Achieving Fluency in Reading Using Speak Out! Readers’ Theater Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Why is fluent reading desirable? We asked the students … “When your reading’s not fluent it’s slow and hard work full of mistakes got no meaning got no ‘spression! boring kind of jerky shameful” Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater What is fluent reading? We consulted 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 Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater Fluency is … A reliable indicator of the development of reading skills An indicator of present and future skills in reading A strengthener of present and future skills in reading A builder of confidence and motivation in reading Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

What Instructional Strategies Foster Fluency? 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 Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

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 (meta-fluency) Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Where will you find all these successful strategies and more? Readers’ Theater Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

What is Readers’ Theater? Reader’s Theater is repeated oral reading of scripts that are practiced 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. Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Research Evidence for Readers’ Theater “…an authentic, entertaining and educationally powerful way to read and communicate meaning … Readers’ Theater 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) Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Readers’ Theater Research Proven to Improve: Reading fluency Reading comprehension Oral language Vocabulary Listening skills Positive attitude Cooperative group skills Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

What’s so special about Speak Out! Readers’ Theater? High interest fiction and informational texts that students are motivated by and can learn from Audio assistance for support, modeling and demonstration Practical guidance and support for teachers Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

What else is special about Speak Out! Readers’ Theater? A Fluency Assessment sheet for teacher, student and peer assessment Demonstration scripts Support for struggling readers and ELL students Home-school links Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater But wait there’s more … Speak Out! Readers’ Theater fosters the reading-writing connection with an innovative Readers’ Theater dimension … Writing: inspiration for young writers from award winning authors (including Joy Cowley) who guide students in how to write their own scripts for Readers’ Theater Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater “While Readers’ Theater 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 Reader’s Theatre: An Easy Way to Make Dramatic Changes in Kids’ Fluency, Writing, Listening and Social Skills” in the Scholastic Instructor,” 2003) Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Students who will benefit from Speak Out! Readers’ Theater: Speak Out! is for all students … Students learning to read Reading underachievers and reluctant readers Language delayed students Students with a variety of special needs Poor comprehenders Slow, non-fluent readers  Students learning English Gifted and Talented Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out Reader’s Theater Literacy for all students in small, mixed ability groups Now I know you haven’t all come along to hear about a commercial programme But bear with us as we explain what this audio-assisted reading programme is all about because even if you decide, at the end of the session, that this particular programme isn’t for you we’re hoping to convince you that there are lots of features you can incorporate into your reading programmes that will benefit the students you have concern for and there may even be some features that you listed for your Ideal Reading Programme. But not just any old books, any old audio support and activities and definitely not just any old procedure will do. Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater What, how, when and where? Students work in mixed ability groups of up to six ; one group, several groups or the whole class; in or out of the classroom They practice alone and together with audio support where needed Flexible timetable (a week, a semester …) 20 – 30 minutes daily They present to an audience Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Procedure Students’ reading levels are established Students practice at their instructional reading level …which is achievable but challenging Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Procedure Scripts are allocated to group/s Group is orientated to the script Students practice reading all of the script with audio support as a group, in pairs, or alone Group presents to audience (Presentation may be evaluated) Parts are allocated. Practice continues at school and/or at home Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater Four sets : Grade 2 (blue) Grade 3 (yellow) Grade 4 (turquoise) Grade 5 (purple) Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater Scripts are multi-leveled with parts in each script that are on, above and below grade level Grade 2: Levels E – Q Grade 3: Levels F – S Grade 4: Levels K – W Grade 5: Levels L – W Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater Each box contains: 6 copies of 10 different scripts (60 books) CD with audio support for all 10 scripts Teachers’ Guide Sturdy Storage Box Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater Scripts Written by a variety of authors including award winning authors Joy Cowley, Diana Noonan and Don Long Comprise fiction, legends and non-fiction with curriculum links to Math, Science and Social Studies Consist of 12 two-colour pages with 700 – 1200 words (similar amount of text for each character) Include glossaries Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Teacher Support Practical Teachers’ Guides Provide at each level: An easy to follow classroom program Research evidence for Readers’ Theater Guidelines for supporting struggling readers and students learning English FAQs Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater Activities Optional, generic activities for consolidation, enrichment and extension of skills learned Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

What Makes Speak Out! Readers’ Theater effective? Explicit instruction during Orientation CD provides support and modeling of fluent reading for students to emulate Peer support and modeling High interest scripts that foster expressive reading Text at an appropriate level of difficulty Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

What else makes Speak Out! Readers’ Theater effective? Repeated readings and the incentive to practice Opportunities to respond orally and/or in writing to text with activities Opportunities for ongoing assessment, feedback and monitoring that is documented Opportunities to develop an awareness of fluency and an ability to monitor it (meta-fluency) Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Speak Out! Readers’ Theater

Why is fluent reading desirable? Leaving the last word to the students … “When your reading is fluent it’s got rhythm and flow kind of like talking got meaning interesting a lot cooler; that’s a cert! fun ‘cause it’s easy like getting your training wheels off” Speak Out! Readers’ Theater