What is reader theater?

Reader’s theater provides an opportunity for students to read grade level appropriate, or slightly above, texts as they experience the joy and excitement of reading. It is essentially “reading aloud,” but not in the traditional way. This strategy offers a twist to the traditional read aloud in which the teacher is expected to read to students. A Readers Theatre production has students performing a “scripted play” from a book that students have already read independently or with the classroom teacher. Reader’s Theatre provides students with an active and engaging way to:

- Strengthen reading fluency

- Increase reading comprehension

- Foster listening and speaking skills

- Develop their oral language and vocabulary skills

- Build confidence in public speaking

- Develop an understanding of characters

- Make predictions

- Connect to the text

- Develop voice and intonation