Reader's Theater
These books provide opportunities for Reader’s Theater scripts and performances. Kids of all ages will find it easy to write and fun to perform. Use these guidelines for planning a show. Review the adaptations below to expand upon a regular Reader’s Theater.
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Define Reader’s Theater
It is a skill building activity to improve reading fluency which affects comprehension. Children read scripts aloud based on a grade level appropriate book or story. Most of the time these read aloud scripts are created and written by students and “performed” without costumes or props.
If used in a school setting, teachers may want to develop an assessment rubric that will suit the class, type of readers and the overall performance of each.
Reader’s Theater is a kinesthetic and interactive activity that will enrich kids’ reading abilities. Performing these stories emphasize the problem we face regarding trash, litter and recycling, as well as addressing similarities and differences in others...topics that kids will deal with as they grow up.
How to Develop a Reader’s Theater
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Choose a script: The Paris Kids Publishing books are PERFECT! Kids can develop a script to be read based on these stories.
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Adapt the script: Kids can work together to break down the speaking parts including a narrator. They can identify the dialogue to be “performed”.
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Assign parts: Kids can try out the different parts and choose the one they would like. If this is performed more than one time, kids should try different parts and share roles.
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Rehearse: Kids can practice their individual parts at home or during school or camp periods. It may be helpful for kids to highlight their lines to ensure fluency as a whole during performances.
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Perform: The kids should do a practice with other kids or adults to help review their parts. Then “perform” for an audience. It can be parents, other classes, or another reading group.
Adaptations
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Try adding props and costumes or masks. These can be made from recycled materials, such as paper bags, boxes, old clothing, etc.
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Perform in various locations (libraries, schools, camps, etc) and at the end speak about the importance of the book's theme (recycling or acceptance).
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Encourage kids to write about their opinions of the book's topic or ways they might address the issues in the story.
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At the end of a performance have kids share an activity they have done as a result of recycling or how they work with others who are different than they are. They can encourage the audience to do the same.