Read! Perform! Learn!: 10 Reader's Theater Programs for Literacy Enhancement

Children's Literature - Heather Robertson Mason

While most teachers love to read, it is still difficult for them to find ways to reach students who either struggle with reading or hate it completely. It is especially hard if the students are in a class with higher performing readers. One way to meet the needs of all readers is through Reader's Theater, the act of taking a story and creating a play where each child has a part. The author of this book has made Reader's Theater easy. She has taken ten popular children's books and turned them into short plays with between ten to fifteen characters in each. In addition, she includes an interview with the author and activities to connect the content areas. She even includes the handouts necessary for some of the assignments. All teachers of elementary reading will find this book useful. It is especially helpful for new teachers, since lesson objectives (similar to most state standards) are listed for each activity. The copyright allows for class copies of the plays and the worksheets. The only thing needed is a copy of the original children's book. This is a book that teachers can use the first day they buy it.