1. Engaging Readers Through Readers Theatre
Rebecca Crute
Griggs Road Elementary School
Clover, SC
Presentation link: bit.ly/SCASL17ReadersTheatre

3. Why Readers Theatre?
Studies by Griffith and Rasinski (2004) and Young and Rasinski (2009) indicate that Readers Theatre promotes fluency and interest in reading.
Through repeated readings of the text, students increase sight word vocabulary and the ability to decode words quickly and accurately (Carrick 2006 & 2009).
The repeated readings allow the students to phrase sentences appropriately, read punctuation markers, and read with greater ease.
This fluent reading enables students to spend less time on decoding and increase comprehension (Pikulsi & Chard, 2005).

4. Why Readers Theatre?
Repeated reading as a way to improve both fluency and comprehension is well established (Dowhower, 1987, 1991; LaBerge & Samuels, 1974), but finding an authentic purpose for this type of reading and rereading can be challenging.
By providing a performance and an audience, Readers Theatre offers an authentic purpose for the kind of repeated practice required to become a fluent reader-especially for struggling readers (Griffith & Rasinski, 2004; Martinez et al., 1999; Worthy, 2005; Worthy & Broaddus, 2000).

5. Why Readers Theatre?
You can introduce new information or review previously taught topics.
Students are engaged.
It is fun!

6. In the Library
Whole Class
Library Stations
Readers Theatre Club

7. Whole Class Scripts relate to current topics of study
All students have the opportunity to work on expression and fluency
Scripts are leveled and groups are heterogeneously grouped with students of different leveled abilities

8. Library Stations Scripts are available for students to practice
Puppets or small props are available
Students choose part and keep same part during entire station

9. Content Related Scripts
Severe Weather News Report
Water Environments Expo
Presidential Jeopardy
Traveling Through Time with Deborah Sampson

10. Books as Scripts Elephant and Piggie Series by Mo Willems
Ballet Cat Series by Bob Shea
The Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

11. Readers Theatre Club Meets before or after school
Students take scripts home for extra practice
Students practice with scripts and puppets during club time
Students perform at school assembly or night program for parents

12. Applications

14. Weekly Club Meetings Describe each script like a book talk
Students choose parts to practice with group
Groups pair up and perform for each other
Practice on stage with microphones, music stands, and props

15. Performance Ideas Parent Night Winter Music Show
Read Across America Week
Fine Arts Night

16. Puppets and Props Amazon Ebay Donors Choose Grant Yard Sale/Good Will
Reading Partners

18. Scripts Teachers Pay Teachers
All Star Resources
Create your own scripts from books or grade level standards
Pinterest - Readers Theatre

19. Night of the Performance
Assign someone to hand out programs
Students meet in library before show
Have reserved seats for club members in audience
Use music stands on stage to hold scripts

20. Tips Printed Scripts vs iPads Two - four parts for each script
Extra batteries for microphones
Microphone troubleshooting
Audience behavior

21. Engaging Readers Through Readers Theatre
Rebecca Crute
Griggs Road Elementary School
Clover, SC
Presentation link: bit.ly/SCASL17ReadersTheatre