Glenda's New Year Reader's Theatre Script -Rubric & Questions

Glenda Goose

Hi Larry. I am here to give you a nice Happy New Year hug. A hug that will take away your lonely feeling.

Larry Lion

I don’t like hugs.

Glenda Goose

Everybody likes hugs. You will love my New Year hug.

Larry Lion

I won’t like it.

Included in the Glenda's New Year Reader's Theatre Unit:

14 page script

4 characters + the narrator

28 metacognitive questions

Student Reader's Theatre Evaluations based on 4 levels and 5 criteria.

Student Success Criteria

Student Friendly Goals

Reader's Theatre Checklist

Glenda's New Year synopsis:

Glenda Goose wants to start the new year off right, so she decides to return a book she borrowed from Larry Lion. Larry tells Glenda that he never lent out any of his books. He also admits that he is sad and lonely. Glenda tries to return the book to Ginny Goat, but she never lent out any of her books either. Ginny admits that she only listens to YouTube and does not read books because her hair is always in her eyes. Glenda then tries to return the book to Denny Dog. Denny says he never lent any books out, and that all of his books are home improvement manuals. Denny says he wants peace while he paints his house. Glenda adds another new year's resolution to her list by vowing to make her neighbors happy.

Will Glenda succeed in her new year's task? Can Glenda make Larry feel less sad and lonely? Will Ginny allow Glenda to cut her hair? Will Denny be happy to have extra help painting his house, and will Glenda be able to return the book she borrowed? Find out in Glenda's New Year!

Do not fear the reader's theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story.

Reader's theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader's theatre to add to my drama marks.

If the reader's theatre format did not work for my students and I, then I would have stopped creating and adapting them years ago.

Reluctant readers sometimes feel anxious looking at pages of text, whereas a reader's theater script is broken up into narration and different characters speaking, thus making the story more accessible to those students who have not discovered the incredibly fun activity of reading for entertainment.

I use shorter stories with minimal characters in literature circles.

When can one make time for a reader's theatre story in class?

When I am not reading a reader's theatre unit with my class, I usually reserve Friday's for the reading of a one-off story. It is an event that the class looks forward to, since they do not know which story I will choose. Great for Librarians. I project the stories on the screen and assign characters in class. Some characters only have 1 line. A character like that is perfect for a reluctant reader.

I have read these stories remotely/online and in class/in-person.

I encourage teachers and instructors to allow students to practice their parts at home before they read in front of the class. They can try different voices and tones when they practice.

I hope you, and your students have a fun time reading Glenda's New Year.

Happy New Year to you, your family and your students.

Excelsior!

Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader's Theatre