Readers Theater: Connecting to Literacy, Learning and Comprehension

Readers Theater: Connecting to Literacy, Learning and Comprehension
by William Jackson, M.Ed.
Readers Theater IT Manager
Social Media Visionary

The importance of literacy can be seen in the reading and comprehension
scores of thousands of school age children across the nation in assessments,
and in data collected to evaluate reading levels of school aged children.
Literacy, comprehension, phonics, storytelling, visual word and letter
recognition, audible recognition of letters and words all play an influential
part in reading success.

A quote by Fredrick Douglass shows how valuable reading is,
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

The accountability and responsibility of establishing a reading foundation
for children is with parents, the expansion of reading readiness and
application to learning in an active and engaged learning environment
is created by teachers. Reading with understanding, reading with
comprehension, reading with a purpose is important to creating an
atmosphere of discovery, curiosity, excitement and literary
expansion beyond the classroom. Students need to have books in their
hands to appreciate and respect reading. Computers/technology cannot
replace books.

Teachers create an atmosphere in school to encourage reading and
comprehension; they do not in most cases make reading fun. The
educational application shared with students is that reading is vital
to be engaged into a culture of reading. Ambeth Ocampo stated that
“School made us ‘literate’ but did not teach us to read for pleasure.”
The pleasure of reading needs to come from home, where the student
spends their family time. Parents should be prepared to encourage reading
by having a reading library at home, materials can be magazines, books,
and other types of literature to engage their children in reading.

How important is a free library card, take a child to the library and let them
explore the age appropriate resources and see the expressions of excitement,
intrigue and adventure on their faces. The challenge should not be getting
them to read, the goal should be getting them to read with comprehension,
purpose and enjoyment. Parents need to have appropriate resources
to encourage exploration and adventure, to increase the natural curiosity
of children.
Libraries are effective, the diversity of libraries, museums and cultural
centers direct reading for a purpose in exploration. Determining what a
child is interested in is easy, just ask…

“Readers Theater” is a diversification of reading taken to an interactive level
that is applicable to a key component of reading embracing “interaction
and engagement.” Verbally and linguistically engaging an audience in the
dynamic subtleties of literature and bringing to life the books of cultural
diversity and literary exploration. “The Books Come Alive.”
“Readers Theater is a transitional journey to literary linkages and encourages
discovery in the joy of reading.” William Jackson, M.Ed.

What is “Readers Theater:” The acting out of dialogue from scripts, books, poems,
and written words.

The benefits of “Readers Theater” production are based on Communication:
“Readers Theater” develops verbal and nonverbal communication skills along
with encouraging active listening. Those involved are immersed in their characters,
the environment and pull the audience in with direct eye contact, vocal inflections,
song, and occasional repartee that draws out an emotional response. Another
area of engagement is Multiple Intelligence: “Readers Theater” simultaneously
addresses many aspects of learning; interpersonal, cognitive, emotional, social
and even touching on the moral and ethical decisions we make that are shared
through writing.

Scaffolding in reading builds a desire to read because children are building their
literary skills that are entwined with life experiences. There is the use of visual,
auditory and sensory tools to engage with the reading, building cognitive
connections. Carl Sagan states that, “Frederick Douglass taught that literacy
is the path from slavery to freedom. There are many kinds of slavery and
many kinds of freedoms, reading is still the path.”
“Readers Theater” is the freedom to express literary passion, excitement, joy,
and sharing of skills that connect across generations, cultures and genders. The
engagement of “Readers Theater” is important because everyone does not learn
the same way, nor interprets information the same. “People don’t realize how a
man’s whole life can be changed by one book.” Malcolm X
Relating to Malcolm X about educational success, “Without education, you are
not going anywhere in this world.” Reading is the foundation in our society of
intellectualism that can be applied across multiple disciplines and careers.
Reading makes the connection and builds critical and higher order thinkers.
This benefits not just the reader, the environment of encouraging
intellectualism and engagement that also builds leaders within a community,
a society and a nation.

Building intellectual leaders: “To help build reading in the Black
community, Black parents no matter their reading levels, must raise the
reading levels of their children,” William Jackson “Educational Technology”
Edward Waters College.

Black parents need to have high expectations for academic success
especially in reading. Not just having high expectations, but to get involved
in taking their children to the library and learning opportunities like
“Readers Theater” and museums.

“The Black intellectual shows their own worth by contributing to the “distribution
of knowledge and skills in the Black community – and by telling the truth.”
Black Agenda Report 2014

Contact Information:
Tangela Floyd
Young Minds Building Success Charities
Msakatan3@gmail.com