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Using Reader's Theater to Help Students Learn Kindness

Did you ever wonder how to teach children kindness? We can use a whole lot of words, but they really need to experience it for themselves, don't they?

 
Using Reader's Theater to Help Students Learn Kindness: Here's are some suggestions on using scripts to build kindness.

  •  *Reader's theater helps build reading fluency.
  • *Reader's theater helps children develop social skills.
  • *Reader's theater develops reading comprehension skills.
  • *Reader's theater helps children develop empathy.
  • *Reader's theater helps children understand new and different situations.
  • *Reader's theater helps children experience things they might not experience otherwise.

Here's a resource that celebrates kindness through reader's theater! It has a fun little twist to the story: the children read about a conflict, then ask the audience to help them come up with a solution to end the play!
Using Reader's Theater to Help Students Learn Kindness: Here's are some suggestions on using scripts to build kindness.


Starring Kindness Sample: Reader's Theater with a Twist: has a 4-page script that describes a conflict about a blue crayon between some children. There are 4 characters involved. After 4 pages of dialog, the children are to discuss how to solve the problem and create an ending that uses kindness! 

Trust me, the children love this!

You can get this resource for free by signing up for my helpful emails HERE!
 
Want more? This resource has 5 different scripts:
Starring Kindness: Reader's Theater with a Twist:

 
Using Reader's Theater to Help Students Learn Kindness: Here's are some suggestions on using scripts to build kindness.


We can all use a little kindness in our lives, can't we? 

 
In case you're looking for more reader's theater, here's a life cycle-themed script: What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?
 
Using Reader's Theater to Help Students Learn Kindness: Here's are some suggestions on using scripts to build kindness.

How do you help your students learn kindness? 

Using Reader's Theater to Help Students Learn Kindness: Here's are some suggestions on using scripts to build kindness.

Inspire Your Girls (and Boys, Too!)

March is Women's History Month! 

There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do!

Inspire your girls (and boys, too!) There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do! Here are some ideas to help them think about!

March is a great time to explore ways to inspire your girls, since it's Women's History Month! Here are some books to share with your girls (and boys, of course!)

The right words at the right time can really inspire many to improve their lives and become successful.  Here are some of my favorite quotes from women, appropriate for children.


Inspire your girls (and boys, too!) There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do! Here are some ideas to help them think about!


 These are great words for girls (and boys) to think about, aren't they? 

Inspire your girls (and boys, too!) There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do! Here are some ideas to help them think about!

Yes, we're expected to spend time teaching reading, writing, and math, but getting kids to think about their future and their own impact on the future is pretty important, isn't it? 


Inspire your girls (and boys, too!) There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do! Here are some ideas to help them think about!

Kids need to learn about the power of their own voice, don't they?

Inspire your girls (and boys, too!) There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do! Here are some ideas to help them think about!

I love to have the kiddos talk (or write) about what they think some of these quotes mean. They make great Morning Meeting prompt!


Inspire your girls (and boys, too!) There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do! Here are some ideas to help them think about!

These discussions are a great way to start the day. Perfect for morning meetings!


Seriously, don't you want your students to think about this?


I have a set of 50 of these quotes, available here:

Explore this image for a link to this inspiring resource.

How you inspire your students to be the best they can be?

Inspire your girls (and boys, too!) There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do! Here are some ideas to help them think about!

Dramatics in the Classroom

Children learn in many ways. 
I'm particularly partial to the arts. 

Research on the brain proves that the arts make strong connections with the memory. 
Today's post is about one of my favorite arts, dramatics!
Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

There are many ways to use dramatics in the classroom, and many reasons to do it!  Here are some of the "whys!"


Yes, it's true. It's a great place for those shy kids! It sounds odd, but seriously, when you give a shy kid a character to play, they really come out of their shell! Did you ever hear that many movie stars are actually introverts? It all makes sense!

Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

Reading scripts gives the children practice with reading skills. And, of course, children need to learn to speak clearly. Dramatics give them plenty of opportunities to practice speaking in front of others!

Actors depend upon each other when performing. If someone misses a line, that affects all the others. Therefore, if all team members live up to their responsibilities, they will all be successful.

Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!


When pretending to be a character, children need to put themselves in the shoes of the character, and think about how that character feels. They learn empathy!

 Actors must pay attention to the script and focus on what is happening in the performance.  


Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

In the context of a performance, problems always arise. Children easily solve these while working together toward that common goal: a successful performance! 

Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

Both verbal and nonverbal communication are important when putting on a play! Children learn to show their feelings with and without words. 

Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

When children put on a skit or a play, or act out a scene, they work hard together toward a common goal. That's the kind of thing that builds confidence and self-esteem! When it's over, they beam with pride!


Now that we understand why dramatics are beneficial to children in the classroom, here are some ways to fit dramatics into your busy day!

Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!
Not only is it fun to act out stories of the past, but as the children act out different parts, their movements settle into their memories. I often had my students act out the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, including saying goodbye to loved ones, the constant rocking, eating the ship's food, seasickness, (they loved that part) seeing a newborn baby on the ship, and sighting land. As I described each detail, they went through the motions, and were totally engaged in the trip! The best part? They remember it because they were physically involved as well as emotionally involved.


Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

Similar to the above, but this one doesn't have to be from factual information. It works particularly well with group read-alouds, or if a group is all reading the same book.  It might sound something like this, "Show what Wilber's face looks like when Charlotte wove her web." Or maybe, "Show Max's face when he realizes his dinner is still warm."
Having to recreate these moments helps them build empathy and develop feelings for the characters in their stories.


Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

I remember having to memorize a list of vocabulary words every week. Do I remember those words now? Not many of them! Acting out the words makes them real. Plus, it works across the curriculum! Yes, even math!


Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!
Encourage writing stories that have characters having conversations! Kids are so creative, they might enjoy a writing prompt that encourages unusual "personalities" having a discussion, for example, "What would your pencil say to your paper?" or "What would your desk say to your chair?"  This really gets them thinking about conversations and personalities.


Reader's Theater is a favorite of the students as well as the teachers! Why? The kiddos like it because it's fun! The teachers like it because it incorporates so many important skills: reading, speaking, thinking, building empathy for others, and working together, to name a few! 

Here are a few Reader's Theater resources for you to explore:


Here's a series of character-building Reader's Theater where the children make up the ending:

Here's one more fun resource that the children love, especially when they can make up a voice for each character:

I hope you enjoy using dramatics in the classroom as much as I do!



Dramatics in the Classroom: There are many reasons to use dramatics in the classroom, and many ways to use it. This blog post explains HOW and WHY to use dramatics in the classroom!

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