When kids say “we’re bored” … try Reader’s Theater!

What’s a Mom/reading specialist to do? We’re 8 days into summer vacation, and we’ve already run out of things to do. If you’re at my house, the answer is…. Reader’s Theater!

My girls have always loved to put on a show. They love dress up, props, and performing for an audience. Molly and Anna had a friend over, so they recruited her to join in too.

A Google search turned up hundreds of Reader’s Theater scripts. I wanted one that would work across reading levels, and had multiple parts (it’s more fun if each person has a few parts). Voilà! We chose a script and the girls disappeared for hour to practice their parts. Tips on choosing scripts › (opens in a new window)

And here they are with our cure for a hot, boring day, performing part of The Wizard, The Fairy, and The Magic Chicken. (p.s., sound effects optional!)

Reader’s theater lesson plans (with scripts):

• AFT’s Share My Lesson (opens in a new window)
• ReadWriteThink (opens in a new window)
• Scholastic Teachers (opens in a new window)

More reader’s theater scripts:

• Reading A-Z (opens in a new window)
• Teaching Heart (opens in a new window)

To read more about Reader’s Theater, a rereading strategy that can encourage fluency development:

• Reader’s Theater: Giving Students a Reason to Read Aloud
• Readers’ Theater: Oral Language Enrichment and Literacy Development for ELLs