The Readers Theater : Grade Four

“Readers Theater introduces the element of drama into literacy learning and magically transforms the classroom into a stage. The reader is at center stage, totally absorbed in reading. The reader is a star” (Carrick, 2000).

In Readers Theater, readers have a purpose for reading. They tell stories, while reading from a script. They may not need any props or costumes. All they need is a script, and their own imaginations!

Learners of Grade four had their first hand experience of Readers Theater recently. First the students were put into groups. Next the scripts were distributed and the teacher modeled reading followed by the learners taking up parts to perform. The scripts were sent home for practice. Finally the presentations were done and the result was worth the efforts. It’s a fun way to build a cooperative environment in the classroom while building students’ reading proficiency.