1. 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

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

3. 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"

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

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

10. On Stage Stand in line? Script folders? Tag board nametags? e.g.
Music stands?
see examples

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

12. Useful Websites Reader’s Theater is limited only by the imagination.
Reader’s Theater is limited
only by the imagination.
Have fun!