Reader's Theater
Greetings. The following materials are intended to provide an introduction to Reader's Theater in Elementary and Secondary Schools. They were assembled from the World Wide Web, ERIC Database, and a variety of other bibliographic resources. Instructions for acquiring the full text of the ERIC records are presented at the end of this file.
Ping-Yun Sun
Reference Specialist
Alphabetically arranged listing of bibliographies
Categorically arranged listing of bibliographies
Internet Sites
Reader's Theatre Basics
Readers Theatre Resources for Teachers and Students
Readers Theatre Web Resources
Readers' Theatre lesson plans and ideas for elementary school
Aaron Shepard's RT Page
Readers Theater for Bilingual/ESL Students
The following citations are divided into three categories: general information, elementary education level, and secondary education level.
Citations from ERIC Database - General
AN: EJ637639
AU: Barchers,-Suzanne-I.
TI: Enhancing Reading with Readers' Theatre.
PY: 2001
SO: Knowledge-Quest; v30 n1 p11-12 Sep-Oct 2001
NT: Presented at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference: Coming Together as a Community of Learners (10th, Indianapolis, IN, November 14-18, 2001).
DEM: *Readers-Theater; *Reading-; *Reading-Interests; *Reading-Motivation; *Scripts-
DER: Creative-Dramatics; Instructional-Innovation; Oral-Interpretation; Reading-Instruction; Teaching-Methods
AB: Readers' Theatre is a presentation by two or more participants who read a script. The focus is on effective reading of the script, rather than on a memorized presentation. Discusses preparing the scripts; getting started; the Readers' Theatre Fable Festival; and how Readers' Theatre can be used to enhance the reading and writing program. Includes an example of teaching a Readers' Theatre Fable. (AEF)
AN: ED455550
AU: Ratliff,-Gerald-Lee
TI: Readers Theatre: An Introduction to Classroom Performance.
PY: 2000
NT: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association (86th, Seattle, WA, November 9-12, 2000).
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://www.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED455550
DEM: *Class-Activities; *Oral-Interpretation; *Readers-Theater; *Role-Playing; *Student-Participation
DER: Classroom-Techniques; Higher-Education; Introductory-Courses
AB: One of the primary principles of Readers Theater is to "dramatize" literature in classroom performance and to provide a visual and oral stimulus to students who are unaccustomed to using imagination to appreciate literary texts. Readers Theater may be used to enhance the critical study of language; to explore author meaning or point of view; to promote reading, writing, and listening skills; and to display creative talents of student performers. This paper discusses selected conventions of Readers Theater and gives a performance blueprint. It also presents selected exercises, developed in introduction to literature classes for non-majors, which should provide an excellent foundation to support further creative exploration by interested instructors. It notes that the exercises are framed as participatory activities to stimulate awareness of basic Readers Theater principles of classroom performance, and are intended to promote a classroom atmosphere of relaxed inquiry and "risk-free" role-playing. Exercises presented in the paper are entitled: "Vocal" Special Effects; X-Files: Three Characters in Search of an Alien Author; and You Are There. (NKA)
AN: EJ613096
AU: Liu,-Jun
TI: The Power of Readers Theater: From Reading To Writing.
PY: 2000
SO: ELT-Journal; v54 n4 p354-61 Oct 2000
DEM: *Classroom-Techniques; *Drama-; *English-Second-Language; *Readers-Theater; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Action-Research; Second-Language-Instruction; Second-Language-Learning
AB: Discusses an action research study in which the teacher-researcher consistently explored three phases of readers theater (RT) activities with 14 students in an English-as-a-Second-Language writing class. Positive effects of using RT were found. (Author/VWL)
AN: EJ581106
AU: Levac,-Anne-Marie-C.; McLean,-Sue; Wright,-Lorraine-M.; Bell,-Janice-M.
TI: A "Reader's Theater" Intervention to Managing Grief: Posttherapy Reflections by a Family and Clinical Team.
PY: 1998
SO: Journal-of-Marital-and-Family-Therapy; v24 n1 p81-93 Jan 1998
DEM: *Family-Counseling; *Grief-; *Intervention-; *Readers-Theater
DER: Beliefs-; Case-Studies; Death-
AB: Describes one couple's reflections of their grief and mourning following the death of their adolescent son, as well as the clinical team's reflection of therapy. Interventions such as reflecting teams, therapeutic letters, and "homework tasks" were used. Writing this article provided a "reader's theater" intervention that further served to identify, affirm, and solidify facilitating beliefs. (Author/MKA)
AN: EJ518338
AU: Latrobe,-Kathy
TI: Encouraging Reading & Writing Through Readers Theatre.
PY: 1996
SO: Emergency-Librarian; v23 n3 p16-20 Jan-Feb 1996
DEM: *Active-Learning; *Learning-Activities; *Readers-Theater
DER: Affective-Objectives; Cognitive-Objectives; Creative-Writing; Nontraditional-Education; Oral-Interpretation; Peer-Teaching; Reader-Response; Reader-Text-Relationship; Reading-Aloud-to-Others; Scripts-; Student-Developed-Materials; Student-Projects
AB: Readers' theater engages students in reading and writing activities that offer both affective and cognitive rewards. Students can develop their own scripts that introduce books, replacing the traditional book report with creative participation and active peer recommendation. Appendices provide two sample scripts. (AEF)
AN: ED383179
AU: Lengeling,-M.-Martha; and-others
TI: The Use of Readers Theater in the EFL Curriculum.
PY: 1995
NT: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (29th, Long Beach, CA, March 1995).
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED383179
DEM: *Dialogs-Language; *Dramatics-; *English-Second-Language; *Readers-Theater; *Teacher-Developed-Materials
DER: Classroom-Techniques; Communicative-Competence-Languages; Educational-Strategies; Foreign-Countries; Instructional-Materials; Language-Skills; Media-Selection; Second-Language-Instruction; Skill-Development; Student-Developed-Materials
AB: Readers Theater, a combination of storytelling and dramatic elements, is recommended as a technique for use in the English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) classroom. Among its advantages are that it incorporates four language skill areas (Listening, speaking, reading, writing), uses cultural materials, and motivates students by using language in a communicative and authentic context. Its use is suggested for all age groups and skill levels, and requirements of the teacher are common sense and creativity. Scripts can be based on any material used in the classroom and readily adapted by students, the only limitation being that the topic or text must lend itself to creation of dialogue. Some examples of materials developed by students at the university level are offered. Three common methods of staging Readers Theater are described: non-theatrical (reading of scenes within a classroom group), and semi-theatrical (reading of scenes in front of a classroom group), and theatrical (using simple props, scenery, lighting, and music). The teacher can prepare pre-performance activities such as discussion of the author, cultural context, setting, dialect, or vocabulary. It is concluded that the method leads to a deeper appreciation of language, content, and the learning process. (MSE)
AN: EJ493990
AU: White,-Sabina-A.; and-others
TI: Reader's Theater: New Students Learn Health and Safety.
PY: 1994
SO: Peer-Facilitator-Quarterly; v11 n4 p28-31 Jun 1994
DEM: *Dramatic-Play; *Health-Education; *Peer-Teaching; *Program-Implementation
DER: Acquired-Immune-Deficiency-Syndrome; Alcohol-Abuse; College-Students; Health-Promotion; Higher-Education; Peer-Relationship; Readers-Theater; Sexual-Abuse; Teaching-Methods
AB: The University of California at Santa Barbara Reader's Theater program educates students about the prevention of alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and HIV through a live, dramatic script reading. Peer educators serve as both actors and follow-up workshop discussion facilitators. (SM)
Citations from ERIC Database - Elementary
AN: ED451556
AU: Fredericks,-Anthony-D.
TI: Silly Salamanders and Other Slightly Stupid Stuff for Readers Theatre.
PY: 2000
AV: Teacher Ideas Press, P.O. Box 6633, Englewood, CO 80155-6633 ($23.50). Tel: 800-237-6124 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.lu.com/tip.
PR: Document Not Available from EDRS.
DEM: *Fairy-Tales; *Language-Arts; *Readers-Theater; *Scripts-
DER: Classroom-Techniques; Curriculum-Enrichment; Elementary-Education; Parody-
AB: This book contains more than two dozen reader's theater scripts to entertain and amuse those in the classroom or library. The scripts in the book--all are reproducible--can help nurture student language arts skills and the power of the imagination with their fractured "takes" on fairy tales and their twisted legends. Designed to re-energize the reading and writing curricula, this humorous collection of scripts educates and entertains. Performance guidelines and numerous tips and ideas for using reader's theater extend language learning. Appended are: an extensive bibliography selected for further reading, more ideas, and a resource list. (NKA)
AN: EJ616138
AU: Rasinski,-Timothy-V.
TI: Speed Does Matter in Reading.
PY: 2000
SO: Reading-Teacher; v54 n2 p146-51 Oct 2000
DEM: *Reading-Difficulties; *Reading-Instruction; *Reading-Rate
DER: Class-Activities; Elementary-Education; Poetry-; Readers-Theater; Reading-Aloud-to-Others; Reading-Improvement
AB: Argues that reading rate should not be ignored, but rather seen as evidence of excessively slow processing of text, and thus as a diagnostic indicator. Describes how excessively slow, disfluent reading leads to less overall reading, to reading frustration, and is associated with poor comprehension. Describes authentic and engaging instructional activities to support reading fluency. (SR)
AN: EJ596882
AU: Millin,-Sandra-K.; Rinehart,-Steven-D.
TI: Some of the Benefits of Readers Theater Participation for Second-Grade Title I Students.
PY: 1999
SO: Reading-Research-and-Instruction; v39 n1 p71-88 Fall 1999
DEM: *Oral-Reading; *Readers-Theater; *Reading-Attitudes
DER: Grade-2; Motivation-; Primary-Education; Reader-Text-Relationship; Reading-Achievement; Reading-Improvement; Remedial-Programs
AB: Investigates the effects of readers theater participation on the oral reading ability and motivation of second-grade Title I reading students. Finds readers theater activities may offer otherwise struggling readers an opportunity to read aloud with enhanced skill that may transfer to reading achievement levels on other material. (NH)
AN: EJ583499
AU: Rinehart,-Steven-D.
TI: "Don't Think for a Minute That I'm Getting Up There": Opportunities for Readers' Theater in a Tutorial for Children with Reading Problems.
PY: 1999
SO: Reading-Psychology; v20 n1 p71-89 Jan-Mar 1999
DEM: *Readers-Theater; *Reading-Difficulties; *Reading-Instruction
DER: Elementary-Education; High-Risk-Students; Instructional-Effectiveness; Summer-Programs; Tutorial-Programs
AB: Suggests that readers' theater activities may help children with reading problems gain oral-reading fluency and confidence. Describes how readers' theater can be successfully integrated into a broader, multifaceted tutorial. Finds positive benefits of readers' theater preparation and practice during a summer reading tutorial. Presents classroom implications concerning using readers' theater in other instructional contexts. (RS)
AN: EJ575088
AU: Martinez,-Miriam; Roser,-Nancy-L.; Strecker,-Susan
TI: "I Never Thought I Could Be a Star": A Reader's Theatre Ticket to Fluency.
PY: 1999
SO: Reading-Teacher; v52 n4 p326-34 Dec-Jan 1998-1999
DEM: *Readers-Theater; *Reading-Improvement; *Reading-Instruction
DER: Grade-2; Primary-Education; Reading-Attitudes; Student-Attitudes
AB: Describes a 10-week project in two second-grade classrooms that used daily Readers' Theatre experiences to develop children's meaningful and fluent reading. Discusses access to manageable materials, effective reading models, rereadings, instructional support and feedback, choosing the texts, and preparing. (SR)
AN: ED415859
AU: Fredericks,-Anthony-D.
TI: Tadpole Tales and Other Totally Terrific Treats for Readers Theatre.
PY: 1997
AV: Teacher Ideas Press, Libraries Unlimited, P.O. Box 6633, Englewood, CO 80155-6633 ($18.50); phone: 1-800-237-6124; URL: http://www.lu.com/tip
NT: Illustrated by Anthony Allan Stoner.
PR: Document Not Available from EDRS.
DEM: *Childrens-Literature; *Fairy-Tales; *Humor-; *Language-Arts; *Readers-Theater
DER: Acting-; Creative-Dramatics; Elementary-Education; Fiction-; Oral-Interpretation; Thinking-Skills; Writing-Skills
AB: Readers theater is a storytelling device that stimulates the imagination and promotes all of the language arts. Readers theater is an oral interpretation of a piece of literature read in a dramatic style. It involves and motivates students, energizes the language arts program, and stimulates learning. Geared for children in grades 1-4, this book is a follow-up to "Frantic Frogs and Other Frankly Fractured Folktales for Readers Theatre," which is intended for an older (grades 4-8) audience. The book begins by introducing readers theater and describing its value and how to present and create readers theater activities. It then presents a collection of 29 humorous scripts adapted from traditional folktales and rhymes for using in readers theater presentations. The book also includes a section of unfinished scripts and partial stories for students to complete. All scripts are arranged according to reading level. Appendices include: a list of references for fairy tales, Mother Goose rhymes, folk tales, and other stories to share; a list of "far-out" and "funky" titles for students to use to create their own readers theater scripts; and articles, books, and other sources on readers theater that teachers may wish to consult. (Contains 24 references.) (SWC)
AN: ED396341
AU: Dixon,-Neill; and-others
TI: Learning with Readers Theatre. Building Connections Series.
PY: 1996
AV: Peguis Publishers Limited, 100-318 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A OA2, Canada.
PR: Document Not Available from EDRS.
DEM: *Classroom-Techniques; *Learning-Activities; *Readers-Theater; *Scripts-; *Story-Telling
DER: Acting-; Elementary-Education; Junior-High-Schools; Oral-Interpretation; Production-Techniques; Student-Evaluation
AB: Suggesting that Readers Theatre is a simple, effective, and risk-free way to get K-8 children reading, this book provides strategies, organizers, and scripts that can be used as is or as models for readers' own scripts. The book provides ideas for planning and organizing Readers Theatre; oral interpretation; connecting Readers Theatre to storytelling; writing scripts--both original and adapted; staging and blocking; cross-curricular connections; integrating, and involving children in assessment and evaluation; and inviting, including, and informing others (parents, colleagues, school administrators, and community members). After an introduction, chapters in the book are: (1) Articulating Our Beliefs; (2) Getting Started with Readers Theatre; (3) Oral Interpretation; (4) Storytelling; (5) Writing Scripts; (6) Staging; (7) Connecting Curriculum with Readers Theatre; (8) Evaluation; (9) Inviting, Including, Informing Others; and (10) Questions and Answers. Contains 27 references. Appendixes present reproducible masters and scripts. (RS)
AN: EJ556801
AU: Keil,-Mary; Johns,-Jerry-L.
TI: Drama: Another Dimension to Literacy Instruction.
PY: 1995
SO: State-of-Reading; v2 n2 p29-36 Fall 1995
NT: Journal availability: Texas State Reading Association, University of Texas at Arlington, Box 19227, Arlington, TX 76019-0227.
DEM: *Drama-; *Readers-Theater; *Role-Playing
DER: Classroom-Techniques; Elementary-Education
AB: Suggests that, from nursery school throughout the elementary years, teachers can encourage children to participate in dramatizations by incorporating dramatic experiences into the classroom context. Provides guidelines for implementing a variety of drama activities--dramatic play, story drama, readers theater, role playing, and other creative drama activities. (RS)
AN: EJ515955
AU: Forsythe,-Sheri-J.
TI: It Worked! Readers Theatre in Second Grade (Teaching Reading).
PY: 1995
SO: Reading-Teacher; v49 n3 p264-65 Nov 1995
DEM: *Readers-Theater
DER: Class-Activities; Cooperative-Learning; Grade-2; Primary-Education; Reading-Writing-Relationship
AB: Describes how second graders (in a bilingual class in which many of the students were nonreaders at the start of the school year) wrote and presented, over the course of the school year, their own Readers Theatre. (SR)
AN: EJ483741
AU: Sanborn,-LaVonne-Hayes
TI: Reader's Theatre: A Library Media Specialist's Best Friend.
PY: 1994
SO: School-Library-Media-Activities-Monthly; v10 n9 p31-33 May 1994
DEM: *Adolescent-Literature; *Childrens-Literature; *Readers-Theater; *School-Libraries
DER: Class-Activities; Dialogs-Literary; Elementary-Education; Learning-Activities; Learning-Resources-Centers; Parent-Associations; Parent-School-Relationship
AB: Describes the use of reader's theater in school libraries and suggests titles that are suitable to use for elementary school students and young adults. Topics discussed include using reader's theater with parents at parent organization meetings; collaborating with teachers for classroom presentations; the importance of dialog; and benefits to students. (LRW)
AN: EJ460922
AU: Wolf,-Shelby-Anne
TI: What's in a Name? Labels and Literacy in Readers Theatre.
PY: 1993
SO: Reading-Teacher; v46 n7 p540-45 Apr 1993
NT: Special Issue: Innovations in Literacy for a Diverse Society.
DEM: *Labeling-of-Persons; *Readers-Theater
DER: Classroom-Research; Creative-Dramatics; Elementary-Education; Language-Usage; Program-Descriptions
AB: Discusses a yearlong study of a classroom's experience with Readers Theatre. Analyzes the "remedial" children's interpretive behaviors--language uses, body movements, comparative approaches, and affective interpretations--as they enacted literary texts in the theater of their own creation. Suggests that one solution to the problems of labeled children is the confluence of reading with drama. (RS)
AN: EJ440995
AU: Hoyt,-Linda
TI: Many Ways of Knowing: Using Drama, Oral Interactions, and the Visual Arts to Enhance Reading Comprehension.
PY: 1992
SO: Reading-Teacher; v45 n8 p580-84 Apr 1992
NT: Special Issue on Exemplary Practices in Literacy Development and Instruction.
DEM: *Discussion-Teaching-Technique; *Drama-; *Readers-Theater; *Reading-Comprehension; *Reading-Instruction; *Visual-Arts
DER: Communication-Thought-Transfer; Elementary-Education
AB: Asserts that students gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of what they have read when they have systematic opportunities to integrate reading with drama, oral language, and art. Discusses how to use drama, Reader's Theater, oral interactions, and the visual arts to improve reading comprehension. (PRA)
AN: ED360238
AU: Gallagher,-Arlene-F., ed.
TI: Acting Together. Readers Theatre: Excerpts from Children's Literature on Themes from the Constitution.
CS: Social Science Education Consortium, Inc., Boulder, CO.
PY: 1991
AV: Social Science Education Consortium, 3300 Mitchell Lane, Suite 240, Boulder, CO 80301-2272.
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED360238
DEM: *Childrens-Literature; *Constitutional-History; *Constitutional-Law; *Readers-Theater; *Social-Studies
DER: Citizenship-Education; Elementary-Education; Law-Related-Education; Learning-Activities
AB: This book summarizes itself as "A collection of excerpts from children's literature on themes related to the United States Constitution scripted in Readers Theatre format for elementary school students." It is based upon the belief that an integrated curriculum that correlates content and skills is most appropriate at the elementary level. It contains scripts of stories that reflect constitutional principles and concepts with which the classroom teacher can infuse the study of the U.S. Constitution into the existing curriculum. Teaching is most effective when based on strategies that are characterized by student involvement and participation. This is especially important in citizenship education because students are unlikely to learn to become participating citizens if they only listen to instruction or work independently. A goal of this collection is to develop the child's ability to see more than one side or point of view regarding an issue or problem. The pieces are divided into the three sections. Those in the first section teach that choices have consequences. The second section deals with the rights of others. The final section works with the issue of developing a spirit of community in a country that values and celebrates individualism. The three scripts in this section explore how people treat each other and work together in a community. Issues include discrimination, problem solving, and taking care of each other. Advice on how to script a story is provided. The works are presented to be read in the form of a readers' theater, rather than to be performed as a skit or play. The emphasis is on participation not on being an audience. (DK)
Citations from ERIC Database - Secondary
AN: EJ627744
AU: Tyler,-Brenda-Jean; Chard,-David-J.
TI: Using Readers Theatre To Foster Fluency in Struggling Readers: A Twist on the Repeated Reading Strategy.
PY: 2000
SO: Reading-and-Writing-Quarterly:-Overcoming-Learning-Difficulties; v16 n2 p163-68 Apr-Jun 2000
NT: Theme: Conceptual Learning: A Multidimensional Lens, Part II.
DEM: *Readers-Theater; *Reading-Comprehension; *Reading-Difficulties; *Reading-Improvement
DER: Class-Activities; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Reading-Motivation; Special-Education
AB: Discusses reading fluency, the role of fluency in reading, and how fluency works. Suggests students' fluency and reading comprehension can be boosted by combining the technique of repeated reading and Readers Theatre--the combination is an effective and viable means of motivating children to read a text. (RS)
AN: EJ626167
AU: Asher,-Sandy
TI: Write from the Heart: Finding Our Own Best Stories.
PY: 2000
SO: ALAN-Review; v28 n1 p16-19 Fall 2000
DEM: *Folk-Culture; *Story-Telling
DER: Oral-Tradition; Readers-Theater; Secondary-Education
AB: Suggests that stories are a survival mechanism--they are the way people make sense of their lives. Notes the author has made it her personal mission to encourage people to tell their own stories, the stories that will die with people if they do not pass them on. Includes excerpts from the author's readers theater scripts to illustrate the importance telling stories. (RS)
AN: EJ627231
AU: Harmon,-Sandra-D.; Riney-Kehrberg,-Pamela; Westbury,-Susan
TI: Readers' Theatre as a History Teaching Tool.
PY: 1999
SO: History-Teacher; v32 n4 p525-45 Aug 1999
DEM: *Educational-Practices; *Females-; *History-Instruction; *Readers-Theater; *Student-Participation; *Womens-History
DER: Higher-Education; Scripts-; Secondary-Education; Social-Studies
AB: Describes the production of a readers' theater version of the first women's rights convention held at Seneca Falls, New York (includes script). Discusses the benefits of readers' theater for studying women's history and encouraging female student class participation; strategies for using readers' theater; and students creating their own readers' theater. (CMK)
AN: ED434378
AU: Annarella,-Lorie-A.
TI: Using Creative Drama in the Multicultural Classroom.
PY: 1999
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED434378
DEM: *Creative-Activities; *Drama-; *Multicultural-Education
DER: Classroom-Techniques; Cultural-Differences; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Higher-Education; Pantomime-; Play-; Readers-Theater
AB: The use of creative drama in a multicultural classroom can allow a teacher to establish a student-focused base for experiential learning and can allow students from various cultures to use drama as a way of expressing their individual cultural differences. Using literature about various ethnic groups in creative drama can contribute to the multicultural classroom. The practice of creative drama can help to cultivate creativity and inventiveness. Creative drama addresses all areas of language arts, teaches the important skill of focusing, and acts as a tool in the multicultural classroom for learning to understand and overcome differences. Using creative drama honors the importance of play and thus acts as a learning tool. Creative drama may be implemented in the classroom through the use of guided imagery, mirror exercises, pantomimes, Reader's Theatre, and Chamber Theatre. (Contains 13 references.) (EF)
AN: ED434377
AU: Annarella,-Lorie-A.
TI: Using Readers' Theatre in the Classroom.
PY: 1999
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED434377
DEM: *Creative-Dramatics; *Creative-Expression; *Improvisation-; *Reader-Text-Relationship; *Readers-Theater; *Reading-Comprehension
DER: Acting-; Critical-Reading; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Experiential-Learning; Oral-Interpretation
AB: Reader's Theatre can be used to combine basic literature and writing instruction with creative arts. Improvisational playmaking by students, using literature in the form of plays, prose, and poetry, forms the basis of Reader's Theatre. Use of Reader's Theatre in the classroom can: (1) foster deeper understanding of character, setting, and plot through the reading, interpretation, and experience of dramatic performance; (2) create deeper understanding of content and a sense of identity and personal validation by making students responsible for their own learning; and (3) encourage better interpersonal interaction through the body language, voice control, and empathy inherent in the group acting experience. Results suggest that the program develops classroom energy and student/teacher motivation by engaging children in holistic involvement with literature and encouraging students to discover, ask questions, role play, and thus achieve a sense of belonging. (EF)
AN: ED420894
AU: Hett,-Dorothy; Haring,-Dana
TI: Shake Up Your Shakespeare: Creative Drama Activities for "Romeo and Juliet."
PY: 1998
NT: Paper presented at the Annual Spring Conference of the National Council of Teachers of English (Albuquerque, NM, March 19-21, 1998).
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC02 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED420894
DEM: *Creative-Dramatics; *English-Instruction
DER: Class-Activities; Grade-9; Improvisation-; Pantomime-; Production-Techniques; Readers-Theater; Secondary-Education
AB: This paper presents creative drama activities based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" for use in ninth-grade English classrooms. The activities are divided into sections on improvisation, pantomime, image-making and creative drama, reader's theater, drama scenes, interior monologue, and producing plays. Each section of the paper presents instructional objectives and instructional plans; most sections present dramatic scene descriptions designed to be duplicated and passed out to students. (RS)
AN: ED416514
AU: Ratliff,-Gerald-Lee
TI: Reader's Theatre in Performance: Creative Classroom Concepts.
PY: 1997
NT: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association (83rd, Chicago, IL, November 19-23, 1997).
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED416514
DEM: *Dramatics-; *Production-Techniques; *Readers-Theater; *Student-Participation
DER: Class-Activities; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Literature-Appreciation
AB: With five basic exercises presented in this paper as a guide, instructors and students can gain an immediate awareness of the performance and staging principles in Reader's Theatre which may be used creatively to visualize literature so that it becomes "alive" in the imagination of the readers as well as the listener. The paper begins with a discussion of selected conventions which distinguish Reader's Theatre from more typical theatrical productions and make it educationally valuable for classroom exploration. The exercises provide the foundation needed to promote further experimentation. Each exercise is framed as a working blueprint to stimulate student awareness of the basic principles of Reader's Theatre staging; to provide the primary ingredients of vocal and physical performance demands; and to stimulate initial appreciation of the mechanics involved in bringing a scripted program of selected literature "alive" in classroom performance. Exercises are entitled "Sardines Today!"; "Book Ends"; "I Beg Your Pardon, What Did You Say?"; "Vocal Traffic Jam"; and "The Body Beautiful!" (RS)
AN: EJ556797
AU: Stewart,-Loretta-T.
TI: Readers Theatre and the Writing Workshop: Using Children's Literature to Prompt Student Writing.
PY: 1997
SO: Reading-Teacher; v51 n2 p174-75 Oct 1997
DEM: *Childrens-Literature; *Literary-Devices; *Readers-Theater; *Writing-Workshops
DER: Grade-6; Intermediate-Grades; Reading-Instruction; Writing-Instruction
AB: Describes how a middle-school teacher used "Charlotte's Web" in Reader's Theatre and in a writing workshop. Describes how the book was used as a writing model for dialog and for examining literary devices. (SR)
AN: ED413623
AU: Shepard,-Aaron
TI: Readers on Stage: Tips for Reader's Theater.
PY: 1997
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED413623
DEM: *Acting-; *Production-Techniques; *Readers-Theater; *Scripts-
DER: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Student-Participation
AB: This paper presents tips on scripting, staging, and reading Reader's Theater. The first section of the paper discusses tips on scripting--script roles, cuts and changes, narration, script format, and team scripting (children working in teams to write scripts). The second section presents tips on staging, such as equipment, script handling, the set, reader movement, mime, focus, and beginnings and endings. The third section presents tips on preparing, rehearsing, and performing reader's theater. Contains four figures. (RS)
AN: EJ549860
AU: McKay,-Roberta
TI: Essential Ways of Knowing: Drama and the Visual Arts in Social Studies. Current Concerns.
PY: 1997
SO: Canadian-Social-Studies; v31 n3 p116 Spr 1997
DEM: *Curriculum-Enrichment; *Interdisciplinary-Approach; *Readers-Theater; *Social-Studies; *Theater-Arts; *Visual-Arts
DER: Creative-Teaching; Drama-; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Foreign-Countries; Instructional-Innovation; Learning-Modalities; Oral-Interpretation; Student-Motivation; Teaching-Methods
AB: Recommends using "Readers' Theater" as an interdisciplinary approach to social studies. Maintains that the format lends itself to the examination of social issues and current events while it provides opportunities for a variety of learning styles. Briefly discusses Jan Truss' book, "A Very Small Rebellion." (MJP)
AN: EJ605450
AU: Wood,-Karen-D.; Jones,-Jeanneine-P.
TI: Integrating the Language Arts: From the Classroom to the Community. Research into Practice.
PY: 1996
SO: Middle-School-Journal; v28 n2 p49-53 Nov 1996
DEM: *Integrated-Activities; *Integrated-Curriculum; *Language-Arts
DER: Community-Services; Curriculum-Development; Learning-Activities; Middle-Schools; Poetry-; Readers-Theater; School-Support; Self-Evaluation-Individuals; Speech-Communication; Thematic-Approach; Writing-Across-the-Curriculum
AB: Presents seven examples of integrating language arts into the curriculum through the use of community connections: (1) exploring curriculum with themed instruction; (2) promoting discussion; (3) using oral language; (4) introducing "found poetry"; (5) writing across the curriculum; (6) sharing an interpretive reading activity in a readers' theater; and (7) using collaborative arrangements. (DLH)
AN: EJ492646
AU: Shepard,-Aaron
TI: From Script to Stage: Tips for Readers Theatre.
PY: 1994
SO: Reading-Teacher; v48 n2 p184-85 Oct 1994
DEM: *Production-Techniques; *Readers-Theater
DER: Class-Activities; Elementary-Secondary-Education
AB: Offers tips for Readers Theatre. Discusses equipment, script handling, the set, reader movement, mime and sound effects, focus, and beginnings and endings. (SR)
AN: ED409596
AU: White,-Melvin-R.
TI: Mel White's Readers Theatre Anthology: Twenty-Eight All-Occasion Readings for Storytellers.
PY: 1993
AV: Meriwether Publishing Ltd., Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 ($14.95).
PR: Document Not Available from EDRS.
DEM: *Creative-Expression; *Curriculum-Enrichment; *Oral-Interpretation; *Readers-Theater; *Story-Telling
DER: Drama-; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Higher-Education
AB: This anthology of literature contains selections that can be performed in classrooms, workshops, and speech and theater conventions as reader's theater, defined as a dramatic approach to literature. Divided into six categories--comedy, mystery/suspense, Christmas specials, folklore, children's classics, and the human spirit--the anthology features adaptations of both classic and contemporary works by William Shakespeare, James Thurber, Rudyard Kipling, O. Henry, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, the Brothers Grimm, Al Martinez, and Kenneth Grahame. The anthology also contains an essay on Readers Theater as a performance art, describing how to use stage/performance space and how to approach costuming for Readers Theater. (NKA)
AN: EJ470433
AU: Trousdale,-Ann-M.; Harris,-Violet-J.
TI: Missing Links in Literary Response: Group Interpretation of Literature.
PY: 1993
SO: Children's-Literature-in-Education; v24 n3 p195-207 Sep 1993
DEM: *Adolescent-Literature; *Cognitive-Style; *Cooperative-Learning; *Literature-Appreciation
DER: Choral-Speaking; Elementary-Secondary-Education; English-Instruction; Reader-Response; Readers-Theater; Theory-Practice-Relationship
AB: Argues that students embody multiple ways of knowing and learning, all of which can theoretically and practically be fostered in the literature classroom. Discusses various ways (especially choral reading and Readers Theater) of including different kinds of intelligence other than merely the verbal in the interpretation of literature. (HB)
AN: EJ461499
AU: Polette,-Nancy
TI: Two Way Booktalks: To Read and to Perform.
PY: 1993
SO: School-Library-Media-Activities-Monthly; v9 n8 p27-29 Apr 1993
DEM: *Oral-Interpretation; *Readers-Theater
DER: Childrens-Literature; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Fiction-; History-Instruction; Library-Services; Picture-Books; School-Libraries
AB: Explains how to perform a booktalk as a readers' theater script and offers guidelines for staging. Two examples are given, one for a picture book and one for a novel; and nine booktalks are provided for historical books that are suitable for adaptation as readers' theater scripts. (LRW)
AN: EJ434282
AU: Young,-Terrell-A.
TI: Readers Theatre: Bringing Life to the Reading Program!
PY: 1991
SO: Reading-Horizons; v32 n1 p33-40 Oct 1991
DEM: *Content-Area-Reading; *Learning-Activities; *Oral-Reading; *Readers-Theater; *Reading-Improvement
DER: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Reading-Attitudes; Reading-Comprehension; Student-Motivation
AB: Explores the benefits of using Readers Theatre in the content areas. Discusses how to select and adapt text for Readers Theatre scripts and provides suggestions for rehearsal and performing of the scripts. (MG)
 Reader's Theatre Bookmarks- Pkg Of 25 |
Other Resources (available either for sale or via interlibrary loan)
Title: Another point of view : readers theater fairy tales & activities
Author: Polette, Nancy.
Year: 2000
Publisher: Pieces of Learning
Title: A vocal invitation to readers theatre : using readers theatre to develop the child's voice : a classroom guidebook
Author: Konrad, Shirley.
Year: 2000
Publisher: U-Otter-Read-It
Title: Silly salamanders and other slightly stupid stuff for readers theatre
Authors: Fredericks, Anthony D. ; Stoner, Anthony Allan.
Year: 2000
Publisher: Teacher Ideas Press
Title: Introduction to readers theatre : a guide to classroom performance
Author: Ratliff, Gerald Lee.
Year: 1999
Publisher: Meriwether Pub.
Title: "Meet me there" musical documentary, Zion National Park Behunin family reunion reader's theater, Sept. 13, 1998, St. George tabernacle ; BBQ/entertainment, Rockville church, Sept. 11, 1998
Authors: Forsberg, Meryl Lynn. ; Forsberg, Rob. ; Sewell, Brian.
Year: 1999
Publisher: Digital Video Productions,
Title: Readers' theater
Authors: Reeves, Robyn. ; Swinburne, Laurence. ; Warner, Jack.
Year: 1998
Publisher: Steck-Vaughn
Title: Invitation to readers theatre : a guidebook for using readers theatre to celebrate holidays and special events throughout the year
Authors: Raczuk, Helen K.; Smith, Marilyn P.
Year: 1997
Publisher: U-Otter-Read-It
Title: Multicultural folktales for the feltboard and readers' theater
Author: Sierra, Judy.
Year: 1996
Publisher: Oryx Press
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