This week I was the full time teacher for all subjects and all lessons. It was actually fun planning for this week because in the two reading groups I did readers theater. I did it with the 4th grade reading class and the 5th grade reading class. At first they were all kind of stand offish to the fact that they had to act but as the week progressed they started to really enjoy it and get into it! With the 5th graders is was a lot of fun because they wanted to make a set and have props The were getting so into it, it was fun for me to watch. The 4th graders wanted to design outfits and props as well!
What I thought was so funny or maybe interesting is that these students had no idea that they were learning at the same time. They got so involved in their own learning! I felt so proud to see this. Their fluency was being improved and their comprehension of what they were reading! They were taking a hand in what they were doing and getting involved. One student was actually trying to become the director and had ideas about everything. I loved seeing them act.
In the future I will do more readers theaters because I now know who into the students get. I filmed them and let them watch it back before they left. They all laughed and loved it. I could see the interest and it never got out of hand. I wish it wouldn't have taken me this long to start doing readers theaters with my students. I will for sure be doing a lot more in my teaching life!!
