Reader's Theater in the ESL Room

Reader's Theater is an excellent activity for increasing and prompting fluency in both reading and speech. Reluctant readers have AMPLE opportunities to practice their parts as well as input about which part they feel best suits them. They really learn the tone of the character and use inflection when reading. Each student has a defined role adding to the risk free environment for "performing." Some students really get dramatic with it! Groups are given several days to practice and work on stage directions as well as added props that might enhance their performance.

As the students become more comfortable with Reader's Theater, they can even begin writing their own scripts. In ESL class this year, we read excerpts from the Diary of Anne Frank. The students fell in love with the book. They actually asked to write their own Reader's Theater scripts complete with stage directions. It was amazing to see them come together as groups, work out some of the conflicts, and produce some really great performances that incorporated all the domains of language.