Achieving Fluency in Reading

For all
Students,
Using
Readers
Theatre
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Fluent reading
why is it desirable?
According to the students
When your readings not fluent its

slow
full of mistakes
got no meaning
got no spression!
boring and hard work
kind of jerky
shameful
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

What is fluent reading?

According to the experts
Fluent reading is:
accurate
effortless (free of word identification problems)
appropriately phrased
well paced
smooth
expressive
well understood by both reader and listener
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Fluent Reading
why is it desirable?
Fluent reading is:
an indicator of present and future skills in
reading
a reliable indicator of the development of
reading skills
a strengthener of present and future skills in
reading
a builder of confidence and motivation in
reading
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Research Proven to Develop

Reading fluency
Reading comprehension
Oral language
Vocabulary
Listening skills
Positive attitude
Cooperation
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

What is Readers Theatre?

Readers Theatre is repeated oral
reading of scripts that are
practised and performed to an
audience as a group reading
presentation. Students rely on
their voices, rather than on
acting, costumes and props, for a
successful presentation.
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Scripts are written specifically for
Readers Theatre

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Audio support for:

Model
Support
Non-threatening practice
Motivation
Increase in reading mileage
Exposure to texts that may not have otherwise
been accessible
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Scripts
are multi-levelled with
parts that are on, above and
below level so students can
work in mixed ability
groups, learning with and
from each other.
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Scripts have
glossaries
for
vocabulary
building

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Aligned to the NZ curriculum
- Speaking and listening
- Reading and writing
- Presenting and viewing

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Scripts are written by a variety of authors
including NZ authors writing about a
variety of topics including NZ contexts
Scripts comprise fiction, legends and nonfiction with curriculum links to Maths,
science and
social studies
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Accent on reading (fluency and
and comprehension) with
activities that are optional and
meaningful, for consolidation
enrichment and extension of
skills learned.
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Final Performance: Readers

Theater

Voice Quality =
Pronunciation =
Pacing
=
Expression
=
Body Language =
Total =

5
5
5
5
5
25 pts.

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

The King of the Forest

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Presented by:
Meryl-Lynn Pluck

M.Phil (Specialising in Reading Difficulties)

Trained by Marie Clay
Classroom Teacher
Resource Teacher of Literacy
Author of Rainbow Reading Programme
Author of Speak Out Readers Theatre
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

What Instructional Strategies

Fluency?

Foster

Explicit instruction (teaching phrasing, expression

and attention to punctuation)
Modeling of fluent reading for students to emulate
Practice with a variety of different text types
High interest books that foster expressive reading
Texts at an appropriate level of difficulty
Repeated readings
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

What Other Instructional Strategies

Foster Fluency?
Supported reading practice
Positive performance readings (with feedback)
Opportunities to respond orally and/or in
writing to text
Opportunities for ongoing assessment and
monitoring that is documented
Opportunities to develop an awareness of
fluency and an ability to monitor it (metafluency)
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
What, how, when and where?
Students work in small groups; one group,
several groups or whole class
They practise alone and together
with
audio support if available
and where needed
Flexible scheduling
20 30 minutes daily
They present to an audience
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Procedure
Students reading levels are established
Students practise at their instructional reading level
which is achievable but challenging

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Procedure
Scripts are
allocated to
group/s

Group is orientated to
the script
Students practise reading all of
the script, perhaps with audio
support as a group, in pairs,
or alone

Group presents
to audience

Parts are allocated.

Practice
continues at school or at
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre
home

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Reading is enjoyable and achievable and
students experience success
Scripts are short and interesting so
students can repeat readings
Students read parts at their instructional
reading level
Students are set up to succeed during
orientation
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Students are motivated to read, to practise and to
collaborate
Scripts are of high interest to students whose
interest levels may exceed their reading levels
and are presented in an interesting manner.
Incentive to practise for presentation to
audience.
A successful presentation is contingent on
everyone doing well.
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference

Demonstration scripts
Support for ELL students
Home-school links
Fluency assessment sheets for
teacher, student and peer
assessment
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Writing: inspiration for young writers by
award winning authors who guide students
in how to write their own scripts for
Readers Theatre
While Readers Theatre has a lot of power on its
own, the power is greatly increased when kids
prepare their own scripts they are truly
integrating reading, writing, and thinking skills.
(Prescott, 2003 The Power of Readers Theatre: An Easy Way to Make
Dramatic Changes in Kids Fluency, Writing, Listening and Social Skills in
the Scholastic Instructor, 2003)
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Practical Teachers Guides
Providing
An easy to follow classroom programme
Research evidence for Readers Theatre
Guidelines for supporting struggling readers
and students learning English
Reproducible Tips for students
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Factors That Make a Difference
Students self-monitor, control and take
responsibility for their learning.
Students are encouraged to make decisions
about their progress (decide on next steps)
and to develop meta-fluency.

Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Students who will benefit:
Readers Theatre is for all students

Students reading at expected levels

Students reading below expected levels
Students reading above expected levels
Slow, non-fluent readers
Students lacking in confidence
Students learning English
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre
Research Proven to Improve:
Reading fluency
Reading comprehension
Oral language
Vocabulary
Listening skills
Positive attitude
Cooperative group skills
AND
Writing (when theres a writing component!)
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre Research Evidence

an authentic, entertaining and
educationally powerful way to read and
communicate meaning Readers Theatre
yields improvements in word
recognition, fluency and comprehension.
(Rasinski, Timothy V. (2003). The Fluent Reader: Oral Reading
Strategies for Building Word Recognition, Fluency and
Comprehension. New York: Scholastic)
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

How Can Audio-assisted

Readers
Theatre Promote Fluency?
Explicit instruction during Orientation and
Conference
Audio for modeling of fluent reading for students
to emulate
Variety of authors, genre and text types
High interest books that foster expressive reading
Texts at an appropriate level of difficulty
Repeated readings
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

How Else Can Audio-assisted

Readers Theatre Promote Fluency?
Audio for supported reading practice
Positive performance readings (with feedback)
Opportunities to respond orally and/or in writing
to text with written activities and discussion
Opportunities for ongoing assessment and
monitoring that is documented
Opportunities to develop an awareness of
fluency and an ability to monitor it (metafluency)
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Why is fluent reading desirable?

Leaving the last word to the students
When your reading is fluent its
got rhythm and flow
kind of like talking
got meaning
interesting
a lot cooler thats a cert!
easy
like getting your training wheels off
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre

Contact
Meryl-Lynn Pluck
Director
Rainbow Reading Programme Ltd
South Pacific Press
PO Box 561
Nelson
info@rainbowreading.co.nz
www.rainbowreading.co.nz
Ph/Fax 03 54 86587
Achieving Reading Fluency with Readers Theatre