Reader's Theater is one of the most important and often overlooked tools in a reading literacy program. When done correctly, Reader's Theater can develop 21st century learners by teaching them how to read with expression, develop fluency, work collaboratively, and more. Read on for more on the importance of Reader's Theater and how you can implement it into your 21st century classroom!
Individualized Student-Centered Learning
21st Century classrooms emphasize student-centered learning. In Playbooks® Reader's Theater program, the scripts are specially designed to incorporate roles that encompass a wide range of reading abilities. There are specific formulas involved in the creation of a Playbooks® Reader's Theater script that make the text approachable for an entire classroom, regardless of reading level. Furthermore, there is an equal opportunity for reading aloud. One student may be reading a role that is at a higher reading level than another student but that does not correlate with how big or small the part is. The beauty of Playbooks® Reader's Theater scripts is that the character roles are assigned by the teacher so that students are not aware of the reading levels everyone is reading at. In addition, each script has color-coded the dialogue for each character role. Color-coded character roles helps students take ownership of their assigned character roles. Did you know that word recognition and reading comprehension improve by 27% when presented in color, compared to bold, and 35% when compared to contrasting fonts? It's important to note that the color-coded roles are assigned colors at random. The color of the role does not correlate to reading level. This helps create an inclusive and equitable classroom and is why Playbooks® Reader's Theater scripts are more effective at improving reading literacy than repurposing books or texts and with the hope that every student will be able to participate.
Incorporating Technology for Better Results
21st Century learning also incorporates technology to create more impactful, individualized curriculums. Playbooks Reader's Theater now offers a Virtual All Access Pass (VAAP) in addition to printed sets of scripts. The VAAP provides individual classrooms and schools, as well as whole school districts, a customized domain that houses all of the Playbooks® Reader's Theater scripts they purchased. Furthermore, reading times, script usage, and fluency growth are all easily recorded and tracked with the VAAP. With this essential data, curriculum creators can customize their programs to fit the needs of their specific students. This portal also makes it easy for administrators to show outcomes of the literacy program, thereby reducing time on creating reports and conducting evaluations. Furthermore, with the advent of remote and hybrid learning, the VAAP presents a cost-effective pathway to adapt a classroom's reading enrichment activity to changing circumstances.
Classroom Management
In order for 21st Century learning to be effective, classroom management is key. Playbooks® Reader's Theater offers a well-organized system that can help any teacher manage a Reader's Theater activity in their classroom. The program provides a very comprehensive Teacher's Guide with built-in reading fluency tracking methods and supplementary activities for each story. With a few simple clicks, teachers can also print out reader-role assignment charts that help teachers assign students their color-coded character roles. This helps keep everyone on track and eliminates any confusion about who is reading what part. In addition, the scripts are designed so that they can be easily read and understood by all students, based on grade-levels.
The 21st century classroom is a place where student-centered learning thrives. In order for every student to be successful, it's important that we provide them with opportunities to read texts at their individual reading levels. Playbooks Reader's Theater provides leveled scripts that make this possible. With its incorporation of technology, color-coded character roles, and easy-to-use management system, Playbooks Reader's Theater is an essential component to a 21st-century reading literacy program.
Reader's Theater is vital for 21st century learners because it:
- develops their reading fluency
- helps them better understand texts they are reading
- provides them with opportunities to read at their individual reading level
- incorporates technology for better results
- is easy to manage in the classroom. 21st century learning wouldn't be complete without it!
Reader's Theater is a powerful 21st-century reading tool because it helps develop fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Reader's Theater also develops important life skills such as teamwork, public speaking, problem-solving, and leadership.
In today's world, it is more important than ever for students to be able to read with purpose and intention. Reader's Theater provides the perfect opportunity for this type of 21st century reading engagement. When students are given the opportunity to become engaged in rich texts through reader's theater experiences, they are more likely to want to read on their own. Fluent readers are not born; they are made! And Reader's Theater is one of the best ways to help develop fluent readers in your classroom.
