Readers Theatre:A Shared Reading

Celebration!

Warming Up The Voice• Breathing and

humming• Yawning and

stretching• Vowels and

consonants• Tongue twisters

What Is Readers Theatre?

Readers Theatre involves children in oral reading through reading parts in scripts. Unlike traditional theatre, the emphasis is mainly on oral expression of the part.

Neill Dixon, Anne Davies, Colleen Politano, Learning with Readers Theatre, 1996

What Is Readers Theatre? (cont’d)

Readers Theatre is “theatre of the imagination.” It involves children in understanding their world, creating their own scripts, reading aloud, performing with a purpose, and bringing enjoyment to both themselves and their audiences.

Neill Dixon, Anne Davies, Colleen Politano, Learning with Readers Theatre, 1996

Why Readers Theatre?

Readers Theatre:• provides a Real purpose and context for reading;• makes reading an Event, a celebration that can be shared

with an Audience;• enhances student learning by Doing ;• promotes a learning Environment that is social, active,

creative and supports risk taking…FUN!• involves Rehearsal… students have multiple opportunities to

practise their reading and speaking;• improves literacy Skills.

Readers Theatre and Boys

“Boys often enjoy working with readers theatre scripts, which allow them to feel like active participants in a story.”

p.22

Readers Theatre… Step by Step 1. Immerse students in the Readers Theatre text form.

2. Select an engaging story or script.

3. Read the story aloud (or a portion of the story).

4. Identify and highlight different character voices.

5. Read aloud to make final edits.

6. Adapt the story to script form.

7. Assign roles and rehearse!

8. Perform for an audience.

9. Reflect on your experience.