Intervention Programs

ME Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides...

• Fluency development for blind and visually impaired students.
• Leveled, nonfiction stories in Braille and/or large print.
• Models of pronunciation and expression through audio recordings of the stories.
• Differentiated instruction for blind and visually impaired students from first grade to adult.

Students...

• Learn to read Braille text or large-print text fluently.
• Improve reading accuracy and expression.
• Expand knowledge base by reading interesting, informational text
• Strengthen comprehension and vocabulary through challenging text.
• Experience success and an improved attitude toward reading.

Read Naturally Masters Edition (ME) 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. The student works through the steps and 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 teacher tracks progress on a graph.

Teachers can adapt Read Naturally ME for the blind and visually impaired using the Read Naturally ME Resources for Blind and Visually Impaired Students. This CD includes Read Naturally ME story files compatible with Braille 2000 or Duxbury Braille translators as well as PDF and plain text files of the stories. Teachers can create materials from these files to teach blind students to read Braille text fluently and to teach visually impaired students to read large-print text fluently. Typically, teachers organize these versions in a three-ring binder. Blind and visually impaired students can then use the Braille materials or large-print materials with the corresponding Read Naturally ME audio CDs to build fluency, enhance vocabulary, and improve comprehension.

Note: Students complete the steps using Braille or large-print versions of the story text that the teacher prints using the files on the Read Naturally ME Resources for Blind and Visually Impaired CD. Typically, students use a Braille writer or BrailleNote for steps that require writing. Asking the students to provide verbal responses is also an option.

 Research basis for the Read Naturally Strategy

Read Naturally Masters Edition Steps

1. Select a Story
   The student selects the story he or she wants to read. Choosing the story deepens the student’s investment in the material.
2. Key Words
   In the Sequenced series, the student reads the key words and the 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.
3. Prediction
   The student uses the title 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.
4. Cold Timing
   The teacher times the student, usually for one minute, as the student reads the story. At the end of the timing, the teacher calculates the student’s score by subtracting the number of unknown words from the words read. This step establishes a baseline for progress monitoring, the component of the Read Naturally Strategy that motivates the student to improve. 
5. Graph Cold-Timing Score
   The teacher graphs the cold-timing score. Marking the graph provides a record of the baseline data.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Questions
   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.
9. 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 or reviews the comprehension questions with the student.
10. Graph Pass Scores
    The teacher graphs the pass-timing score above the cold-timing score to show how much the student’s fluency has improved. The teacher also graphs the student’s comprehension scores. Teachers often use tactile material on the student’s graph so the student can feel the difference between the cold- and pass-timing scores.
11. Retell/Word Lists
    In the Sequenced series, the student retells or summarizes the story to improve comprehension, and the teacher corrects it and graphs the score. 
    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 teacher passes the student on the word list and graphs the score.

Each Blind and Visually Impaired Resource CD provides word-for-word translations of one level of the original Read Naturally Masters Edition (ME) and is designed to be used with the corresponding original ME level. Resource CDs are available for two Masters Edition series, each with multiple levels and 24 stories per level. Both series have the same basic design with strategic differences.

• Sequenced series is the basic series and has 13 levels (1.0 – 8.0).
• Phonics series adds phonics lessons and activities to the basic design and has 6 levels (0.8 – 2.7).

The Read Naturally ME Blind and Visually Impaired Resource CDs are sold by level. If you already have a Read Naturally ME level, you can purchase the corresponding resource CD separately. Otherwise, you can purchase the ME level and the resource CD in a bundle. The teacher selects the appropriate series and level for each student.

BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED RESOURCE CDS 

Each Blind and Visually Impaired Resource CD includes:

• 24 story files compatible with the Duxbury Braille translator (version 10.5 or later) or Braille 2000 software (latest download). Software not included.
• PDF and text files for large-print versions of the 24 stories in the level.
• Placement Packet story files compatible with the Duxbury Braille translator and Braille 2000 software, and PDF or text files for large-print versions.
• Braille help file, notes and instructions for using the resources, and information about any special symbols is also included.

READ NATURALLY MASTERS EDITION (ME) LEVELS

Each original Read Naturally ME level within a series includes audio CDs and a book of blackline masters. Each order of Read Naturally ME includes an appropriate number of placement packets and teacher's manuals.

Book of reproducible masters includes:

• 24 high-interest, leveled, nonfiction stories with key words, bolded glossary words, line-by-line word counts, comprehension activities.
• Additional reproducible resources include graphs for student performance, letters to parents, a steps poster, and a certificate of completion.

12 audio CDs with album include:

• Two stories per CD with three recordings of each story.
• Audio for key words and for glossary words.

Placement Packet includes:

• Instructions for placing each student in an appropriate instructional level and for setting an initial reading goal.
• Placement story from each level.

Teacher's Manual includes:

• Research and rationale for the Read Naturally Strategy.
• Description of teacher responsibilities.
• Lesson plans for introducing the program.

Braille Samples for Placement

Read Naturally provides the Read Naturally ME placement stories in Braille2000 and Duxbury formats so that you can create braille versions for placing blind students. PDF and text files of the placement stories are also available for creating large-print versions for placing visually impaired students.

 Samples/Files for Placing Blind & Visually Impaired Students in Read Naturally ME

Sequenced Series PDF Samples

• ME Level 1.0: "Bears"
• ME Level 1.5: "Giraffe"
• ME Level 2.0: "Hot Air Balloons"
• ME Level 2.5: "Firewalkers"
• ME Level 3.0: "Gorilla"
• ME Level 3.5R: "The Spruce Goose"
• ME Level 4.0: "The Tarantula"
• ME Level 4.5R: "Fried to Perfection"
• ME Level 5.0: "Piranha Fish"
• ME Level 5.6: "The First Computer"
• ME Level 5.8/6.0: "Flathead Lake Monster"
• ME Level 7.0R: "China's Ancient Buried Army"
• ME Level 8.0: "Sputnik and the Space Race"

Phonics Series PDF Samples

• ME Level 0.8: "A Hen"
• ME Level 1.3: "Seeds"
• ME Level 1.8: "Louis Braille"
• ME Level 2.3: "Garter Snakes"
• ME Level 2.6: "Have You Seen These Animal Tracks?"
• ME Level 2.7: "Musical Instruments"

Required

• 
  

  Basic One-Minute Timer
• 
  

  Standard Electronic Timer
• 
  

  Words-Per-Minute Timer/Calculator

Optional

• 
  

  Batteries for Standard & One-Minute Timers
• 
  

  Read Naturally Folders (10-Pack)
• 
  

  Stereo Headphones