Using drama as a "bate" to entice children to read!

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Remedial Reading Chatboard

Using drama as a "bate" to entice children to read!

by Margaret Tourond-Townson

Dec 25, 2009

Teaching a special language class approximately grade 3 level, I found that choosing to read simple plays with the children motivated them to do Readers' Theatre with their favorite plays... and their very favorite play we produced! Each child read his or her part and in fact soon memorized it even though I never even suggested they memorize! It got them to practise reading painlessly. They were totally excited by this! The trick of course was to have lots of easy and short plays to offer... no problem getting an audience...the parents were thrilled!

Margaret

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Mae in Texas Reader's theatre is a genre different from plays. It has its own specific attributes. The script looks different and the performance is done differently. A play is a play is a play. A play is not reader's theatre. Reader's theatre is not a play. Somewhere, somehow, someone in education started calling plays "reader's theatre", and it caught on like...See More

Dec 29, 2009

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Margaret Tourond-Townson Hi Mae I can fully understand your frustration about calling plays "Readers' Theatre". I agree they are not. However teachers can use the strategy of Readers' Theatre with a variety of plays to 1. test the waters and see the kids' reactions to the play 2. edit the play with the students -personalize if you will 3. teach ideas,information and empath...See More

Dec 29, 2009

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sara We also call 'research papers' research papers when they're not that at all. That drives me crazy but what drives me even more crazy is when no one understands that our 'research papers' aren't that. Margaret was pleasantly quick to acknowledge the difference but I confess my ignorance - what is Readers Theatre really? And what is "bate"?

...See More

Jan 5, 2010

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Margaret Tourond-Townson Hi Sara I certainly know that Readers' Theatre is a dedicated term however as a teacher I have learned that to use a play that was not written expressly for Readers' Theatre really works. Now what should we say.... only use RT scripts or try out other plays as well for the class to have exposure to more drama and to actually learn more...especially...See MoreHi Sara I certainly know that Readers' Theatre is a dedicated term however as a teacher I have learned that to use a play that was not written expressly for Readers' Theatre really works. Now what should we say.... only use RT scripts or try out other plays as well for the class to have exposure to more drama and to actually learn more...especially the active children.

I'm thoroughly amused at the "bait" turning into "bate"! Confession time, I've been writing without my glasses on. AND I am also writing a lot in French these days and trying to learn Spanish as well. I think the impact on my spelling is somewhat deBATEable! Sorry! Cheers and best wishes for 2010! Margaret

On 1/05/10, sara wrote: > We also call 'research papers' research papers when they're not > that at all. That drives me crazy but what drives me even more > crazy is when no one understands that our 'research papers' aren't > that. > Margaret was pleasantly quick to acknowledge the difference but I > confess my ignorance - what is Readers Theatre really? And what > is "bate"? > > > > >> Hi Mae I can fully understand your frustration about calling >> plays "Readers' Theatre". I agree they are not. However teachers >> can use the strategy of Readers' Theatre with a variety of plays >> to 1. test the waters and see the kids' reactions to the play >> 2. edit the play with the students -personalize if you will >> 3. teach ideas,information and empathy in a play by a > couple of >> "read throughs" which might be the better term. That is a >> valuable stragegy for teachers I assure you. I have done it many >> times with excellent results! Cheers and thanks for writing. >> Margaret >> >> On 12/29/09, Mae in Texas wrote: >>> Reader's theatre is a genre different from plays. It has its >>> own specific attributes. The script looks different and the >>> performance is done differently. A play is a play is a play. >>> A play is not reader's theatre. Reader's theatre is not a >>> play. Somewhere, somehow, someone in education started >>> calling plays "reader's theatre", and it caught on like >>> wildfire, except that reader's theatre is its own genre. I've >>> been in two reader's theatre troupes and I've taken college >>> courses specifically on reader's theatre. It's a crazy battle >>> to fight, but I can't help myself. My district calls our unit >>> on plays "reader's theatre", and it drives me absolutely >>> nuts. So sorry to hijack...Mae

Jan 5, 2010

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