Having Fun with Common Core: Circle Stories
This post is a continuation of my discussion about using picture books to create science-themed Readers Theater scripts that can help your students meet CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #4. Today I’ll be discussing two books that are structured so that the reader begins and ends in the same place. These circle […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Look for Rich Backmatter
In my last post, I discussed how layered text can facilitate adapting a book into a Readers Theater script, focusing on two titles that have two text blocks on each page. Many of the books created by Steve Jenkins, often with his wife Robin Page, also include layered text—but in a different kind of format. […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Look for Layered Text
This post is a continuation of my discussion about using picture books to create science-themed Readers Theater scripts that can help your students meet CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #4. See my earlier posts for general information about Readers Theater, suggestions for adapting book text into a great script, and key text […]
Having Fun with Common Core: More Readers Theater
Today’s post will be the first of several that describes how to locate and select books that work well for ReadersTheater. To get started, head for your library’s J591 titles. These books focus on animal behaviors—what various animals do at night, how various animals migrate, what various animals do when it rains, etc. The “various” […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Crafting a Readers Theater Script
Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right RT for your class. What’s the solution? Create one of your own. It’s easier than you might think, especially if you get started with a great children’s book. Here are some suggestions. Many RT scripts have just five to ten parts, but scripts based on nonfiction picture […]
Having Fun with Common Core: A Role for Readers Theater
Another great activity for building vocabulary as well as fluency and comprehension is Readers Theater. So it can address CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #4, #1, and 2. Additional benefits of RT include: —Promotes student cooperation. —Improves listening and speaking skills. —Helps even the shyest students develop self-confidence when reading aloud. Why […]
Behind the Books: Integrating Science and Language Arts
According to a recent study, nearly 86 percent of scientists who reported loving their jobs could trace their interest in science to someone they knew or an experience they had when they were 7 to 10 years old. This finding demonstrates the critical importance of solid science instruction for elementary students. And yet, standardized tests […]
The Power of Readers Theater
Wow! Mrs. Zawacki’s fourth grade class in Atlanta, Georgia really rocks! Look at this PowerPoint presentation that they made based on the Readers Theater script I wrote to accompany my book Under the Snow. I love the sound of their voices and the energy that they all put into saying their lines. It sounds like […]
Nonfiction Readers Theater–A Role for Every Student in Your Class
Try this fun Readers Theater script with your students. It’s perfect for winter because it accompanies my book Under the Snow, which was recently honored by the Charlotte Zoltow Award committee. The script works very well with Grade 2, but you can also try it with Grade 3, especially early in the school year, or […]
Friday Fun: Readers Theater
Check out this fun Readers Theater script that you can do with your students. It’s perfect for grade 2, but also works well now—early in the school year—for grade 3. If you teach first grade, try it with your students in the spring. Besides being fun and building fluency, the content makes it a good […]