Sam Sebesta, a specialist in Readers Theatre, gives teachers six tips for a successful oral reading program, including how to prepare the audience.
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| 3. Mind the language. Find the places where the language sounds like what it means. In Redwall, Brian Jacques writes, "The new day dawned in a haze of soft sunlight." Read that simple sentence aloud. Then coach yourself by figuring out how the word sounds (e.g. soft and sunlight) help create the image. Good oral readers – teachers and students alike – will reflect the sound-meaning relationships. In their minds, readers and listeners see the image as they hear the words. 4. Experiment with your technique. Professionals use two techniques to make their reading crackle: topping and pause. With topping, each sentence of phrase is spoken with more intensity than the preceding one, so that there's a build-up. Use topping when you want to build suspense or when you're approaching a punch line. And don't forget the pause, which gives listeners a chance to absorb. I teach topping and pause to students. I have them mark topping places with a small upward arrow. They mark pauses with two diagonal lines (/ /). 5. Practice, practice, practice. Practice can really help some readers with their presentation, but let's be realistic. Busy teachers may not have time to practice their oral reading skills outside of class. Many get their practice on the job. If that's you, don't despair. You're working in a living laboratory, where you get instant feedback. Just keep your focus on the cadence and the author's purpose you're trying to convey. Students, on the other hand, need practice away from the tension of an audience. I keep a stuffed dog in the classroom for this purpose. I often tell students, "Go read this selection aloud to the dog." And they do. The dog gives them focus, and a semblance of listener. (I know some real canines who are good at doing that, too.) Sometimes I have students practice in pairs. I teach the "listening half" of the pair to give positive feedback. 6. Prepare the audience. The best audience is one that listens! It does not have copies of what is being read. It does not have distracting items such as pencils or popcorn. Simply stated, the best audience is prepared to invest itself in the reading. It is part of the oral reading performance. |
