Course Sample for Our Reader’s Theater Scripts Homeschool Course
What Is Reader’s Theater?
Reader’s Theater is the oral presentation of a written work that is performed with two or more readers. Memorization is not required because the focus of this form of drama is on reading the work with expression rather than reciting it. The readers help the audience to understand and visualize the text through their vocal performance.
Benefits of Using Reader’s Theater
• It gives purpose to reading.
• It helps children develop reading fluency through repetition.
• It increases comprehension since the text must be interpreted for performance.
• It motivates children to read.
• It improves not only reading skills, but listening and speaking skills as well.
• It encourages children to work together.
• Performing Reader’s Theater helps increase self-confidence
What You’ll Find in This Book
This book contains scripts for 2–7 readers. The pieces are grouped into sections according to the number of readers required for each performance. While these scripts were created with Reader’s Theater in mind, they could also potentially be memorized and used for other forms of dramatic presentation.
Example Script:
“How Doth the Little Busy Bee”
By Isaac Watts
Characters: READER 1 and READER 2
READER 1: How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
READER 2: And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!
READER 1: How skillfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
READER 2: And labors hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.
READER 1: In works of labor or of skill,
I would be busy too;
READER 2: For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.
READER 1: In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be passed,
UNISON: That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.
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