Readers Theatre in the
Classroom
Teaching with Readers theater
In a Reader's Theatre presentations, students read from scripts
created by others or their own based on the content of literature
and/or a non-fiction text. (this could include any book(including
textbooks), newspapers, journals, interviews, news stories etc)
Teachers might create a script based upon a specific book or
chapter that he or she finds interesting.
There are many great sources of Reader’s Theater available on
the internet.
Student could also create their own scripts for an audience
and/or their fellow classmates.
Generally, there is no stage movement unlike other types of
theatre and or dance sessions. The focus is on the content of
the reading and the enthusiastic and well read presentation of
the reading.
To use Readers Theater with Social Studies, students could
read a historical novel (or even a chapter of a Textbook) and
then select one part of it to script. Most children are not familiar
enough with history to write original plays, but they can interpret
scenes (or rewrite chapters) created by other authors who have
carefully researched the era to be presented.
To use Reader's Theater with Science, Math, Art History,
students first read the content (text, chapter, book, etc) that the
short play is going to be about. Students then identify main
ideas and vocabulary that are significant to the topic. An
example script might be as simple as a play with a teacher
teaching the subject to a class or perhaps a play about a study
group. Characters could also be mathematical, science subject
personified. examples: a talking triangle or talking stratus cloud.
A famous artist might also give a description about his works
and time period to provide context for the visual or performing
arts material researched in class.
Ideas for Writing a Script:
Use a narrator. Have the narrator give some context to the
presentation by clarifying the time period or by identifying the
book or chapters from a book from which the script was taken.
The narrator could introduce and describe each character.
The narrator could also give the setting and important actions
that precedes a scene.
Add to the script a description of tone of voice, gestures, or
facial expressions that will aid the reader in interpreting the
lines. Put them in parentheses after the character's name
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