Implementing the Steps
For best results, devote your initial class sessions to teaching students how to work in the software. Students need to learn program basics, as well as how to complete the steps for passing each story.
Students complete the following series of steps to pass each story.
- Select a Story: The student selects a story to work through.
- Key Words: The student clicks each key word to read along to the pronunciation of the word and learn more about the word.
- Prediction: The student uses the title, picture, and key words to write a prediction about the story.
- Cold Timing: The student reads the selected story for the first time for one minute, marking any difficult words. Then, the computer generates a graph that shows how many words the student read correctly.
- Read Along: The student reads the story along with an audio recording for a predetermined number of times, vocalizing quietly with the narration.
- Practice: The student practices reading the story, without audio support, several times until he or she is able to read it accurately at the predetermined goal rate.
- Quiz Questions: The student answers the comprehension questions.
- Retell or Word List: The student retells the story or writes a summary. Or, in the Phonics series, the student reads a word list until he or she is able to read it accurately at a predetermined goal rate.
- Spelling: In Phonics stories, the student tries to spell three words related to the story's text..
- Pass: The student reads the story for the teacher. To pass, the student must read at his or her goal rate, using appropriate expression and making three or fewer errors. Then, the computer generates a graph that shows how many words the student read correctly. The student must also answer all comprehension questions correctly, and retell the story well enough to meet the teacher's expectations (or pass the Word List step).
See Also
Common Features of the Stories Screens
Common Features of Story Pages
Starting the Program
To start working, a student must be enrolled in Read Live, have a Read Naturally Live license assigned to him or her, and have a series, level, and goal.
- The student opens the browser and goes to the Student Login page. (It is recommended that you bookmark this page in the web browser.)
- The first time the student logs in, the teacher must enter the account ID. (The account ID should be entered automatically after that.)
- The student enters his or her user ID and password and clicks Log In.
If the Student has access to more than one Read Live component application, the Student Landing Page opens. The student chooses which application to open.
If the student has access to Read Naturally Live only, she goes directly to her current step in that application.
See Also
Exiting the Program
From any story page, the student can click Log Out to return to the Student Login page.
It is important for students to click Log Out rather than simply closing the browser window or walking away from the workstation. Clicking Log Out ensures that a student's session is properly closed, and that he or she will be able to easily return to the same point later.
Note
- From the Student Login or Staff Member Login page, you can click the home icon to return to the Read Live home page. From that page, you can access either the student module or the staff member module.
Moving Between Read Live Applications
The student navigation feature allows students to move between Read Live applications as needed.
To move from one Read Live application to another:
- In any student application, select the navigation icon in the header. The icon is to the left of the student's name.
A side menu opens showing tiles for each Read Live application to which this student has access.
For quick reference, the student's current step in each application is displayed.
- Select another application's tile from the list of applications.
A confirmation dialog opens. - Click or tap the Yes button to confirm that you want to move to the new application.
The student's progress in the current application is saved, and the new application is opened.
See Also
Checking the Header
On most story pages, the header and footer are blue and there is no message in the footer, indicating that the student is working independently and does not need teacher assistance.
When the student needs help from the teacher (to conduct a cold timing or pass activities, for example), the header and footer are red, and the footer displays the message "Waiting for Teacher." There is a yellow link in the header that the teacher can click to conduct the necessary timing or other activities.
When the teacher clicks the link and enters his or her user ID and password, the header turns blue and the message "Teacher Present" appears in the footer. The teacher should stay with the student until "Teacher Present" is no longer displayed. The teacher can then leave the student to work independently again.
Checking the Progress Bar
On most pages, the progress bar at the top shows the student where he or she is in the steps. The step the student is currently working on is highlighted with a red pointer. As the student finishes each step, the progress bar highlights the completed step in dark blue.
If a step has been turned off in story options, the progress bar displays the word OFF for that step.
See Also
Advancing Through the Steps
Students must complete the story steps in order. Before moving on to the next step, the student must complete the requirements for the current step. On most pages, the Next button on the bottom right becomes enabled when the student has completed all the required actions for the step. The student clicks Next to advance to the next step.
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Repeating Audio Instructions
On most pages, a narrator tells the student what to do to complete the step. If the student needs to hear the instructions again, he or she can repeat the audio.
- From any step page, click the speaker icon in the lower left-hand corner.
- Listen to the audio reminder to hear the instructions repeated for this screen.
Checking Series, Level, and Goal
On most pages, you can check the student's current series, level, and goal information.
From any steps page, click Level | Goal in the page header to view the student's current series, level, and story goal. For students reading stories in the Phonics series, the displayed menu also includes the word list goal.
Click again to close the displayed information.
Turning the Reading Guide On or Off
For any of the story-timing steps, students whose workstation has a mouse or other pointing device can use a reading guide to help them track words as they read each line of text. The guide highlights one line of text at a time as a student moves the cursor over the story.
Students can choose to turn the guide on or off before each story timing. During a timing, students cannot turn the reading guide on or off.
To control the reading guide on the Cold Timing, Practice, Pass/More Practice or Pass/Hot Timing steps:
- If the reading guide is on, click Reading Guide On/Off to turn it off.
- To turn the reading guide back on, click Reading Guide On/Off again.
- When the reading guide is on, move it over the story text to highlight one line at a time.
Important Note:
- The reading guide is not available on touch-screen devices like iPads.
Viewing Additional Pages in a Multi-Page Story
Many stories have multiple pages. Students working in those stories need to know how to view additional pages. From any story step you can view additional pages in a multi-page story.
- To advance to the following page, click > after the page number.
- To return to the previous page, click < before the page number.
Completing the Select a Story Step
On the Select a Story page, students choose the next story to read, which gives them a sense of control.
- The student starts the program.
- On the Select a Story page, the student clicks the story he or she would like to read.
- In the confirmation window, the student clicks Yes to open the story.
- The student advances to the next story step.
See Also
Moving Between Sets of Stories in a Sequenced or Read Naturally Live–Español Level
In the Read Naturally Live Sequenced series and the Read Naturally Live–Español application, each level includes 24 stories. Students work in sets of 12 stories at a time. When they finish the first set of 12 stories in a level, they move to the second set. At the bottom of the Select a Story page, information about the student's progress is displayed:
Teachers can also move students between the two 12-story sets manually, whether or not the student has completed all of the stories in a set.
To move a student between two 12-story sets within the same level:
- Make the change when the student has reached the Select a Story page between stories.
- In the display at the bottom of the Select a Story page, click or tap on the set of stories you want the student to work in next.
The Teacher Login dialog opens.
- Enter your staff member credentials and select Log in.
The Select a Story page updates to display story titles and images from the set into which you have just moved the student.
Completing the Key Words Step
The Key Words step is a vocabulary step that teaches students important story words that may be challenging.
- On the Key Words page, the student listens to the directions.
- The student clicks each word to hear the word pronounced and learn about the word.
- Once they have clicked and read along with each key word, the student clicks Next to continue.
See Also
Completing the Prediction Step
The Prediction step teaches students to prepare their minds for new information and reminds them that they are reading for meaning.
- On the Prediction page, the student looks at the story title, picture, and key words for clues about the story. The student can click < Back to review the keyword definitions in the previous step.
- In the text box, the student types a prediction of what the story will be about. The Prediction step has a time limit. The timer begins when the student begins typing in the text box.
- When the student has finished the prediction or the time expires, the student clicks Next to continue.
Students can advance to the next step once they have typed a prediction in the box.
See Also
Completing the Cold Timing Step
The Cold Timing step enables students to see how many words they read correctly in one minute on a new story. This step sets a baseline for the story, so the student can see improvement after practicing.
By default, a teacher must be present for the Cold Timing step. During this step, especially in the first few stories, teachers check to see if each student's placement is appropriate and coach students to accurately identify their errors. To log in and oversee a Cold Timing, the teacher clicks the Conduct Cold Timing button in the header of the Wordtastic page.
Once students can identify their errors with reasonable accuracy, their teacher can set a story option to allow their students to complete this step independently.
If the teacher is required to conduct the cold timing, the student remains on the Cold Timing/Wordtastic step until the teacher logs in.
Topics
Playing Wordtastic
Students can complete most of the Read Naturally Live steps independently, but there are some times when a teacher must be present before a student can proceed. Wordtastic is a vocabulary game designed to keep students engaged and learning while waiting for a teacher.
By default, a teacher must be present for the Cold Timing step. If the teacher is required to conduct the cold timing, the student remains on the Cold Timing/Wordtastic page until the teacher logs in. If a teacher is not required, the student will not see the Cold Timing/Wordtastic page.
- The student answers each Wordtastic question by clicking the button next to the best answer. The student can click individual words to hear them pronounced.
- The software reveals the correct answer, and then the student clicks Next to continue. Students accumulate points for each correct answer. The points accumulated are displayed to help keep students motivated. They are not reported on or saved in the software.
- When you arrive to conduct the cold timing, click the yellow Conduct Cold Timing button in the page header.
- In the window that opens, enter your user ID and password and click Log in to open the Cold Timing page.
See Also
Conducting a Cold Timing
Account Administrators, School Coordinators, Teachers, and Read Live Assistants can conduct cold timings for any students, regardless of the students' lead teachers.
- By default, a teacher must be present for the Cold Timing step. On the Wordtastic page, the teacher clicks the Conduct Cold Timing button in the header to oversee a Cold Timing.
A dialog opens in which the teacher enters a User ID and Password to log into the application.
To allow students to conduct Cold Timings on their own, you can change each student's Story Options. See Allowing Students to Conduct the Cold Timing Step Independently. - On the Cold Timing step, the student clicks Start Timing.
- The student reads aloud, clicking on words that are difficult. If present, the teacher coaches the student to click words he or she stops in front of, skips, or stumbles on.
- The timing can end in one of two ways:
- If the bell sounds, and the student clicks the last word read. In the Scores box, the cold-timing score appears.
- If the student finishes the story before the bell sounds, he or she clicks Finished. In the Scores box, the cold-timing score appears.
- The student clicks Next to continue.
- On the Cold Timing / Graph page, the student views the cold-timing results and then clicks Next to continue.
Students can move on to the next step once they have completed the one-minute cold timing.
See Also
Retesting a Cold Timing
If a student was interrupted during the cold timing, you can immediately retest the student. You can select this option only while you are on the Cold Timing or Cold Timing / Graph step.
To retest a student's cold timing:
- From the Cold Timing or Cold Timing / Graph page, click Teacher.
- If prompted to log in, enter your user ID and password and click Log In.
- Click Retest Timing.
- Click Yes, retest the student to confirm. The student's previous cold-timing score is cleared, and you return to the Cold Timing screen for this story.
See Also
Completing the Read Along Step
The Read Along step is a modeling step, where students actively read along with a recording of the story. This step helps students learn unknown words and practice difficult words. It encourages proper pronunciation, expression, and phrasing.
Topics
Reading Along to the Spanish Translation
Some stories have Spanish translations. You can provide additional support to Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs) by having them listen to (and perhaps read along with) the translation before beginning the Read Along step in English. This way, Spanish-speaking ELLs have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the story by building some background and vocabulary knowledge (Mielke, 2011). The rest of the steps in Read Naturally Live are in English.
By default, students do not complete the Spanish read along; teachers can change this setting.
- On the Read Along/Spanish step, the student clicks Start Read Along.
- The student quietly reads aloud as the narrator reads each sentence. The student can click Cancel Read Along at any time to stop the read along.
- After completing a read along, the student can click Start Read Along to read along in Spanish again or click Next to continue.
Students can move on to the next screen once they have read the Spanish translation with the narrator one time; canceled read alongs do not count.
See Also
Reading Along
By default, a student is required to read along three times as the narrator reads the story. Teachers can change the number of required read alongs.
- On the Read Along page, the student clicks Start Read Along.
- The student quietly reads aloud as the narrator reads each sentence. The student can click Cancel Read Along to stop the read along. Canceled read alongs, when the student stops the recording before it is finished, do not count toward the number of completed read alongs.
- The student reads with the narrator until he or she finishes the required number of read alongs. On the right, the page displays the number of required read alongs remaining.
- When a read along is not in progress, the student can click the highlighted vocabulary words to see and hear their definitions.
- After completing the required number of read alongs, the student can either click Start Read Along again for more practice or click Next to continue.
See Also
Completing the Practice Step
The Practice step requires students to read the text until they are able to read at their assigned goal rate. In this step, students get the opportunity to master the story. By default, students are required to practice at least three times. Teachers can reduce or remove this requirement.
- On the Practice step, the student clicks Start Timing.
When a read along is not in progress, the student can click the highlighted vocabulary words to see and hear their definitions. - The student reads the story aloud quietly and clicks on any words that are difficult. The student can click Cancel Timing at any point to stop the timing.
- The timing can end in one of these ways:
- If the bell sounds, the student clicks the last word read.
- If the student completes the story before the bell sounds, he or she clicks Finished.
- The student continues practicing until he or she reaches his or her goal and has read the required number of times.
- Once the student reaches his or her goal and reads the required number of times, he or she can click Start Timing to practice again or click Next to continue.
See Also
Completing the Quiz Step
The Quiz step helps develop comprehension skills and reminds students to read for meaning.
- On the Quiz step, the student answers each question. The questions may require the student to select the correct answers, select an answer from a list, match a word and its definition, drag sentences into the correct order, or type a short answer.
- After answering each question, the student clicks Next to continue. For multi-part questions (for example, matching questions), students must answer all parts before moving on.
See Also
Completing the Retell Step
The Retell step helps students develop the skill of retelling or summarizing text, and holds them accountable to read for meaning.
The Retell step is only available in some series. In the Phonics series, students complete a Word List step instead of the Retell step.
- On the Retell step, the student retells the story by typing in the text box. The student can click Review Story to review the story while writing. The Retell step has a time limit. The timer starts when the student begins typing in the text box.
- Once the student has finished typing or the time limit is reached, he or she clicks Next to continue.
Students can advance to the next step once they retell the story by typing in the text box.
See Also
Completing the Word List Step
The Word List step gives students working in the Phonics series a chance to practice and master reading words that contain the featured phonics elements.
The application times students, calculating a words per minute rate for each word list attempt. When students have read the word list the required number of times, meeting their goal reading rate at least once, they can move on to the next step.
By default, students read all the words in the list twice to complete the word list timing. First they read down the columns, and then across the rows. Teachers can also change the timing duration to end timings after one minute.
To conduct a word list timing:
- To start the timing, click the Start Timing button.
A student can click Cancel Timing at any point to stop a timing attempt. - Saying each word aloud, read the list of words down the columns.
The student can click on any of the words during a timing to review the correct pronunciation for that word. - After reading all the columns, click Finished.
- Read the list of words across the rows.
- Complete the timing in one of two ways:
- After reading all the rows, click Finished again. (Note that for students with the default Whole list Duration exercise option, this is the only way to complete a timing.)
- If the Duration exercise option is set to 1 minute and the list is not complete after a minute, a bell will sound. Click the last word you read when the bell sounded to complete the timing.
- Review the practice results in the Scores box.
Word List timings are scored in words correct per minute (wcpm). Whether a student read the whole list and then clicked Finished for a second time to end the timing, or chose the last word they read after the 1-minute timer sounded its bell, the application calculates the score based on the number of words read in the elapsed time. - Practice until reaching the Word List goal and reading the list for the required number of times.
Note that after 10 practice attempts, students can move on to the next step even without meeting their goal. - Click Next to continue to the next step.
See Also
Completing the Spelling Step
The Spelling step in each Read Naturally Live Phonics series story asks the student to correctly spell three words related to the story.
The student is asked to spell one word at a time. Students click the audio icon to hear each word once, along with a sentence using the word. After attempting the spelling once based on the audio, the students click Show Me to check the original spelling try against the correct spelling of the word. After making any corrections, students click Check to verify their attempt against the correct spelling.
Each time a student clicks Check, one of three possible results appears to the right of the button:
- A Star indicates that the student's initial spelling try, when she had only heard the word, was correct and that she did not change the spelling.
- A green Checkmark indicates that her initial try, based on the audio of the word, was wrong, but that she corrected the word successfully after seeing the correct spelling above it.
- A red X mark indicates that the spelling was still incorrect when the student clicked Check, so the student needs to try again.
To complete the Spelling step of a Read Naturally Live Phonics story:
- Click Next from the Word List step.
- Click the audio icon to hear the spelling word, along with a sentence using the word.
A student can click the audio icon to hear the word pronounced again at any time. - In the blank text field, type the word based on the audio example.
- Click the Show Me button.
The correct spelling of the word appears in blue directly above the student's attempt. - Type any corrections by comparing the attempt to the correct spelling above it.
- Click the Check button.
A feedback icon appears to the right, as described above. - If a red X appeared, meaning the spelling is still incorrect, continue typing any corrections and clicking Check until the spelling is right.
When a star or a green X appears to the right of the Check button, Next is enabled on the bottom of the screen. - Click Next when the word has been spelled correctly.
The application moves to the next word. After three words, it moves to the next step.
Notes
- Reporting about the Spelling step looks for a student to spell the word correctly on their first try, before clicking Show Me, and then not change the spelling before clicking Check.
If a student receives a 2/3 on the Spelling step, that means she spelled two of the three words correctly after hearing them pronounced, before seeing the correct spelling above the field. - After clicking the Check button 4 times for a given word, students can move on to the next word or step even without spelling the word correctly.
Completing the Pass Step
In the Pass step, the teacher checks to see whether students have met the pass requirements for the story. To pass, students must:
- Reach their goal reading rate when reading the story.
- Make three or fewer errors when reading the story.
- Read the story with expression.
- Answer the quiz questions correctly.
- Meet teacher expectations for retelling the story or, for students working in the Phonics series, read the word list down and across with three or fewer errors within the specified time.
To begin pass activities, the teacher clicks the yellow Conduct Pass Activities button in the page header.
Topics
Waiting for the Teacher
While waiting for the teacher to arrive to conduct the hot timing, the student alternates between continuing to practice the story and playing the Wordtastic vocabulary game. Students with a browser that supports recording features can also record a reading of the story, which teachers can use for hot timings during the current story's Pass step.
See Also
Student Recordings While Waiting for a Teacher
Recordings
Students whose browser supports Read Naturally Live's recording features can make a recording of themselves reading the story. The recording can later be used as a hot timing. See Distance Learning Tools for a description of how recordings can be managed in distance learning settings.
- The Pass/Recording step opens after Pass/More Practice if the student's browser supports recording.
- Students can make a recording, review it, and replace it with another try if they like.
- Once a student clicks Next to leave Pass/Recording, the student cannot return to save any more story readings.
- If the student is in a Phonics level and has the Word List step turned on, a separate Pass/Word List Recording page allows the student to record a timing for the story's word list.
- Teachers can later use the student's recordings to conduct hot timings for the story and, in the Phonics series, the word list. See Distance Learning Tools.
Saving a Student Recording:
- If a teacher is not immediately available on the Pass/More Practice step, the student clicks Start Timing to practice. When the teacher is ready to pass the student, the student can finish the practice or click Cancel Timing to stop the timing.
- After practicing once, if the student has more time to wait, he or she can practice again or click Next to:
a) save a recording for the teacher on the Pass/Recording step; and/or
b) answer Wordtastic vocabulary questions while waiting for the teacher. - On Pass/Recording, students can save and review recordings of themselves reading the story.
By clicking on the last word they read during a recording, students can see how many words per minute (WPM) they read. Reviewing their WPM and listening to the recording can help students decide whether they are ready for the recording to be heard by a teacher.
The student's last saved recording can then be used by teachers, including those in distance learning environments, as a hot timing. - On Pass/Word List Recording, students in the Phonics series can save and review recordings of themselves reading the word list for the story.
- In Wordtastic, students answer each question by clicking the button next to the best answer. Students can click a word to hear it pronounced. The software reveals the correct answer, and then the student clicks Next Question to continue.
- Students alternate practicing the story and playing the Wordtastic vocabulary game until the teacher arrives to conduct the hot timing.
See Also
Conducting a Hot Timing
Account Administrators, School Coordinators, Teachers, and Read Live Assistants can conduct hot timings for any students, whether or not they are the students' lead teachers.
To conduct a hot timing:
- On the Pass/More Practice or Pass/Wordtastic step, click the yellow Conduct Pass Activities button in the page header.
- In the Teacher Login, enter your user ID and password and click Log in.
- On the Pass/Hot Timing step, ask the student to click Start Timing.
If the student has saved a recording and is not available for a live timing, click Score Recording instead to conduct a timing based on the recording.
You can also click Start Live Timing to do a live timing for the student, even if they have saved a recording. - As the student reads, listen, and count the number of errors.
This step is similar for a student recording. While the recording plays, listen and count the student's errors. - The timing ends in one of these ways:
- If the bell sounds, click the last word the student read before the timer expired.
- If the student finishes the story before the bell sounds, click Finished.
- Enter the number of words the student missed.
- Rate the student's expression.
- Click Next to continue.
- On the Pass/Hot Timing Graph page, view the student's cold- and hot-timing results.
- Click Next to continue.
See Also
Conducting Hot Timings for Remote Students Using Login As
Distance learning students working in Read Naturally Live from home still need teachers to conduct hot timings at the end of a story.
Teachers can use the Login As feature, available in the Staff Module, to open a session as a specific student. Then it is possible to either:
- conduct the hot timing over a screen sharing session on the internet; or
- conduct the hot timing using a recording saved earlier by the student.
Using the Login As Feature:
To log in as a specific student, use the Login As feature in the Staff Member Module:
- Go to the Read Live home page, and log into the Read Live Staff Module using your own Account ID, User ID, and password.
- From the navigation menu, select Waiting List or Read Naturally Live.
The Waiting List displays only those students currently waiting for a teacher in order to keep working.
The Read Naturally Live page includes all licensed students whom the current user can help in Read Naturally Live. - Find the student for whom you need to log in.
- In the Login As column, click the Login button for the student.
- The application will open a new browser tab in which you are logged in as the selected student.
Conducting Hot Timings With Screen Sharing Software:
Once a teacher has used Login As to open a student session, screen sharing software can be used to conduct a hot timing.
- Open a student session as described under Using the Login As Feature.
- Begin an online meeting or screen sharing session with the student over the internet.
- Share the browser screen with the student session you opened using Login As.
- Click the yellow Conduct Pass Activity button at the top of the page in the student session.
- Log in using your staff member credentials.
- Using the controls on the page, conduct the hot timing while listening to the student read the story from your shared screen.
- When the timing is over, use the Number of missed words and Expression score controls to complete the timing as usual.
Conducting Hot Timings Using Recordings:
If a student has recorded a story or word list reading, you can use the Login As feature to grade that recording as a hot timing. If a student has saved a recording:
- Open a student session as described under Using the Login As Feature.
- In the student session, click the Conduct Pass Activity button at the top of the page.
- Log in using your staff member credentials.
- On the appropriate hot timing step, click the Score Recording button and choose Score Recording.
The student's saved recording will begin playing along with the hot timing. - Listen to the student's reading, keeping track of errors, just as you would for a live timing.
You will need to click the student's last word, or the Finished button, when the recording ends, just as you would for a student reading to you live. - When the reading is over, use the Number of missed words control to record the error count.
- Choose the student's Expression score.
Notes
- The Score Recording and Start Live Timing options are only available on the Pass/Hot Timing and Pass/Word List steps if the student has saved recordings for those steps.
- It is always possible to conduct a live timing for a student if the student is available, even if the student has previously saved a recording. On the Pass/Hot Timing and Pass/Word List steps, the Score Recording button can be changed to select Start Live Timing. This option allows the teacher to conduct a live timing as usual.
See Also
Rating Expression
During each hot timing, you rate the student's expression from 1 to 4. The expression score indicates how well the student used expression while reading the story. The student must receive an expression score of 2 or higher to pass the story. Use the table below to determine the appropriate rating:
Select | If the student: |
1 | Reads haltingly; seldom uses phrasing; reads without expression. |
2 | Reads phrases of three or four words (especially for familiar words); usually pauses for punctuation. |
3 | Usually uses correct phrasing; uses appropriate inflection and attends to punctuation in some of the story. |
4 | Reads conversationally; consistently uses correct phrasing and inflection; attends to all punctuation. |
Retesting a Hot Timing
If a student was interrupted during the hot timing, you can immediately retest him or her. This option is available only on the Pass/Hot Timing and Pass/Hot Timing Graph steps.
To retest a student's hot timing:
- From the Pass/Hot Timing step or the Pass/Hot Timing Graph step, click Teacher.
- Click Retest Timing.
- Click Yes, retest the student to confirm. The student's previous hot-timing score is cleared, and you return to the Pass/Hot Timing screen for this story.
See Also
Correcting the Quiz
To correct the quiz questions:
- On the Pass/Grade Quiz step, review the student's answer(s) to the open-ended question(s).
- Click See correct answer to view a suggested answer to each question.
- Indicate whether each answer is correct (click Yes) or incorrect (click No).
- Click Next to continue.
See Also
Correcting the Retelling
To correct a student's retell attempt:
- On the Pass/Grade Retell step, review the text the student used to retell the story.
- Indicate whether the retelling met your expectations (click Yes) or was unacceptable (click No).
Your requirements will vary based on the student's age and ability. For example, you may require older or more advanced students to write a summary with a main idea and supporting details. - Click Next to continue.
See Also
Conducting the Phonics Word-List Pass Timing
Students working in the Phonics series need to complete a word list pass timing to pass each story.
To conduct a word list timing:
- On the Pass/Word List step, ask the student to click Start Timing.
- As the student reads the words, listen, and count the number of errors.
- When the student finishes reading the words down the columns, the student clicks Finished.
- When the student finishes reading the words across the rows, the student clicks Finished.
- Enter the number of words the student missed.
- Click Next to continue.
See Also
Retesting the Phonics Word-List Pass Timing
If a student was interrupted during the word list pass timing, you can immediately retest the student. You can select this option only while you are on the Pass/Word List step.
To retest a student's Word List pass timing:
- From the Pass/Word List step, click Teacher in the page header.
- Click Retest Timing.
- Click Yes, retest the student to confirm. The student's previous word list pass score is deleted, and you return to the Pass/Word List screen for this story.
See Also
Reviewing Student Work
After the student has completed the required activities on the Pass step, review the student’s results together on the Pass/Review Work step.
- On the Pass/Review Work step, Story Details tab, review the student's story results.
The student's pass results are listed in the Summary section. Each item is marked with a star or an X. - A star indicates the student has met the requirement.
- An X indicates the student has not met that requirement.
- Click the Fluency, Comprehension, and Retell or Word List tabs to see the student's scores graphed for all completed stories in the level.
- On any of the graph tabs, click the printer icon to print.
- Click Next to continue to the Pass/Remedial Actions step or the Congratulations step, depending on whether the student has met all requirements for passing.
Reviewing Data Mentor Suggestions
Read Live’s Data Mentor feature uses a student’s recent performance to give teachers data-driven suggestions intended to increase student achievement or reduce student frustration. Periodically, Data Mentor can make new suggestions at the Pass/Review Work step of a story based on updated data. Teachers can choose to accept Data Mentor’s suggestions or not, depending on their deeper knowledge of the student.
Because proper placement is critical to student success, some suggestions recommend adjustments to a student’s level or goal. Others suggest areas where the student may need additional support, like reading comprehension.
Currently, Data Mentor suggests possible changes in Read Naturally Live’s Sequenced series.
To review Data Mentor suggestions in Read Naturally Live:
- On the Pass/Review Work step, choose the Data Mentor tab.
The Data Mentor view displays basic information about the student's Read Naturally Live assignment and progress through the current level.
Any suggestions and notifications from Data Mentor are present at the bottom of the page. - Review any suggestions and notifications.
On the right side of the page, explanations for each suggestion include relevant student data from recent work.
Other possible suggestions, including resources for helping students with comprehension, can also be listed on the right. - Determine whether to accept the set of suggestions.
- If you want to make suggested changes, choose the Accept button.
The student's assignment will be adjusted. Data Mentor's suggestions will no longer be visible on the page. - If you do not want to make the suggested changes, simply ignore them.
No changes will be made to the student's assignment. Data Mentor's suggestions will continue to be displayed. - Note: You can wait to resolve any suggestions. If the student reads more stories, Data Mentor will reassess and update its suggestions based on added data over time.
Notes:
- Because adequate data is necessary to support valid suggestions, Data Mentor only suggests changes for students who complete cold timings with a teacher present, and who complete the Quiz step for each story. Use the Change Story Options feature to set a student’s Cold Timing and Quiz options.
- Data Mentor can also be accessed from the Teacher Menu at any point during a student's work. The same suggestions present at Pass/Review Work are present in the Teacher Menu.
Options for Students Who Do Not Pass
If a student does not successfully meet one or more of the criteria for passing, after reviewing the student's work, you decide the best course of action on the Pass/Remedial Actions page.
- On the Pass/Remedial Actions page, view the student's results for each pass requirement.
- Select a remedial action for each pass requirement that has not been met.
If the student... | Then select this option: | The student will... |
Reads too slowly to meet his or her goal | Practice story | Practice the story until reaching the goal and then complete another hot timing |
Made a lot of errors during the hot timing because of a lack of decoding skills or an inability to read sight words | Read along for accuracy | Read along with the narration at the slowest pace, focusing on accuracy, and then complete another hot timing |
Received a low expression score | Read along for expression | Read along with the narration at the fastest pace, focusing on expression, and then complete another hot timing |
Answered any questions incorrectly | Redo missed questions | Correct any incorrect answers |
Wrote a retell of the story that did not meet your expectations | Rework the Retell step | Revise what he or she wrote for a retell |
Failed to pass the word list | Practice word list | Practice the word list until he or she reaches the goal and then complete another word-list pass timing |
Missed passing the hot timing only by a small margin | Retest story (without selecting any other remedial actions) | Immediately complete another hot timing |
Missed passing the word list by only a small margin | Retest word list (without selecting any other remedial actions) | Immediately complete another word-list pass timing |
Has not met all of the requirements, but you want to pass the student with the current scores anyway | Pass with current scores | Not be required to go back and do any remedial work |
- Click Next to continue. The student is required to complete any remedial actions you selected. If you selected multiple remedial actions, the software prompts the student to complete the steps in order.
Interpreting the Congratulations Screen
When a student completes a story, a Congratulations page appears with reward badges for various aspects of the student’s work on the story. Badges can appear as a gold medallion (met the basic requirement), or as a medallion with ribbons (went above and beyond).
This page can motivate students who understand that excellent performance is rewarded by ribbons. Tell students what they have to do to earn the badges and blue ribbons. Many students strive to excel so they can receive all blue ribbons.
How Students Earn Badges
| Basic Requirement | Above & Beyond |
Accuracy | Student had 3 or fewer errors on the hot timing | Student had no errors on the hot timing |
Goal | Student met the goal on the hot timing | Student met the goal on the first try at the hot timing |
Expression | Student got an expression score of 2 or 3 on the hot timing | Student got an expression score of 4 on the hot timing |
Quiz | Student got all the quiz questions correct. | Student got all the quiz questions correct on the first try. |
Retell (Sequenced and Idioms stories) | Student’s retelling of the story met teacher expectations | Student’s retelling of the story met teacher expectations on the first try. |
Word List (Phonics stories only) | Student passed the word list | The student passed the word list on the first try |
Resetting Stories
If a student is struggling with a particular story and cannot pass it, you can reset the story and allow the student to try it again later. Resetting a story discards all of the student's data and scores for that story.
Account Administrators and School Coordinators, Teachers, and Read Live Assistants can reset stories for any students, regardless of the students' lead teachers. Read Live Assistants can reset stories only from a student's workstation.
To reset stories from the Student Module:
- With a student logged in, click Teacher in the page header.
- If prompted to log in, enter your user ID and password and click Log in.
- Click Reset Story.
- Under "Do you want to reset these stories," change NO to YES for the story (or stories) you want to reset.
- Click Reset Selected Stories and click Yes to confirm.
To reset stories from the Staff Member Module:
- From the navigation menu, select Read Naturally Live.
- Find the name of the student, and in the Reset Story column, click Reset.
- In the Read Naturally Live > Reset Stories page, select the story (or stories) to reset.
- Click Reset & Close, and click Yes to confirm.
See Also
Using the Phonics Series
Students working in the Phonics series follow most of the same steps as students working in the Sequenced series. However, there are some differences:
- Key Words Step: When the student clicks on a key word, the audio gives a short lesson on the featured phonics element in that word rather than the definition of the word.
- Quiz Step: The questions do not adhere to the same pattern as the Sequenced series. The Phonics questions and answers incorporate the featured phonics pattern(s).
- Word List/Retell Step: Students do not complete the Retell step during a Phonics story. Instead, after the Quiz step, students complete the Practice Word List step.
- Spelling Step: Students spell three words related to the text of the Phonics story they are reading.
- Pass Step: Students must complete a word-list pass timing during the Pass step.
Using Read Naturally Live–Español and its Steps
When students work in Read Naturally Live–Español (RNL–Español) stories, the entire student Read Naturally Live interface is delivered in Spanish.
Note that while the default audio directions played in RNL–Español are in Spanish, English instructions can also be accessed by clicking the EN? button in the application's footer.
Teachers interacting with students in RNL–Español use an English Teacher Menu. The Pass/Review screen can be viewed in either English or Spanish, allowing teachers to discuss results with their students in whichever language is most appropriate.
Read Naturally Live–Español story steps:
Read Naturally Live–Español includes the same student steps as in the English Read Naturally Live program. The Spanish step names used in the program are as follows:
- Seleccione una Lectura is equivalent to the Select a Story step, in which the student selects a story to work through.
- Palabras Claves are Key Words: The student clicks each word to read along to the pronunciation of the word and learn more about the word.
- Predicción is the Prediction, in which the student uses the title, picture, and key words to write a prediction about the story.
- Primer Intento is the equivalent of the Cold Timing. In this step, the student reads the selected story for the first time for one minute, marking any difficult words. Then, the computer generates a graph that shows how many words the student read correctly.
- Lees Juntos/Inglés is the Read Along English step. Each Read Naturally Live–Español story can be accompanied by this step, in which the student hears the story once in English before continuing in Spanish.
- Leer Juntos is the Read Along, in which the student reads the Spanish story along with an audio recording for a predetermined number of times, vocalizing quietly with the narration.
- Práctica is the Practice: The student practices reading the story, without audio support, several times until he or she is able to read it accurately at the predetermined goal rate.
- Prueba is the Quiz: The student answers comprehension questions about the story.
- Volver a Contar takes the place of the Retell page: The student retells, or writes a summary of, the story.
Note that Read Naturally Live–Español does not include any equivalent to the Phonics series, so there are no Word List steps. - Aprobar is the Pass step, when the student reads the story for the teacher. To pass, the student must read at his or her goal rate, using appropriate expression and making three or fewer errors. Then, the computer generates a graph that shows how many words the student read correctly. The student must also answer all comprehension questions correctly, and retell the story well enough to meet the teacher's expectations (or pass the Word List step).
Individual screens under the Aprobar step include:
Aprobar/Practar Más is the Pass/More Practice screen.
Aprobar/Grabación is the Pass/Recording screen that allows students to record a hot timing for their teachers' use.
Aprobar/Wordtastic is the Pass/Wordtastic screen. RNL–Español incudes Spanish-language Wordtastic questions.
Aprobar/Último Intento is the Pass/Hot Timing screen.
Aprobar/Calificar Prueba is the equivalent of Pass/Grade Quiz.
Aprobar/Calificar Volver a Contar is the Pass/Grade Retell Attempt screen.
Aprobar/Revisar Trabajo is Pass/Review Work. Note that teachers on this screen can view the student's performance in both Spanish and English by using a toggle on the upper right of their browser window. The default language is Spanish.
Aprobar/Acciones Correctivas is the Pass/Remedial Actions screen, which allows teachers to choose steps for a student's remedial attempt at any story.
See Also