Reader's Theatre
Reader’s theatre involves students reading a script. The script is usually created from grade-level books. Start with an easier and shorter script until the student’s get the hang of the reader’s theatre. The script does not need to be memorized. Teachers should find scripts the students will be interested in and excited to be apart of. Give each student a copy of the script. Highlighting each student’s part will be helpful for them so they know exactly what they will be performing. The students first practice their script with out an audience, scene, or props.
The first purpose of reader’s theatre is on the effectiveness of their reading. The students can practice by themselves or chorally. Once the students’ feel ready to perform, you can add props, costumes, and an audience. The students’ are very motivated to do this because at the end they will have some sort of audience. This gives the students a purpose to practice reading and a reason to read aloud as well. The audience can be other classmates, a different classroom, parents, or even a whole school event. Reader’s theatre helps build fluency for students.
Reader’s theatre can also help students add expression to their reading. By practicing the reading numerous times, the struggling readers can benefit from the practice and become more confident to perform the reading in front of an audience. According to Jennings, Caldwell, & Lerner, 2014, “Reader’s theatre is a way of fostering the language development of English language learners.” ELL students should not be given lines that do not have any meaning or connection to them.
The first purpose of reader’s theatre is on the effectiveness of their reading. The students can practice by themselves or chorally. Once the students’ feel ready to perform, you can add props, costumes, and an audience. The students’ are very motivated to do this because at the end they will have some sort of audience. This gives the students a purpose to practice reading and a reason to read aloud as well. The audience can be other classmates, a different classroom, parents, or even a whole school event. Reader’s theatre helps build fluency for students.
Reader’s theatre can also help students add expression to their reading. By practicing the reading numerous times, the struggling readers can benefit from the practice and become more confident to perform the reading in front of an audience. According to Jennings, Caldwell, & Lerner, 2014, “Reader’s theatre is a way of fostering the language development of English language learners.” ELL students should not be given lines that do not have any meaning or connection to them.
There are several different content areas that this strategy can be used for. Even though this is a reading or literacy strategy, it can be specified to a specific topic or content area. This way, students are not only practicing reading skills but learning new information on a topic.
Writing- According to Wright, 2010, “Reader’s theatre is most effective when students help to write the script. Students must use a wide range of cognitive strategies and higher-order thinking skills that facilitate comprehension.” Students could take part in writing their own script for reader's theatre, and then practicing and performing the skit for the rest of the class.