Dragon Tales Unleashed: Soar reading ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Readers Theatre!
Readers Theatre sparks joy in learning, blending reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and decoding into an exciting journey. By diving into the adaption of “How to Train Your Dragon,” students will bring characters and stories to life.
What's included
10 live meetings
8 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. includedClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
Beginner Level
Students work together to create an audio version of the drama How to Train Your Dragon. Using Readers Theatre engages, motivates, and improves student reading. Adapting the book How to Train Your Dragon allows students to read sentences meaningfully, decode words in context, and expand vocabulary. During the first lesson, I will provide phrases that encourage students to answer and allow errors without fear. Every response a student makes must be a positive experience. Students will not only respond to questions but also learn to ask questions about a text. In this interactive class, students will be working as a group. This aids students to see they are not alone, but are supported in their learning. Readers Theatre exposes students to creating and developing activities: exploring backgrounds, creating props, and taking on the characteristics of the characters themselves. Deep comprehension is a key ingredient for reading success. In this text, students can easily read the main character part. Rereading texts with a purpose aids student growth. Students will discover that making mistakes is okay and acquire language that turns errors into positive learning experiences.
Learning Goals
Decoding: Students will identify, syllables, consonants & vowels, enabling them to decode words in context. Students will memorize and recall words from the text.
Reading Fluency: Increase the student’s reading speed, accuracy, and comprehension.
Reading Comprehension: Improve the student’s ability to comprehend and interpret text by answering inferential questions.
Positive Reinforcement: Provide ongoing, positive, and constructive feedback as the student reads aloud to build confidence and motivation
Supportive Techniques: Utilize supportive techniques such as choral reading, recorded material, and guided reading sessions to provide a scaffold for the student’s learning
Vocabulary: Acquire new words and vocabulary
Progress Monitoring: Continuously monitor and measure the student’s progress using real data to adjust goals and strategies as needed
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)10 Lessons
over 2 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to How to Train Your Dragon.
Discuss comprehension on the sentence level.
Act out the “picture in your mind”
Create a picture dictionary for vocabulary using a secure website.
Learning to ask questions! Who, What, When, Where, How, Why? (worksheet) 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Create A DRAGON Day
Reread & Act out Chapters 1:
Students read & act out a character part.
Create an origami Dragon
Expand the Vocabulary Dictionary
Writing: Discuss and record the “likes” and “dislikes” of one character 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Background Set Creation!
Create a background set for the chapters read
Readers Theatre reading including comprehension, vocabulary, & fluency
Writing: Discuss and record one character's “likes” and “dislikes”. Use this list to write complete sentences 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Character Dress-Up Day!
Readers Theatre read including Comprehension, vocabulary, & fluency
Writing: Expanding sentences of Likes & dislikes of one character
Our Topic: Who were the Vikings?
What’s real? What’s imaginary about the Vikings? 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
Designed for students needing a literacy lift, this class is a haven for learners at all levels, even those with IEPs. Here, all reading components merge seamlessly with fun and learning. Every student is embraced and encouraged to grow.
Parental Guidance
This is a fictional story based on Viking life. I would like students to know that Vikings were real, lived and explored around the 10 century.
Pre-Requisites
The prior class of ‘Aliens Ate My Homework’ theatre enriches, but isn’t required—suitable for most reading levels.
Supply List
Blank Index cards Highlighters Different colored markers
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Teaching Certificates
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Health/PE
Master's Degree in Science from State University at Albany
I am new to Outschool and although I have been teaching students who struggle with literacy for thirty years. I had a dramatic entry into the world of literacy, when my seven-year-old son, Nicholas, failed in first grade. His prospects looked grim as assessments revealed he could read ten words, displayed no strengths, and had a discouraging "low IQ" diagnosis.
I opted to withdraw Nicholas from school, seizing the opportunity to tailor his education. This decision marked the onset of a transformative process, during which I adapted lessons to suit Nicholas's needs. Through relentless reflection and adaptation, I witnessed an astonishing metamorphosis in his learning journey.
Motivated by my personal experiences and Nicholas's remarkable progress, I became a qualified reading specialist. Drawing upon my unconventional background, enriched by diverse cultural encounters, and fueled by an unyielding passion, I assumed the role of District Reading Specialist in Lubbock, Texas. I dedicated myself to guiding students, aged 7 to 17, who grappled with similar literacy challenges.
I perceive myself not merely as an educator but as a "literacy problem-solver," committed to pioneering innovative approaches to empower dyslexic or struggling learners. My teaching endeavors have spanned continents, from Australia to Texas and New York, where I have tirelessly worked with students lagging in literacy, guiding them toward triumphs in reading.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$110
weekly5x per week, 2 weeks
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
2-6 learners per class
