This week was the last official Reader's Workshop for first graders. All their hard work as readers was celebrated by working in groups and performing a Readers' Theater script of a classic fairytale. These group projects are a powerful way to help children work on fluency, pacing, phrasing, and expression. The focus of this activity is to read aloud expressively rather than thinking about acting. Each student was a given his or her own script book and the group decided which of the four reading parts each child will read. During the practicing, members of the group were encouraged to listen to one another and offer positive and constructive feedback. Each group practiced and then read for their class. This was definitely a favorite activity of the year!