Reader’s Theater in the ClassBy Archie

archie0922000197@yahoo.com.tw

Drama and LiteracyFrom the page to the

stage!

Independent Readers

Guided Reading

Build basic reading skills for beginners:Vocabulary (phonics ＋ sight words), pictures,authentic reading materials, confidence and pleasure.

※We only hear about text level, sentence level, and word level.

※Teaching has become so mechanical, and the emphasis on text scores force us to focus on skills to the detriment of the love of reading.

※The emphasis on text scores makes us think we are teaching robots rather than human beings with heart and emotions.

On a daily basis, English teachers are faced with two main issues – ※How to get students motivated to learn ※And how to keep them focused on what will be taught

We want the children leaving our schools choosing to read; not just able to read. We want them to have a passion for reading.

Why do Reader’s Theater? It is highly engaging…

※ Reading Fluency

※ Reading Comprehension

※ Build Vocabulary including sight words

※ Improve Listening Skills

※ Develop Expression in Oral Reading

※ Develop Self-Confidence

※ Appreciation of Plays as form of Literature

Reading in the ClassThe limit of time and materials

Not how much you teach, but the way you teach

RT – What

Everyone needs to talk - to hear and to play with language, to exercise the mind and emotions and tongue together. Lois Walker

RT – What

※Reader’s Theatre is a way of sharing stories, poems or parts of plays and novels aloud with others.※ Readers use scripts, suggested characterisation, and limited actions and settings to make the world of the story live.※ The idea is to help listeners imaginatively become involved in recreating the story in their own minds. Robertson, Marion E. and Poston- Anderson, Barbara (1986)

RT – What

In Reader's Theater, students "perform" by reading scripts created from grade-level books or stories -- generally without benefit of costumes and props. The goal is to enhance reading skill and confidence through practice with a purpose. Reader's Theater gives students a real reason to read aloud.

RT – What

It is a theater of the imagination, since the audience shares the job with the performers of making the story come alive in the theater of the mind.

RT – WhatRT is…※ A form of drama※ Easy to carry out※ Creative way of sharing aloud※ No need to memorize the scripts※ Active involvement※ Peer cooperation / feedback※ Engage audience to imagine, think and recreate the story in mind

RT – What

A reading activity with comprehension

fluency expression

and joy

RT -- Why※Enhance reading skill and confidence through practice with a purpose. ※Offers an entertaining and engaging means of improving fluency and enhancing comprehension. ※Blends students' desire to perform with their need for oral reading practice.※Motivates reluctant readers and provides fluent readers with the opportunity to explore genre and characterization. ※Gives students a real reason to read aloud.

RT -- WhyBenefits: literacy skills※reading ※writing ※listening※critical thinking ※vocabulary※word usage※speaking※fluency※pronunciation※story elements

RT – HowPreparing and Practice※Choose a story or section of a book that is between 3-5 minutes long and photocopy it or rewrite for an appropriate script.※Assign characters ※Go through the whole script before practice by group. Effective modeling will give them a head start against any difficulties.※Arrange the characters, Sit at a round table or stand in a circle to practice

RT – How -- Preparing and Practice※Highlight your speeches in your copy of the script. ※Underline or circle the words that tell about anything you’ll need to act out or stress in readers’ speeches. ※Read through the script together by group. --Start slowly and spend the time necessary so students feel comfortable in the performance mode.

RT – How -- Preparing and Practice※Read through your part out loud. If you’re a character, think about how that character would sound. --Should you try a funny voice?

--How loud will be enough?

--How would the character feel about what’s happening in the story? --Can you speak as if you were feeling that?

RT – How -- Preparing and Practice※Get up and read through the script again, trying out faces and actions. -- Would your character stand or move a special way? -- Use your body parts or facial expression to express your feelings. Can you do that? -- If possible, do all this in front of a mirror at home.※Pronunciation, stress and intonation

RT – How -- RehearsingHere are pointers your readers should remember both in rehearsal and performance ※Hold your script at a steady height, but make sure it doesn’t hide your face. If there’s anyone in the audience you can’t see, your script is too high.※Instead of holding the scrip, us music stands, especially the performance.※While you speak, try to look up often, not just at your script. When you do look at it, move just your eyes and keep your head up.

RT – How -- Rehearsing※Talk slowly. Speak each syllable clearly.※Talk loud! You have to be heard by the little old deaf lady in the back row.※Talk with feeling.※If you’re moving around, face the audience as much as you can. When rehearsing, always think about where the audience will be.※Characters, remember to be your character even when you’re not speaking.

RT – How -- Rehearsing※Narrators, make sure you give the characters enough time for their actions.※To help your readers get full vocal power, have them check their breathing by placing their hands on their stomachs and inhaling. If they’re breathing fully, their hands will go out. (The diaphragm muscle pushes down on the stomach to let the lower lungs expand.) If their hands go in, it means they’re breathing with only their upper lungs.

RT – How -- Rehearsing※To help your readers hold themselves straight. Tongue twisters and other vocal exercises can help them speak more clearly. In fact, you may want to warm up your readers with vocal exercises and stretches before your

rehearsals and performances.

RT – How -- PerformingBefore an actual performance, discuss with your readers the “what-ifs.”※If the audience laughs…※If someone talks in the audience…※If someone walks into the room…※If you make a mistake…※If you drop something…※If a reader forgets to read…※Finally, a couple of reminders for the director: Have fun, and tell your readers what they’re doing well!

RT – How – Performing -- On the StageThere are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most traditional style:※Readers are arranged in a row or semicircle, sitting on high stools or standing.※Scripts are often set on music stands.※Scripts must be used, even if lines are memorized for public performance. The cast should appear to read from their scripts. ※Readers look straight out toward the audience or at an angle, and looking at each other while has a dialog.

RT – How – Performing -- On the Stage※Pace: While an actor is performing, the pace should be comfortable but never too fast.※Ensemble: All actors in a scene should be working together to create their performance.※Characterization and Acting: The actor should have a full understanding of the scene and her role in it. This should be apparent in vocal inflection, facial expressions, and body position. ※Eye Contact: On-stage focus or off-stage focus※Pronunciation, stress and intonation

RT – How – PerformingTips on StagingThe following tips on staging are based on the Chamber Reader style. But remember, these are suggestions only. (Chamber Readers is a nonprofit reader’s theater company in Humboldt County, California, promoting reading and literature since 1975. Chamber Readers performs each year in nearly every public school in the county and is considered a local institution.)

Like traditional reader’s theater, the Chamber Readers style is based on script reading and the suggestive power of language. But it adds a good deal of mime and movement as well. That’s a bit more work, but it can be more fun too!

RT – How – PerformingBriefly, the distinctive features of the Chamber Readers approach are:※Characters move around the stage much as in a play ※Though narrators look at the audience, characters most often look at each other.※Scripts in sturdy binders are held in one hand, leaving the other hand free for gesturing.※A set of low stools and a single high stool serve as versatile stage scenery/props.※The word stage here means “stage area”—which could be the front of a classroom. An actual stage isn’t needed.

RT – How – Performing -- On the StageBeginnings and Endings※Get in your place, enter with good posture, energy, and purpose※A Brief instruction, the characters and the story background※The last words are spoken slowly and with rhythm, so the audience knows the story is over. － The ending Slow 3…hap-pily ev-er af-ter.※When the story is finished, they close their scripts, face the audience, and bow all together.

RT – How – Performing -- On the StageEquipment -- For reader’s theater, you really need nothing but scripts. But a little basic equipment can add a lot. Here are some suggestions:※Special uniform as a team look※Script binders※Headbands※Masks—A half mask※Chair-height stools and high stools. ※Small props※Music stands

RT – How – Performing -- On the StageFocus:on-stage, off-stage, audience focusFocus refers to where the readers are looking. Most of the time, it’s simple: ※Narrators use audience focus － they look straight at the audience.※Characters use on-stage focus － they look at whoever they’re talking to, just as in plays or real life. ※But sometimes you may want characters to use off-stage focus.※Characters can at times also use audience focus.

RT – How – Performing

※Perform in the class※Perform for the evaluation ※Perform for a special event※Perform for a competition※Perform for fun

RT – How – ScriptingThe truly integrating reading, writing, and thinking skills ※Choose a story and make sure that the book is at an appropriate reading level for students.※RT Map –When, Where, Who, What, Why, How※Cuts and changes※Set the roles: There are two basic types, Narrators tell the story. Characters are in the story. ※Assign to individual readers more than one role.※Use more then one narrator ※Use character narration

RT – How – Scripting※Repetition --The chunks in the word, sentence and paragraph※The balance of each character’s speech --The role of ALL – why, how --More then one character speak at the same speech※Use songs or chants in the play※The length of a character’s speech --long description slow the play※Assign silent characters※Sound effects --Sounds in the story too should be added where possible -- explosions, wind, bees, water…

RT – How – ScriptingScript format※The font – the size and type of print ※line space※Top, bottom, left and right margin※Paragraphing※No splitting of speeches

A Complete RT Teaching process

※Story telling ※Read the story※Script reading※Practice and rehearsal ※Performance※Follow-up activities

If you want to get your kids reading with comprehension, expression, fluency, and joy, there's nothing more effective than Reader's Theater. It is a simple, effective and risk-free way to get children to enjoy reading. As children write, read, perform and interpret their roles they acquire a better understanding of the literature.

The best place is in the CLASS

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