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From Issue #3, Autumn 2003

ARITHMETIC AND READERS THEATRE?
An unlikely combination, but wait .... by Lucy Rioux

In my previous article, I provided an example of how readers theatre scripting could be used in the social studies curriculum. This time we focus in the math area. Although the trend in today's educational philosophy is to understand the concepts of mathematics through process and problem solving, there are some times when memorization must also be utilized. The multiplication tables comes to mind as a prime example of this. Teachers are always looking for new techniques and "tricks" in order to facilitate their students' mastery of this very important basic mathematical knowledge.

Historically, students have usually demonstrated adequate comprehension and acquisition of the times table for the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9. This is usually related to the common rules or patterns associated with these numbers. The times tables for the numbers 6, 7, and 8 are much more challenging and more difficult to "memorize".

Using readers theatre scripting techniques as another learning strategy can help students overcome this challenge and facilitate their learning of the facts.

Students themselves can create scripts which address the multiplication tables. Below you will find an example of a script that I have used with
third grade students, the grade level where multiplication is
traditionally introduced in many school systems. The script can be
adapted to suit as many children as are in the classroom or for small
group presentations (one group doing the times table of 6, another group
working on 7, and yet another group scripting for 8).

MULTIPLICATION SCRIPT--6
(for six readers)

Reader 1 - Multiplication
Reader 2 - Multiplication
Reader 3 - What is it?
Reader 4 - Why, it's simply adding!
ALL - At least that's what my teacher says.
Reader 5 - She says we should know it.
Reader 6 - But sometimes we doubt it.
ALL But, don't worry! We're all going to learn this!
Reader 1 - Just like commercials?
Reader 2 - You bet!
Reader 3 - Ready, set, here we go!
Reader 4 - Let's start from 1 X 6 and go up to 12!
ALL - We're ready!
Reader 5 - 1 X 6 is--
ALL - 6
Reader 6 - 2 X 6 is--
ALL - 12
Reader 1 - 3 X 6 is--
ALL - 18
Reader 2 - 4 X 6 is--
ALL - 24
Reader 3 5 X 6 is--
ALL - 30
Reader 4 - 6 X 6 is--
ALL - 36. That's simple!...

The script continues in this fashion with extra exclamatory lines added
for effect. It ends this way:

Reader 1 - Tomorrow, we'll do reverse from 12 to 1--we had better
practice tonight!
Reader 2 - Homework is no fun!
ALL - But it pays to get it right, RIGHT?
Reader 2 - RIGHT!

Students from one third grade classroom can work on a script and practice
for presentation to another third grade classroom. The very fact that
students are "rehearsing" to put on a good "show", means that they are
"studying" and "memorizing" the facts they need to know. It is a very
effective learning tool and lots of fun as well!

In the next issue the focus will be on grammar...

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