About the store
Having taught over 10 years, I find I LOVE to teach in very rural areas. I am now on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation teaching early elementary. Go BRAVES!
My specialty is working with students who struggle to read or have behaviors that make learning a challenge.
I've written children's and young adult books as well as poetry but have not found myself an agent yet to help publish them.
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Reader's Theaters for Black History Month
In a world where reading is pushed so hard on students that many are losing their love of reading it is IMPORTANT to give them opportunities to read that are fun. Reader's Theater does this. In this package I have placed 6 Reader's Theaters. Each one has been written for Black History Month but can be formed at any time. The names of the reader's theaters are Jackie Robinson and the Bus, I Want to Read – The True story of how Fredrick Douglas Learned to Read, News of Ruby Bridges – A Kid’s Persp
4th - 12th, Adult Education
Drama
CCSS
RL.4.10
, RL.5.10
, RL.6.10
+4
Chinye - A West African Cinderella Story - Small Group Reader's Theater
This Reader's Theater is for 4 - 7 students. I have each narrator also take a smaller part. This is the West African version of Cinderella. In the script, Chinye lives with her father, stepmother, and stepsister. The stepmother and stepsister hate her and make her do all the hard chores. The stepmother decides she wants to kill Chinye so she sends her to get water in the jungle at night. The animals do not kill her though and one, a warthog, leads her to a tiny hut. An old woman lives there and
3rd - 12th, Adult Education
Drama, Reading, Short Stories
CCSS
RL.3.10
, RL.4.10
, RL.5.10
+19
Coyote and The Rolling Stone - Small Group Reader's Theater
This Reader's Theater is for 3 students. It is based on a Goshute tale of how Coyote did NOT listen to his brother. I no longer teach on the Navajo Indian Reservation but my students still LOVE Coyote tales. We used this one to compare and contrast Navajo Coyote tales with other tribes. This Reader's Theater is only 5 pages and a fairly quick and easy read. In the script, Coyote does NOT believe stones can chase him and will NOT listen to his brother’s warning. When the stone comes, will someone
3rd - 12th, Adult Education
Drama, Native Americans, Short Stories
CCSS
RL.6.10
, RF.3.4
, RF.3.4a
+17
Rubric for Reader'sTheater
This is the rubric I use to score the students' Reader's Theater performances each week. They are worth a total of 100 points. 70 points for their performance and 30 for watching the others and reflecting upon what happened. The students are given their own copy so that they know EXACTLY how I grade their performance and what I want. There are no surprises. My name is Melanie Whitesides and I have used my rubric for a year and a half. It is important to let them know what is expected. If you wa
3rd - 12th, Adult Education
Drama, English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.10
, CCRA.SL.6
, CCRA.L.6
Play Without Ceasing - Small Group Reader's Theater
This is a religious reader's theater intended for a small group of 4 students. The object of the script is to examine what is meant by pray without ceasing and how to apply it in our lives. #2 is trying to be a better Christian and heard the pastor last week talking about a scripture that said to play without ceasing. He/she got it a little wrong and did not read too carefully when they looked it up so now they are mixed up. #4 is able to set the record straight by looking the scripture up and t
4th - 10th, Adult Education
Drama, English Language Arts, Religion
CCSS
RL.4.10
, RL.5.10
, RL.6.10
+6
The Fraction Freaks Introduce Fractions - Small Group Reader's Theater for Math
This is a small group reader's theater for 3 people. It is used to introduce the topic of fractions and to teach the vocabulary words numerator and denominator. It is a great way to help students struggling to understand which numbers go in the numerator and which ones go in the denominator. It is the first of several reader's theaters introducing the fraction freaks as they talk about fractions. There is a small writing/discussion prompt at the end for your students to respond to.If you are lo
3rd - 12th, Adult Education
Fractions, Math, Vocabulary
CCSS
3.NF.A.1
, 3.NF.A.3c
, RL.6.10
+19
Snow Science - How Clean IS Our Snow - Hands On, STEM, Science Experiment
Are you looking for experiments that are fairly easy, with little cost, and quick but STEM based? Then this lesson is for you. It involves one of the easiest ingredients in winter - snow. The experiment examines how clean it is. The lesson plan is written using SIOP form. One way to do this experiment is in a science center but I like to have Fridays be our project days and my students write about every project we do. You can buy them as a package with this. I used this experiment to teach why w
3rd - 8th, Adult Education
Graphing, Physical Science
CCSS
5.MD.C.4
, 3.NBT.A.2
, 3.NF.A.1
+2
Astronauts, Beauticians, & Nurses – What I want to be when I grow up! - S.G.R.T.
This Reader's Theater is for a small group of 3. The subject is what students want to be when they grow up. My students really struggle to see a future beyond tomorrow. The idea of planning for one is very difficult. In the script, the teacher has assigned students to write a paper about what they want to be when they grow up. Andy has not decided yet and Virginia has written about being an astronaut. The group discusses why girls do NOT usually become astronauts and whether this dream is possi
4th - 12th, Adult Education
Drama, Reading Strategies, Short Stories
CCSS
RF.4.4
, RF.4.4a
, RF.4.4b
+12
Living and Nonliving Things Science Vocabulary Bingo 3 Day Lesson and Activity
This is a Science Activity Lesson based on the Science Standard about Living and Nonliving Things. It also ties in with Math Standards regarding creating and reading bar graphs and number lines. While that standard pertains to 3rd grade many other grades need to review and reteach it to help students. This activity helps ESL students and others to master the vocabulary for the science standard as well. This activity is a DOK level 2 and 4 but is not complicated. It will take 3 days, 30 - 60 min
3rd - 11th, Adult Education
Biology, General Science, Measurement
CCSS
3.MD.B.3
, RI.3.4
, RI.3.10
+2
A Christmas Carol (Modern Retelling) - Whole Class Reader's Theater
This is a full retelling of the story by Charles Dickens. I have attempted to use modern language to make the story more accessible to students as well as adults. This is a great way to get a class participating in reading a great piece of literature! The script follows most of the events of the story but a few were dropped in the interest of time. As it is, this is a 36 page script. The script can be read in about 30 - 40 minutes depending on individual readers. This is NOT a small group script
6th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Drama, Literature
CCSS, TEKS, VA SOL
RL.6.10
, RL.7.10
, RL.8.10
+12
Tavian and the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant - Small Group Readers' Theater
This is a religious reader's theater intended for a small group of 4 students. This script was written to help students understand why they need to forgive others. In the script, Tavian’s friend David didn’t do what he promised he do. So Tavian is very angry and swears he will NEVER forgive him. Thankfully, Tavian has some other friends - Braydon, Myla, and Peyton. Together they tell Tavian about the parable Jesus told of the unmerciful servant; reminding him that we should all be grateful for t
4th - 8th, Adult Education
Drama, Religion, Writing
CCSS
CCRA.R.10
, CCRA.W.10
, CCRA.SL.1
+3
Ruth Bader Ginsburg -A SUPREMELY Wonderful Judge! - Small Group Readers' Theater
This reader's theater was written for four students. It ties in Social Studies with Language Arts. It is a short biorgraphy of Ruth Bader Ginsburgl. The students have dressed up for a class as someone famous. Two of the students do not know who Ruth Bader Ginsburg was and two are excited to tell them all about her. There is a short writing prompt at the end. I use reader's theater as a way to encourage my reluctant readers to raise their fluency. It motivates everyone! My name is Melanie Whit
5th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Drama, U.S. History
CCSS, TEKS, VA SOL
RI.5.10
, RI.6.10
, RI.7.10
+29
Was Old MacDonald's First Name Bingo? - Small Group Readers' Theater
This is just a funny script about the farmers in three old nursery songs - Old MacDonald, Bingo, and The Farmer in the Dell. When #1 is singing the song - Bingo, #2 tells them that Bingo might be the name of the farmer and not the name of the dog. #3 is skeptical and doesn’t believe it but #1 starts thinking about it. Pretty soon they start talking about other songs that have a farmer in them. By the end of the story, #1 and #2 think that all three songs are about a farmer named Old Bingo MacDon
3rd - 12th, Adult Education
Drama, Reading
CCSS, TEKS, VA SOL
RL.3.10
, RL.4.10
, RL.5.10
+40
What Was That? - Small Group Reader's Theater with Zeno and Sight Words
This Reader's Theater was designed to get kids practicing Zeno and sight words. Zeno Words are the 107 most used sight words. There are parts for 3 students. The challenge with young students and low readers is to have a script that is interesting and yet on their level. There are other words in the script but they are low words - used for 1st through 2nd grade. In the script, Barry, Jeff, and Tim are sleeping in a tent. They have had a good day but as they get ready to sleep they hear a noise.
1st - 4th, Adult Education
Drama, Reading, Short Stories
CCSS
RF.2.4
, RF.2.4a
, RF.2.4b
+13
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About the store
Experience
Having taught over 10 years, I find I LOVE to teach in very rural areas. I am now on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation teaching early elementary. Go BRAVES!
My specialty is working with students who struggle to read or have behaviors that make learning a challenge.
I've written children's and young adult books as well as poetry but have not found myself an agent yet to help publish them.
Teaching style
I really believe in the Piaget approach along with the 7 different learning styles. I try to incorporate 3 styles at a time into my lessons to enhance learning. I also focus on high engagement and have yet to follow my lesson plan to the 'T' because of this.
Thus showing how lessons are 'in the moment' and adjust that way to my students.
One of my favorite things is getting rid of grading papers and switching to a quick check at the end of the lesson. Within 3-5 minutes and usually 3 questions, I can identify and mark where each student is and then adjust the lesson for the next day accordingly. Ie. adding more reteach or extensions etc. Yes, there are still papers selected to go into a folder for them to show their parents to celebrate and demonstrate their own success but they are more intentionally selected and made.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Two Americorps tours of duty, 'Driven to Teach' award, National Poet Society Recognition, etc.
Teacher of the Year at T.O. Smith Elementary in Ogden Utah. 2015
My own education history
Two Bachelors Degrees. One in Education and one in Technical Writing.
Additional biographical information
I now live on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee Nevada. We still miss our dear friends from Monument Valley. If you, too, like teaching in the trenches and want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire, they are a place to go. Both have a desperate need for committed teachers. I have 7 children, am learning (slowly) Spanish, Navajo, and Sign Language, and I love to Crochet!
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