Reader's Theater

When I chose Reader Theater for my blog I hadn't a clue what the book study would tell about this as a literacy strategy.  I know what Reader's Theater is for me in my classes, but no real idea of how they would make it relevant for other subjects.  If you are already getting visions of students writing plays where they are historical figures, becoming Mikey Molecule, and "acting out" info, yes, that is one way to go.   The authors of our book have provided a different approach.  An approach more in line with a group presentations not theater events.  The example of Reader's Theater they give takes solidly academic material more in line with what students might turn in as a paper and creates from it a script.  Consider these two examples:

PAPER

In order to value the importance and impact of lighting on a stage production you must understand the 5 functions of lighting.  They are general illumination, establishing mood, establishing environment, changing time, changing location, and directing audience focus.

SCRIPT

Speaker 1:  In order value the importance and impact of lighting on a stage production you must understand the 5 functions of lighting.

Speaker 2:  They are general illumination.

Speaker 3: Establishing mood and establishing environment.

Speaker 2:  Changing time and changing location.

Speaker 1: And directing focus.

It's still the same information, but now because the readers are carrying equal responsibilities  in the delivery and they are dealing with smaller "bites" of information the tone is more conversational. This benefits the speakers by allowing them time look at the paper while others are speaking, grab  the next lines, and then look up when it is their turn to talk.  Because the Reader's Theater format deals with sentences instead of paragraphs students are less likely to lose their place, forget what to say, and get flustered. Reader's theater has advantages for the audience too.  It helps them stay engaged by using changes of voice and energy on a continuous level without the boring predictability of one person talking for more 2 or 4 sentences.

That's really all there is to it_ no costumes, no props, no talking equations or plant cells.  Just providing students with a tool for doing presentations which only allows them to show us what they know, but with the added benefits of  practicing strong communication skills and gaining confidence.    

 CURTAIN