Have You Tried Reader’s Theater with Your Big Kids?
Reader’s theater scripts give teachers the perfect tool to practice fluency and reading comprehension while increasing student participation and engagement. Reader’s theater also adds differentiation to your reading lessons, and it’s an easy way to incorporate seasonal fun into purposeful instruction.
My Unique Approach to Engaging Scripts
I’ve been using reader’s theater with my upper elementary and middle school students for over a decade now. When I first began, all I had access to were a few scripts from textbooks, and the storylines just weren’t intriguing enough for my students.
I took a chance and tried writing my own scripts—ones with stories based on the antics and adventures of middle schoolers. Engagement levels soared, and reader’s theater quickly became one of their favorite reading activities!
Adding Core ELA Activities
Creating my own scripts has also allowed me to add other ELA activities to each unit. These are things we always need more practice with: extended response questions, context clue word work, story maps, and journal writing.
I’ve now created over 25 reader’s theater toolkits! Each one features a unique story script and post-reading activities focused on comprehension and word work.
If you are looking for engaging reader’s theater scripts for your big kids, check out my top-rated reader’s theater bundles below!
Reader’s Theater Mega Bundle $24.00
This popular bundle includes both evergreen and seasonal scripts (12 total) to cover the entire school calendar.
Includes the following PDF toolkits:
- Aesop’s Fables
- Back to School Blues
- Earth Day Reader’s Theater
- Halloween Reader’s Theater
- Christmas Reader’s Theater
- Speedy Racer (Evergreen)
- St. Patrick’s Day Mystery
- Thanksgiving Reader’s Theater
- The Cafeteria Catastrophe (Evergreen)
- The School Store (Evergreen)
- The Snowball Toss: Winter Reader’s Theater
- Valentine’s Day Reader’s Theater
- Over 800 5-Star Reviews on TPT!
EMERGENCY ELA Sub Plans BUNDLE $19.00
My ELA Sub Plans Bundle includes 6 standalone, evergreen reader’s theater toolkits with comprehension and word work activities. scripts and toolkits.These units are great for filling your substitute binder with engaging, standards-based activities for students to work on in your absence. No additional books or companion materials are needed!
Includes the following PDF toolkits:
- Where is Miss Charles? Script and Activity Toolkit
- Trouble at Pine Hill Park Script and Activity Toolkit
- Missing! Script and Activity Toolkit
- The Championship Team Script and Activity Toolkit
- Do What You Say! Script and Activity Toolkit
- A Moment of Panic Script and Activity Toolkit
- Over 950 5-Star Reviews on TPT!
Text-Based Reader’s Theater Bundle $11.00
This bundle of text-based reader’s theater scripts offers the perfect teaching tools for fluency, reading comprehension, and read aloud activities. Each original script is based on my favorite picture books and read aloud selections.
Includes the following PDF toolkits:
- First Day Jitters for BIG KIDS: Reader’s Theater
- Strega Nona for BIG KIDS Reader’s Theater
- The Day the Colored Pencils Resigned Reader’s Theater
- The Storytelling Princess Reader’s Theater
- The Gingerbread Pirates Reader’s Theater
- Compare and Contrast Interactive Notebook Printables
- Over 35 5-Star Reviews of TPT!
All-American Reader’s Theater BUNDLE $11.00
This All-American Reader’s Theater bundle includes 5 American history theater scripts and toolkits.
Includes the following PDF toolkits:
- President’s Day Reader’s Theater
- September 11th: Remember the Day!
- Veteran’s Day Reader’s Theater
- Martin Luther King Jr. Reader’s Theater
- Memorial Day Reader’s Theater
- Over 50 5-Star Reviews on TPT!
Reader’s Theater Collection $49.00
This collection bundle includes 24 different reading literature toolkits!
Includes the following scripts in PDF printable format:
Evergreen Reader’s Theater Scripts:
- Aesop’s Fables Readers Theater Toolkit
- Speedy Racer Readers Theater Toolkit
- The Cafeteria Catastrophe Readers Theater Toolkit
- The School Store Readers Theater Toolkit
- The Snowball Toss: Winter Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- The Tell-Tale Heart Reader’s Theater Toolkit
Seasonal and Holiday Reader’s Theater Scripts:
- Back to School Blues Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- Earth Day Readers Theater Toolkit
- Halloween Readers Theater Toolkit
- The Show Must Go On: Christmas Readers Theater Toolkit
- St. Patrick’s Day Mystery Readers Theater Toolkit
- The Gift of Time: Thanksgiving Readers Theater Toolkit
- Random Acts of Kindness: Valentine’s Day Readers Theater Toolkit
Text-Based Scripts and Read Alouds:
- First Day Jitters Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- Strega Nona Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- The Day the Colored Pencils Resigned Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- The Storytelling Princess Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- The Gingerbread Pirates Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- Last Day Blues Reader’s Theater Toolkit
American History Reader’s Theater Scripts:
- September 11th Reader’s Theater: Remember the Day!
- Veteran’s Day Reader’s Theater: A Visit from a Veteran
- Martin Luther King Jr. Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- Presidents Day Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- Memorial Day Reader’s Theater Toolkit
- Over 40 5-Star Reviews on TPT!
Learn more about reader’s theater:
- Best Reasons to Use Reader’s Theater
- How to Implement Reader’s Theater
- Reader’s Theater Scripts for Middle School
- Reader’s Theater Scripts for Upper Elementary School
- Reader’s Theater for Middle Grades