Recently, Minnesota teacher Pam Patron Warren suggested an idea that I wanted
to share with you.
Pam enjoys using the readers
theater scripts I’ve created to
accompany many of my picture books, but not in the way you might expect. She
uses them as paired passages with the book rather than as a performance. This approach
allows students to see examples of the same information being presented two different
ways.
theater scripts I’ve created to
accompany many of my picture books, but not in the way you might expect. She
uses them as paired passages with the book rather than as a performance. This approach
allows students to see examples of the same information being presented two different
ways.
For example, the books Feathers: Not Just for Flying and Under the Snow have a lyrical voice, while the readers theater scripts are more lively
and humorous. The students can compare the two texts and discuss why I wrote
them differently.
and humorous. The students can compare the two texts and discuss why I wrote
them differently.
Because the animals become characters that speak in the readers theaters,
students can also discuss how that shift turns the writing into informational
fiction, while the book itself is expository nonfiction.
students can also discuss how that shift turns the writing into informational
fiction, while the book itself is expository nonfiction.
Pam says these paired-passage lessons are “fun and accessible to all the
kids in my class.” I encourage you to give this teaching strategy a try.
kids in my class.” I encourage you to give this teaching strategy a try.
You can find more ideas for using readers theater in your classroom by
clicking the link in the List of Topics on the right-hand side of this blog.
clicking the link in the List of Topics on the right-hand side of this blog.
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One Response
Like this approach. I've been bummed for a few weeks and put the story in a drawer. About ready to get it out again and revise using these helpful hints. Thank you.