Praise Testimonies for Readers Theater and Readers Theater All Year
Teachers:
"Wow! I have to tell you that your script, Twas not the night before Christmas (????) is soooo funny. The kids love it! Thank you. They laughed so hard...."
Pat R.
Elementary Teacher
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I would love the newsletter! Than you so much for the information. I plan on checking it all out today! Since I taught 2nd grade last year, I was really thinking about what kinds of activities I felt first-graders would benefit from the most, in terms to becoming successful readers in the higher grades. I'm very excited to incorporate Reader's Theatre. I've even got another 1st grade teacher on board to try it with me! Thanks again for the help and support. I really appreciate it!"
Megan W.
Primary Teacher
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...I appreciate how you are caring for me as a 'newbie' to your site. I have believed in, and have been using, 'reader's theater' when I pick up something that works for this, to engage us as a whole class, and have been especially excited at how this brings less skilled readers into the activity at 100% engagement, along with everyone..."
Maxine P.
Primary teacher
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...I have been teaching for 35 years. RT has been part of my education journey for the majority of that time. Initially my experience with it was as a performance genre in the Drama Curriculum. Now I use it across the curriculum - a wonderful high motivation strategy in the language program - particularly reading - and so much more as you would know. I was drawn to your 'community' by the idea of leadership... My wife [name] also teaches... She uses RT with her children and shares my passion for RT.... I think what you're doing is wonderful and I look forward to further communication as well as the regular updates and so on..."
4 months later:
"Keep up the enthusiasm and fantastic work!"
Graham B.
Former primary teacher (now a Visual Art specialist)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Readers Theater All Year" is the most comprehensive collection of Readers Theater scripts and resources I have found on the internet! The site is so well organized and user-friendly. Scripts are organized by topic and subject and have readability levels and character information listed. Many of the scripts incorporate social studies and science content which works well with cross curricular lessons.
As an elementary school teacher, I use Readers Theater as a center activity during my reading block. I color code the scripts by readability level. Students select an appropriate script from the center and work within their group of two or three to practice and then perform their play. I have noticed my more reluctant readers becoming excited and encouraged about reading. My fluency scores have also soared by implementing Readers Theater in my classroom each year! It has been a true blessing!
I recently joined the Script Buffet Club so now I have unlimited access to even more scripts and resources! I'm also notified when new scripts are posted! Thank you Carol for your leadership and vision and for making Readers Theater so accessible for teachers and parents.
Daniel John Fiore, Jr.
Elementary Educator and Author of What They Have Taught Me...
Book Website: www.whattheyhavetaughtme.com
Book Blog: http://whattheyhavetaughtme.wordpress.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Carol, I very much enjoyed our chat last night. It is so nice to meet someone like you...thank you for everything..."
Barabara M.
First grade teacher
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
... Keep doing what you are doing. There are not enough quality scripts available for children and teens. So many are inappropriate from a parents perspective. As a teacher I want to also build character and integrity while I teach a subject. With drama, it seems, it focuses on the worst of our human nature. Why can't drama build up, inspire and be thought provoking without discussing divorce, alcohol, or abuse, when it comes to kids. Anyway, keep doing what you are doing. In drama, we need all the help we can get!
With appreciation,
Jen H.
Drama Teacher
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the free readers theater online scripts, teaching tips, and curriculum teleseminars at Readers Theater All Year very inspirational to me. I used the Twelve Days of Christmas...Vacation script in my ESOL classes before Christmas break and my students all enjoyed it..."
Lily T.
Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What a privilege to be responded to in a personal e-mail! ...I am a first grade teacher in an International School and this will be my third year there. I have absolutely loved incorporating reader's theater into our literacy program, but have found that I was wanting more time each week... This year, our administration gave us 30 minutes extra in our schedule to use for anything. I thought, 'Hey, why not use it for reader's theater?' Mondays we could introduce the background of the script, andy vocabulary, and maybe some character analysis. Tuesday through Thursdays, we could distribute and practice, and then on Friday we could perform in front of some sort of audience. I have never heard of a teacher turning readers theater into an actual subject of the day, but do you think it would work...?"
Lauren
First grade teacher
[Carol's basic answer shared it's not unusual for teachers to use Readers Theater regularly in the classroom. See Mandy Gregory's site for how she used Readers Theater daily in the primary classroom.]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I teach Drama Activity Classes for grades 3-5. I meet in planning time with the Language Arts teachers and follow their curriculum schedule to include dramatic approaches to reading comprehension and Language Arts. I appreciate having your resources to help complement the curriculum each day. I would love to see common core connections to the scripts, as well as thinking questions for each script. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and knowledge."
Dianne L.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading Specialist/Teacher-Tutor:
"WOW, WOW, WOW, I love it. I just read Justin's story [our RT script "Justin Goes to the Moon"]. I can't believe that it is Friday and I have to wait until Monday to show it to him. He will be thrilled!!!! You are amazing! This one inspires me to get moving and even try to get Justin into writing a short script with me."
"Seriously, I can't thank you enough. I really think he will find himself practicing without realizing how much it will help his fluency and that is our big snag right now. Well, that and attention and this will work on that, too."
"Thanks again!!!!!!!!!"
Karen
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You make great points! One year I had a nonreader that had one line in a small class play. After the performance he asked me if he could get up on the table and be in the play because "he had it". He got on the table recited the whole play plus his own inserts. It was the beginning of many of his stories tha led to reading and when he got to high school he was a leader and keynote speaker at many important functions. He is successfully attending college now and oftens makes his point by referring to his beginning in first grade.
Please continue your mission.
Thanks,
Karen
Tutor
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
School Librarian:
"If you are looking for a way to enhance presentation and public speaking skills, to get your children working together in harmony, to enunciate when they speak, to listen to what others have to say, to get to the heart of a story, to boost self esteem, and to hone every reading skill, Reader's Theater is your free ticket to change lives and raise contented, fulfilled, and motivated children. Watch your reading scores soar while children think they're just having a great time."
"In my many year as a school librarian, I had each class put on at least one Reader's Theater play each year, starting with first grade (spring is best, when their reading skills are coming along so well), based on books I read aloud to them. Children thrive, even the quiet ones, on the thrill of being a star for a little while."
Judy Freeman, from her book Once Upon a Time--Using Storytelling, Creative Drama, and Readers Theater with Children in Grades PeK-6 (©2007) p.206.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homeschooling Mothers:
"...We did Squanto's Squash for the family on Thanksgiving and [my sons] participated and loved it. I am so excited about making this a major part of homeschooling. What a great way to learn!"
Bethany P.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"L and J had a lot of fun this am playing with Noodle and Strudel! First L was the kitten and J was the puppy. It was cute but then they decided to switch roles--and it was CUTER! They did it four or five times and really enjoyed it...."
Two days later:
"As I type...L and a girlfriend are doing Noodle and Struedel and J is the narrator! Now the girls are switching roles..too cute..."
Two days later:
"Carol, We are ready for more!! The kids have really enjoyed Noodle and Strudel..."
MAV
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I am so blessed to have found Carol and her Readers Theater script program. When I took on teaching my Performing Arts class, I had lots of questions and much anxiety over it. Carol has mentored me all the way through the class. She has helped me so much, besides offering a wide selection of good quality and wholesome scripts to choose from. I am so thankful to her for all of her expertise, encouragement, and counsel that she has given me! I am now a fan of Readers Theater and have confidence to teach more classes. Thank you, Carol!"
Renee A.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous–from our surveys
"Thank you, Carol, for all the resources you provide to assist us with Reader's Theatre. God is truly using your gifts and talents."
March 2013
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I have always found readers' theater to be an effective tool to get older elementary students involved and participating."
March 2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The contents of your scripts are so interesting that I enjoy them very much."
March 2013
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I appreciate the free resources; as you know, we spend so much money on our students as it is already. It's a nice treat!
March 2013
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teacher, College Professor, and "Mother of a Resistant Reader":
"In my years as an elementary and middle school teacher, a professor of reading methods in a teacher preparation program, and the mother of a resistant reader (Worthy, 1998), the single most motivating activity I have ever found is Readers Theater. When I work with school faculties on professional development, I present a wide range of instructional ativities, and teachers are interested in many of them. But, without fail, Readers Theater is the approach that captivates everyone."
Jo Worthy, Ph.D., from her book Readers Theater for Building Fluency--Strategies and Scripts for Making the Most of This Highly Effective, Motivating, and Research-Based Approaach to Oral Reading (© 2005) p.9.
