Audio Stories: The Effects of Using the Read Naturally Program at Home

Kristen Cahn
Grace Gargus

This study investigated reading fluency in a Title 1 elementary school in two first grade classrooms. Research shows that the Read Naturally intervention program helps increase reading fluency. The purpose of this study was to use the Read Naturally program to increase reading fluency and simultaneously build vocabulary. The participants included seven first grade students, five boys and two girls. Each student was provided with a cassette player and Read Naturally cassette audio stories, along with a story journal. Students listened to repeated readings of stories at home with parental support. Pre and post DIBELS tests were used to measure oral reading fluency and a pre and post STAR test was used to measure vocabulary comprehension. The findings of the study show moderate increases in oral reading fluency scores. The implications of the study show that repeated exposure to audio stories can be an effective method to improve student's reading fluency, and possibly vocabulary knowledge, when monitored appropriately.