Instructional Strategies for Readers using Readers

TheaterBy

Jessica RinkEEX4066

What is Readers Theater?

• Readers Theater is a way to bring literature to life for students.

• It involves the students in reading, writing comprehension, listening and speaking activities.

• The readers act out the readings effectively so that the audience can visualize the action through facial expression, gestures and voice inflation.

Why Readers Theater?

• Readers Theater offers an interactive way to encourage reading in students.

• Encourages students to work together and provides peer support for less confident students.

• Allows students to connect to the reading and create purpose.

• Encourages enthusiastic reading and is a great way to introduce longer texts for the students to read.

• Provides benefits in reading by increasing their skills as a writer, listener and speaker.

• Also is a great tool for increasing student’s comprehension.

Tips for Implementing Readers Theater

• Model expressive reading through frequent read alouds.

• When introducing readers theater, use a pre-written script so the students can grasp the concept.

• Give the students appropriate time to read the text and prepare and rehearse.

• Allow and observe the group discussions and any inference and predictions made by the students.

• Notice how the student takes on the character for signs of comprehension.

• Reward the students! Tape or have groups perform so that others can enjoy their work.

Bibliography

• Online Learning Centre - Online Learning Centre.Instructional Strategies Online - Readers' Theatre. Retrieved from http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/readerstheatre/index.html

• Cornwell, L. (n.d.). Scholastic Publishes Literacy Resources and Children's Books for Kids of All Ages. Scholastic.com for Librarians | What Is Readers Theater. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/librarians/programs/whatisrt.htm