Bring the original realistic fiction story of The Surprise Dinner to life with this decodable three-page reader's theater script! Perfect for building confidence in young readers, this script helps develop fluency and expressive reading, all while encouraging teamwork. With simple lines, it's an ideal choice for classroom performances, reading centers, or small group practice.
 
And while this script was written for first graders nearing the end of the school year, it would also be a good fit for second graders beginning their school year.
 
What is reader’s theater?
Reader's theater is a reading activity where students are placed in small groups and perform a script aloud multiple times without any actions, props, or costumes. Each student reads one character’s lines, focusing on expression and fluency.
 
How does reader’s theater help build fluency?
Reader's theater helps build fluency by giving students repeated, meaningful practice with a script. Research has shown that reading the same word multiple times helps move it from short term to long term memory.
 
Please note: This script is taken from the Science of Reading aligned Foundational Phonics Unit 8 which teaches students to read words with r-controlled vowel sounds.
 
Engaging, effective, and fun— The Surprise Dinner reader's theater script is a fantastic way to boost fluency and reading confidence in young learners!