1. Exploring Reader’s Theatre
by: Leslie Laudenslager
Photo courtesy of Discovery Education

2. What is Reader’s Theatre?
o Readers reading an adapted script
o Develop fluency through repeated readings
o Students read out loud with expression
o Students read/not memorize
o Props may be used
(Cornwall, 2014) Photo courtesy of Chris Tse

3. Why Do Reader’s Theatre?
 Reading develops fluency and comprehension
 Helps to build confidence
 Brings authentic context to repeated reading
 Allows students to work cooperatively
 Increase students’ motivation
 Can use with all ages
(Cornwall, 2014)

4. Implementing Reader’s Theatre
 Process takes five days
 Day 1: Model reading scripts
 Use expression and gestures
 Students read entire script independently
(Young, 2012) Photo courtesy of Fancy Jantzi

5. Reader’s Theatre Day 2 & 3
 Day 2: Read all parts
 Choose/highlight part
 Work on word identification
 Day 3: Read with expression
 Continue to practice
(Young, 2012)

6. Reader’s Theater Day 4 & 5
 Day 4: Practice like performance
 Day 5: Performance
 Invite others to watch
(Young, 2012)
Image courtesy of COD Library

7. What Does it Look Like?
 Watch a video of reader’s theatre
 Chris Young’s second graders
Photo courtesy of Alan Cleaver

8. Sources of Scripts
 Adapt picture books
 Student created scripts
 Web resources for scripts:
 http://www.storiestogrowby.com/script_body.html
 http://www.timrasinski.com/presentations/readers_theater_s
ources.pdf

9. Resources
 Cleaver, A. (2009). [Image]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/6bWCDL.
 COD Library. (2008). [Image]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/5ndjjM.
 Cornwall, L. (2014). What is Reader’s Theatre? Scholastic. Retrieved
from http://www.scholastic.com/librarians/programs/whatisrt.htm.
 Discovery Education, . Close up Front View of Girl with Book. [Image].
Available from http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
 Jantzi, F. (2011).[Image]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/9cWPbj.
 Tse, Chris. (2013). [Image]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/dTPze2.
 Young, C. (2012). Implementing Readers’ Theatre. [video]. Retrieved
from http://youtu.be/4L5q0Y8hukU.