This book describes the many uses and benefits of readers theatre. Readers Theatre is a cooperative or shared reading of a poem, story or lyrics of a favourite song. Two or more readers can take part. Even if a piece is scripted for only two readers, and you want more than two readers to participate, assign parts to a duet or chorus. And there are times when you will want to give a part to a weaker and stronger reader for practice, so that one reader supports the other till both feel comfortable enough to read independently. Simple as that.

"Stories on Stage" is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, Russell Hoban, Wanda Gag, and Roald Dahl. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, stories were selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a wide range of reading levels. The scripts in this collection are -- "Three Sideways Stories From Wayside School," by Louis Sachar -- "Mr. Twit's Revenge," by Roald Dahl -- "Millions of Cats," by Wanda Gag -- "Tapiwa's Uncle," by Nancy Farmer -- "How Tom Beat Captain Najork," by Russell Hoban -- "Harriet," by Florence Parry Heide -- "Mr. Bim's Bamboo," by Carol Farley -- "Talk," by Harold Courlander -- "The Jade Stone," by Caryn Yacowitz -- "The Bean Boy," by Monica Shannon -- "The Kid from the Commercial," by Stephen Manes -- "The Fools of Chelm," by Steve Sanfield -- "Mouse Woman and the Snails," by Christie Harris -- "Westwoods," by Eleanor Farjeon -- "The Legend of Lightning Larry," by Aaron Shepard. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "What? Don't have time to write up your own scripts for reader's theater? Not to worry. Aaron Shepard will get you started with his stellar scripts -- perfect for duplicating, handing out to your students, and bringing to life. This is one must-have book." -- Judy Freeman, Author, More Books Kids Will Sit Still For "One of the challenges of teaching is instilling in our students a love for reading. By transforming imaginative stories by some of our favorite authors into clever scripts, Aaron Shepard once again provides the means for teachers to nurture a passion for the written word. This second edition of Stories On Stage is a most worthwhile addition to your cache of reading strategies that work." -- Susan Finney, Author, Keep the Rest of the Class Reading and Writing While You Teach Small Groups "Reader's theater gets a boost from this collection. . . . The scripts are simple and direct, multicultural, and easily reproducible for classroom use." -- Ilene Cooper, Booklist (American Library Association), Jan. 1, 1994 "An intriguing, well-rounded collection. . . . The tone and content of source material is effectively preserved." -- The Horn Book Guide, July-Dec. 1993

Story Vines and Readers Theatre shows you "the what" and "the how" of using both story vines and Readers Theatre in your classroom. These two learning tools engage students in meaningful reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and representing, and cooperation. Each is an invaluable tool for teaching all learners--from the most proficient to the struggling--the skills and strategies they will need to succeed in language arts. This easy-to-use handbook provides you with: a model for teaching assessment tips and hints useful materials recommended by classroom teachers classroom examples and much more!

How did the bee get his bumble? How do birds get their feathers? Why is the bluebird blue? Judy Wolfman has created 40 Readers Theatre scripts based on these how and why questions.

Introduces oral reading teaching methods for developing word recognition and comprehension in students.

The definitive encyclopedic resource on literacy, literacy instruction, and literacy assessment in the United States. Once upon a time, the three "R"s sufficed. Not any more—not for students, not for Americans. Gone the way of the little red school house is simple reading and writing instruction. Surveying an increasingly complex discipline, Literacy in America: An Encyclopedia offers a comprehensive overview of all the latest trends in literacy education—conceptual understanding of texts, familiarity with electronic content, and the ability to create meaning from visual imagery and media messages. Educators and academicians call these skills "multiple literacies," shorthand for the kind of literacy skills and abilities needed in an age of information overload, media hype, and Internet connectedness. With its 400 A–Z entries, researched by experts and written in accessible prose, Literacy in America is the only reference tool students, teachers, and parents will need to understand what it means to be—and become—literate in 21st-century America.

REFERENCES; Chapter 7 FOSTERING WRITING FLUENCY; The Writing Process; Prewriting; Drafting; Revising; Editing; Publishing; Fostering Writing Speed; Speedwriting; activity SPEEDWRITING; Story Retelling; activity RETELLING A STORY; Generating Ideas for Writing; Prompts; Dialogue Journals; Automaticity in Writing; Teacher Modeling of Automaticity in Writing; Spelling Concerns and Writing Fluency; Especially for Early Writers ; Allowing for Developmental Differences; Interactive Writing; Morning Message; SUMMARY; REFERENCES; Chapter 8 FLUENCY AND TECHNOLOGY; Choosing Software.

This book of readers theatre scripts for low-achieving middle grade readers is meant to inspire. Written at readability levels of grades 2 and 3, students who struggle with reading will enjoy learning about the lives of people both current (Bob Woodruff) and historical (Franklin Roosevelt) who are inspirational because of their perseverance and ability to overcome adversity in their daily lives. By reading, performing, and discussing these plays about people who possess the important character trait of perseverance, students will not only practice their oral reading skills, thus building the important skill of fluency, they will also build their own models for good character. Grades 3-8. Readability Levels: Grades 2-3.

Packed with useful tools, this practitioner guide and course text helps educators assess and teach essential literacy skills and strategies at all grade levels (PreK–12). All six literacy modalities are addressed--listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and visually representing. Chapters on specific literacy processes integrate foundational knowledge, assessments, and strategies for students who need support in literacy, including English language learners. Presented are dozens of authentic assessments along with differentiation ideas. In a large-size format for easy photocopying, the book features more than 70 reproducible assessment forms and resources. Purchasers get access to a webpage where they can download and print the reproducible materials.