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persuaded their science teacher to allow them to create a Readers’ Theater as their presentation mode on a chapter about the ocean. She used their performance as the assessment of the chapter. Vary the Recipe. I continue to use Readers Theater with my Language Arts Class in a variety of ways. Last year we adapted two picture books into Readers’ Theater Scripts. This year we are revising an existing script to better meet the needs of the makeup of our class. But by far the most rewarding experience has been using it for research. The students learned many research skills such as: generating a question, narrowing a topic, consulting various sources including first person accounts as well as writing skills including: drafting, revising more than once, and editing. They also learned that publishing can take on many forms including a stage performance. I knew I had hit a gold mine when in the eighth grade yearbook one of my former students wrote that her fondest memory was creating and performing a Readers’ Theater.
Excerpt from London Bridge Catherine of Aragon (#1) When I was young a pact was made To marry a king, but I was afraid Although I was wife number one, He divorced me because I gave him no son. Jane Seymour (#3) King Henry VIII thought I was the one But when I became sick after bearing his son He made it quite clear whose life he would save So our son survived, and I went to the grave King Henry She was the one I desperately loved But when it was time to choose I gave her the shove. Anne of Cleves (#4) I am the King’s 4th but not up to his level He felt that I looked just like the devil Even though it was a huge hassle It worked out OK, and I got the castle Rita DiCarne currently teaches seventh grade ELA at Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School in Maple Glen, PA. She leads professional development workshops as a teacher/consultant for PAWLP, specializing in the area of Content Area Literacy. She is Wilson Language Certified and enjoys working one-on-one with struggling readers and writers. Rita serves as an adjunct faculty member at Bucks County Community College where she teaches Introduction to Rhetorical Skills and at Delaware Valley College where she teaches Content Area Literacy in their TCIP program. In addition, DiCarne has been published in Today’s Catholic Teacher Magazine and A Cup of Comfort for Teachers. Rita resides in Horsham, PA with her husband Chuck and is thoroughly enjoying her newest role in life: mother-in-law.