Reader’s Theater in Action! 甯麗娟 Gema Ning 永和國小教師/台北縣 國小英語輔導團 2010

Outlines What’s Reader’s Theater? Why Reader’s Theater? How to do RT?

What’s Reader’s Theater? A style of drama/theater, but… - no memorizing, no props, no costumes, no sets It’s free-style, creative, vivid , convenient - "theatre of the imagination"

Why Reader’s Theater? It helps… Reading fluency Listening/ Speaking skill Creative writing Self-confidence Emotional growth/ engagement

RT in 5 Easy Steps Choose a script Adapt the script Assign parts (stories, rhymes, poems…) Adapt the script Assign parts Highlight parts and rehearse Perform

How to adapt a script Choose materials (about 5 min.) Decide narrators & characters Add creative touches - songs, chants, choral, onomatopoeia… - actions & moves see examples 1 2

Practice & Rehearse Warm-up games -Clapping -Groups of ? -Noah’s Ark -Fox and Hen -The Frame -The Mirror I -Line Game -Noah’s Ark -The Mirror II -Gibberish -Echo -Blind Audience

Practice & Rehearse Teacher models first, then guides Ss to do trial readings… Choral readings Shared readings Round-robin readings

Practice & Rehearse Do focus on… Pause Intonation Breathing Emotions Visage Speed/pace Volume Gesture Pause Breathing Eye contact Tacit Agreement

On Stage Stand in line? Script folders? Tag board nametags? e.g. Music stands? see examples 1 2 3 4

Hands-on Group of 5-6 Create a script Rehearsal Show time

Useful Websites Reader’s Theater is limited only by the imagination. http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm http://www.readinglady.com/ http://www.timelessteacherstuff.com/ http://richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/readerstheater.htm http://www.aaronshepard.com/rt/index.html Reader’s Theater is limited only by the imagination. Have fun!