1. Reading with Expression
Preparing for Readers’ Theatre

2. Just as vivid description will make your writing come alive, reading expressively will make your spoken language come alive.

3. Expressive Readers…. Change rhythm Change pitch Change volume
Change tone
Expressive Readers….
Source:

4. Reading Expressively…
Change Rhythm
speed up and slow down
take appropriate pauses
big pauses (//)
at the end of sentences
smaller pauses: ’
in between and after commas
at logical points like phrase and clause boundaries
Reading Expressively…

5. Marking the Text for Rhythm
One place I enjoy is where the land and the ocean meet. This beautiful place is my sanctuary in the sun, and I choose my spot very carefully. I look for a refreshing place….
Marking the Text for Rhythm
One place I enjoy ’ is where the land and the ocean meet. // This beautiful place ’ is my sanctuary in the sun,’ and I choose my spot very carefully. //I look for a refreshing place….

6. Reading Expressively…
Change Pitch
Make your voice go up and down
Go up at the beginning of a sentence
Go down at the end of a sentence
Go up slightly at the end for questions
Go up or down to differentiate the words of a speaker (often high in pitch) from those of the narrator (usually lower)
Changing pitch will help the listener know where different ideas begin and end
Reading Expressively…

7. Identify Sentence Parts
Main parts: the main action of the sentence
“Jeremy Goodfellow… left the quiet country town in which he’d been raised….”
Lead-in parts: introduce a main part
“On a bright summer morning….”
In-Between Parts: slight interruptions
“…a young man of simple means and honest intentions….”
Add-On Parts: give extra information about other parts
“…and set off on the bold errand he’d been preparing for all his life.”
Identify Sentence Parts
On a bright summer morning, Jeremy Goodfellow, a young man of simple means and honest intentions, left the quiet country town in which he’d been raised, and set off on the bold errand he’d been preparing for all his life.

8. Main parts: middle pitch level
“Jeremy Goodfellow… left the quiet country town in which he’d been raised….”
Lead-in parts: higher pitch level
“On a bright summer morning….”
In-Between Parts: lower pitch level
“…a young man of simple means and honest intentions….”
Add-On Parts: lowest pitch level
“…and set off on the bold errand he’d been preparing for all his life.”
Pitch Levels
Main: medium pitch
Lead-in: higher pitch
In-Between: lower pitch
Add-on: lowest pitch

9. Marking the Text for Pitch
On a bright summer morning, Jeremy Goodfellow, a young man of simple means and honest intentions, left the quiet country town in which he’d been raised, and set off on the bold errand he’d been preparing for all his life.
Marking the Text for Pitch

10. Marking the Text for Pitch
One place I enjoy’ is where the land
(higher) (medium)
and the ocean meet.// This beautiful
place’ is my sanctuary in the sun,’ and
I choose my spot very carefully. // I
(low)
look for a refreshing place under the
(medium)
trees’ and extend my mat on the warm….
Marking the Text for Pitch

11. Reading Expressively…
Change Volume
Expressive readers say some words louder than others.
In general, little words are said more softly than more important words.
Changes in volume are often used to create emphasis.
Changes in volume may change meaning
Reading Expressively…

12. The importance of Volume for Meaning
Changes in volume may change meaning
Example activity:
“I didn’t say she liked him.”
The importance of Volume for Meaning

13. Reading expressively is similar to playing a musical instrument expressively
Just for fun:

14. Reading Expressively: Mark for volume
> One place I enjoy’ is where the land and f mf > > the ocean meet.// This beautiful place is my mp mf sanctuary in the sun,’ and I choose my spot mp > > > very carefully. // I look for a refreshing place p mf under the trees’ and extend my mat on the > > warm, powdery sand.
Reading Expressively: Mark for volume

15. Reading Expressively…
Change Tone
Communicate different emotions
Soft and warm tone = pleasant, calm, happy, sad
Hard and cold tone = scary, angry, excited
Reading Expressively…