The Read Naturally Program is guided reading software. Why do some children learn to read faster and more fluently than others? The answer is that they are natural readers. We are much better at doing and enjoying the things that come natural to us. Imagine if we gave up bike riding the first time we tried it because we fell to the ground. For most of us, attempting to ride a bike the first time was probably not an experience we enjoyed and it may have even been painful. For some of us, it took lots of prodding, encouragement and courage before we could get back on the bike for a second try. With the proper encouragement and training, bike riding became easier, more natural and eventually turned into an activity that most of us looked forward to and enjoyed doing. Is it any different with reading? Some catch on faster than others. Imagine how it is for some children learning to read the first time. The less natural the experience, the less desirable and easy it is for beginners to learn. For those of us who really struggled to read in the beginning, we needed that same encouragement, help and practice we got when learning to ride our bikes. We wouldn’t tell our kids they can’t ride a bike just because they fell off of it their first time. Neither should we tell a struggling child or student that reading is an activity that can never become as natural and enjoyable to do as riding a bike. Such is the philosophy behind the read naturally program. With the proper training, encouragement and practice, even the most challenged student can become a natural reader and learn to enjoy it. So, given that we agree on the concept behind the read naturally idea, what method or system can give us the desired results? The Read Naturally strategy includes three ways: Teacher Modeling, Repeated Reading and Progress Monitoring. A summary of each will provide insight into what the Read Naturally Program is, how it works and it’s effectiveness as a tool for teachers and students.
You saw your Dad or a friend ride a bike, so you knew it could be done, and saw how it was done. We learn by example: Seeing and hearing, then ultimately doing what we saw and heard. Teacher modeling is the training wheels of the Read Naturally strategy. Is it really enough to push books and stories in front of a challenged or beginning reader and make them stumble through it their first time? There may be some improvement in this old-fashioned approach, but the gains are likely to be very slow and a great work of labor for both teacher and student. Also, without guided reading, and a program of reading levels, how do teachers know that progress is being made? Teacher modeling involves reading out loud, while the student follows along with the text of a story. The student is able to gain a better understanding of what they are reading by hearing the pronunciation, expression and learning the vocabulary while it is spoken. Teacher modeling is accomplished through audio CDs or Tapes, allowing the class instructor to be free to work with other students own reading levels at the same time. What comes next is practice.
Was it enough to ride the bike 20 feet your first time without falling, or did you need to practice it a few times to get the hang of it? Also, once you got your balance going straight, you had to learn how to make turns, peddle-faster, brake and get on and off without falling. After hearing a teacher model the story, students can practice reading the same story over and over again on their own. Gradually, the student catches on. When it becomes natural to them, they are ready to move on to a more challenging story or reading level. Knowing when a student is ready is the third step of the read naturally program.
I remember watching my daughter teach my son to ride a bike for the first time. She would guide him a long a ways, little by little, and then watch him try on his own until he got his balance and could go straight for a few feet at a time. As she monitored his progress along the way, she would give him new goals, pushing him to go farther and having him try turns, stops and hills. Progress Monitoring lets the teacher know when the student is ready for new goals. The student is rewarded by seeing their own progress and encouraged to go farther and try new reading challenges, just as the beginning bike rider. The goal of Teacher Modeling, Repeated Reading and Progress Monitoring is to make natural readers of students, especially those with special needs. So, what specific products are included in the Read Naturally program and how are they used?
Read Naturally Master Edition (ME)
While the Read Naturally Strategy provides seven different products, the focus of this review is on the Read Naturally Master Edition (ME). The goal of all these products is to improve reading fluency through phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, using the Teacher Modeling, Repeated Reading and Progress Monitoring strategy described above. Teachers and schools can choose any one or a combination of these products they feel are best for obtaining the results for students at a variety of different skill levels.
The Read Naturally Master Edition (ME) consists of a set of training wheels, two spokes and a tire pump. Okay, not quite. Basically, the (ME) edition includes several reproducible, printed stories, audio recordings, teacher’s manual, guides and assortment of other training aids, for both students and teachers. For a more exhaustive list of its contents, go to their website: Read Naturally Masters Edition
The printed stories can be reproduced as needed. Students read along to the audio recording, then practice reading the story on their own. The lines of the printed stories are numbered, so number of words the student reads can be easily counted after a timed reading. When the reader is timed on the first reading attempt, the number of words is counted. This is called the ‘cold score’ and graphed in blue. The final reading is called a ‘hot score’ and graphed in the color red. The performance evaluation provides positive reinforcement and encouragement, while giving readers a fun way to challenge themselves and improve their reading. Before the story is first read, students are allowed to look at the topic and keywords and write a prediction of what they think the story is about. Quiz questions are provided for assessing the student’s comprehension of the story. A comprehensive teaching manual is included, describing how to monitor, measure and evaluate reading levels, goals and progress. The Read Naturally Master Edition (ME) includes five different series of stories: Sequenced Series, Phonics Series, Spanish Series, American Manners & Customs and Idioms Series, and Multicultural Series. For more information on the Read Naturally Program Contents, visit these links: Read Naturally Links
How does it all work?
My wife, a special education teacher, uses the Read Naturally products at her school. She brought the Sequence Series of the (ME) products home to demonstrate.
I was literally blown away by the number of stories included. The Sequence Series includes 13 different reading levels, each having 24 stories. Of the five different series, the entire (ME) product line, alone, includes over one thousand stories. I read the story, Northern Lights, which is among the 24 stories in level 5.6. After reading the story, I listened to the audio CD. The quality of the recording is excellent and very well read by the narrator. All of the stories are well written, interesting and enjoyable to read. Listening to the narrator read these stories with the appropriate expression will definitely help children gain an appreciation and understanding of how to read. Also, I can see how having the students repeat the story a number of times, then grading their progress will add to their confidence and ability to become more fluent readers. Teachers will be rewarded as they watch struggling readers improve on both their cold and hot reading scores.
What does it cost?
The price for one 24-story level with 12 Audio CDs costs $119.00. When you consider how many hundreds of students, year after year, will benefit from reading and listening to these excellent, well-written stories and professionally produced recordings, the cost for purchasing an entire series is a worthwhile investment with immeasurable long-term value. The Phonics and Spanish Series include 6 levels. American Manners and Idioms each offer 4 levels, and the Multi-Cultural series includes two; African American and Mexican American History.
Final Rating 95 (1-100)
I think you’d be hard pressed to find a school teacher or instructor who doesn’t believe in the Read Naturally strategy and enjoy teaching the program. When you divide the cost of an entire Read Naturally Series by the number of students who will reap the benefits, it is one of the most affordable educational investments a school can possibly make.