my 8th year using this online fluency, phonics and comprehension program as a part of my learning support program. I've used it when I worked at a private school and now in public school. I like to use it with 2nd graders up through high school. The best part is when the students get excited to see their own progress. Also, when I meet with parents they often report their kids reading more and more fluently when at home! That is the best news to me! Reply Lisa Mar 11, 2025
5
We have used Read Live for a few years now. The students love it, stories are engaging and the growth we all see is phenomenal. Reply Sarah Preston Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Naturally Live is a fast and effective way to increase fluency and comprehension. The leveled activities is a great way in engage and challenge each student. The teacher reports are very helpful. Reply D Alexander-Tapper Mar 11, 2025
5
Read Naturally Live has been created a way for me to support students in an intervention setting who are multiple levels. I have some students working at the Phonics level and others at the fifth grade level. Students are learning that practice is essential and that they can measure their own growth. Some students enjoy being competitive with each other to see who is able to beat their own goal, while others are happy to simply challenge themselves. The stories are always informative and there are enticing topics that most students enjoy. Students are learning to distinguish between main idea and details, and to use text evidence on every story. I love it! Reply Tsvetana D Mawicke Mar 11, 2025
5
I work as a special educator with 5th and 6th-grade students. ReadLive is the reading and writing comprehension I use with them. I have been using ReadLive for the last 3 years, and I am pleased with my students' progress. ReadLive is super beneficial and helps my students increase their fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing skills, and background knowledge. This intervention is evidence-based, and I use it weekly for at least two sessions. The free resources are endless, and I use many of them as well. Thank you for creating this powerful tool for us educators! Reply