The actors and actresses walked onto the “stage”. They glanced at their waiting audience. The first actor took a deep breath and delivered his first line. Sound like a description of a broadway stage? Or a community theater performance? Guess what, it is describing what happens in a classroom that rocks reader's theater. Teachers can use this reading strategy to engage students of all ages, and work on their fluency. Read on to learn few ways to implement reader's theater in the classroom. Distance learning? Don't worry! You can implement this strategy virtually! Need scripts? In addition to the resources/ideas listed below, do a quick internet search for reader's theater scripts. There are SO many resources!

Reader's Theater for Fluency Practice

Fluency. A definite buzzword in the world of education! Fluency is defined as “the ability to read with speed, accuracy and proper expression”. Teachers employ the use of a wide variety of materials to help students develop fluency. These could be reading passages, games, small group instruction or timings. Whatever you use, keep doing it! Consider adding reader's theater to the mix! This engaging strategy can help with fluency in the following ways:

• Repeated readings-helps with word familiarity
• May introduce readers to new words AND help them become more familiar with commonly used words
• Practice using expression-this is the easiest thing to practice with reader's theater!

Expression & Comprehension

What better way to understand what you are reading than by reading it with the right expression? Using expression means the reader understands how the character is feeling. All teachers know that comprehension is the big picture of reading. We want our students to read to understand, learn, remember and enjoy. Working on expression will aid in students' progress towards this goal. How to work on expression using reader's theater? Assign students parts (if you have scripts. After they've learned their “lines” ask them how they would say the lines if they were in the story. After they have practiced it several times, have them perform for an audience. The audience can simply be the teacher, another small group of students OR other classes. There are so many possibilities with reader's theater!

Don't have access to theater scripts? Never fear!

Not able to access any reader's theater scripts OR not liking any you find? Bring this fun strategy to your classroom using the following ideas:

Use a Phonics Focused Readers Theater Script

Using readers theater to target phonics skills is a win win! Not only will students get targeted phonics instruction, they will work on their expression, fluency and presentation skills. Our team has created the first of many phonics Paired Plays. Working with a partner, students will work on words focusing on the ai/ay sound. Downloading the ai/ay Paired Play is a perfect introduction to readers theater for your students.

Alternative performance ideas:

• Have students create a popsicle stick puppet show with the play.
• Students can create paper characters and film their play to show as a movie.

If your students enjoy reading and performing Rainy Day Hike, remember to stop back to download the rest as soon as they drop!

Check out the editable version, too!

Take a Closer Look

Let Katie from our team take you on a tour all things decodable paired plays, and how to use them in your classroom for phonics success (and high student engagement).

Turn a Picture Book into a Reader's Theater Performance

Use a favorite picture book and assign students as characters from the story. They can help you read the book projected, or in small groups, using the right expression for the “scene”.

Additional Note: have your students write down their lines on our blank script template!

. Trouble deciding which book to use? Here are some recommendations!

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SEL Skills: Chrysanthemum

For pre readers: many characters are animals! Little Blue Truck

Need lots of characters? A Bad Case of Stripes

Use a Reading Passage

Using reading passages is a very convenient way to incorporate theater into your classroom. It is important to select a passage in which emotions are obvious. You may also want students to practice summarizing these passages by writing the main points in script format. Grab a blank script template below.

Might we suggest a couple ideas from our collection?

Decodable Passages

Using decodable passages as scripts ensures students can read what you give them. Students would need to decide who will read/perform what part of the passage. They can take turns reading the script as a narrator, while other students act out the parts. Or, these passages can be rewritten as scripts by teacher or students.

Find our more about the huge collection of 1st and 2nd grade decodable passages here: Decodable Text: How & When to Use It. Or, browse our passages below and get your students ready to perform.

Growth Mindset Passages

Each of these passages involves a child that is placed in a situation that evokes emotions. Your students can read this in pairs, using the correct expression for the situation. Then, after they write what should happen next, they can act that part out for the class! Get more information on these passages HERE.

Have Students Write their Own Dialogue to Perform

Need to incorporate some personal narrative or fiction writing? Students can describe an even that happened to them OR make one up. They will write a short summary on this event and read it aloud, with appropriate expression to the class. Some students may even want to act it out!

Learning virtually? Here are a few options to incorporate Reader's Theater:

• Read your resource in a 1-on-1 virtual meet with a student

• Have students pair up and work on it in a small group virtual meet

• Students can perform for their peers in a whole class virtual meet

• Last spring, some teachers even implemented a class play virtually! Scripts were sent to parents with a child's part assigned. Each family recorded their students lines and e-mailed to the teacher. The teacher then edited it into a class iMovie. (Which was then sent out the families.) Students LOVED this!

The possibilities are ENDLESS! Have more ideas to share? Head on over to our Facebook Group, Lucky 2nd Grade Teachers! You will be inspired!

Remember, together we are better!