What is Reader's Theater?

It “is a strategy for developing reading fluency. It

involves oral reading through reading parts in
scripts. In using this strategy, students do not need
to memorize their part; they need only to reread it
several times, thus developing their fluency skills.
The best reader's theater scripts include lots of
dialogue.” Usually in reader's theater, students
perform without costumes or props, but this is not
always the case!

When to use: Before reading  During reading After reading

How to use: Individually  With small groups Whole class setting

Why use Reader's Theater?

 To enhance reading skills and confidence by having them practice reading with a purpose.
 Reader's theater gives students a real reason to read aloud.
 To promote fluency, and provide fluent readers the opportunity to explore
genre and characterization.
 To help readers learn to read aloud with expression.
 To help build reading confidence, and motivate reluctant readers. RT is great for second
language learners,
How to use Reader's Theater:
students of varying
1. Choose a story that can be divided into parts, or character. reading skill, students
2. Assign reading parts to each child. with learning
3. Ask students to read their scripts orally for practice. disabilities, and
4. Have students read assigned parts to the audience. younger learners.
Differentiated Instruction
 Use easier scripts with fewer words for younger or struggling readers.
 Write the script (or the student's part of the script) with print that is easy to read i.e. larger or in
preferred font. Supply Braille scripts when needed.
 Give the student their part in advance. Encourage them to practice at home with their parents
 Have students read parts together.
 Allow advanced students to write parts of the script.
 When assigning roles, be sensitive to students' individual needs. Assign roles accordingly;
provide extra, individual practice if needed.

RT is limited only by
the imagination.
 Reader’s Theater 2

Additional resources:

 Reader's Theater Strategy (http://readingrockets.org/strategies/readers_theater)

 Sound It Out: We're Hot! We're Bored! (http://readingrockets.org/blog/32015)
 The Power of Reader's Theater
(http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/readerstheater.htm)
 Internet Resources for Conducting Readers Theatre
(http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/carrick/)
 Reader's Theater (http://www.webenglishteacher.com/rt.html)
 http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm
 http://www.readinglady.com/index.php?name=Downloads&req=viewdownload&cid=7
 http://www.aaronshepard.com/
 http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm
 http://loiswalker.com/catalog/guidesamples.html
 http://richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/readerstheater.htm
 http://www.surfcitydelux.com/readerstheater/index.html
 http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/langrt.htm
 http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/index.shtml#theater
 http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/playhouse/
 http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/JGriffin/readers.cfm
 http://www.timelessteacherstuff.com
 http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literacy/readers_theater.html
 http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm
 http://www.libraryadventure.com/10-readers-theater-resources/
Additional Consulted Sources:

 http://www.readingrockets.org/article/readers-theater-giving-students-reason-read-aloud
 http://www.thebestclass.org/rtscripts.html
 https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/power-readerx2019s-
theater/