So, how DO you evaluate Readers Theater performances? This short article includes a link to a GIFT PDF: "Group or Performer Readers Theater Rubric" that could be used by a student or a teacher for evaluating a Readers Theater performer or group performance. Simple. Quick. Encouraging. But, before you download the free rubric, ask yourself some questions:

1. WHY?

• WHY do I want to evaluate ANY Readers Theater performance? 

• Am I giving a grade? 

• Is it for report cards or an IEP? 

• Am I going to share the information with parents?

• Am I doing research?

2. WHAT?

• What do I need to evaluate in Readers Theater?

• Do I mark students down for making a "miscue" or mistake (e.g., missing a word, losing their place...)?

• Do I mark students down for not looking up at the audience as they read aloud?

• Do I evaluate volume, fluency, and expression?

• Do I consider their interpretation of a character or narrator (e.g., voice, gestures...)?

3. WHEN & WHERE?

• Do I evaluate Readers Theater practice readings or just Readers Theater performances?

• Do I let partners or a group perform more than once?

• Do I evaluate formal performances for an audience other than their classmates?

• Do I evaluate EVERY performance by EVERY student?

4. HOW?

How you evaluate Readers Theater will always depend on your answers to the above questions. Fortunately, you may find a few free Readers Theater rubrics online. Some of them may satisfy your expectations and save you time.

However, I spent several hours researching, evaluating, and creating SIMPLE Readers Theater evaluation rubrics because I couldn't find a particular one to recommend. Some had too many words. Some were too complicated. And, some were too difficult to read in a preview. Of course, there are more reasons.

To be honest, when I was in the classroom I had never even heard of printed rubrics for evaluating student work. I knew how to figure grades in general (e.g., A, B, C, D). But, I never evaluated our Readers Theater presentations for a grade. And, there weren't enough trustworthy Readers Theater scripts for us to do much Readers Theater in those "mimeograph" days.

So, below you have the link to a flexible "Group or Performer Readers Theater Rubric" PDF to save you time. This rubric may be used with fiction or non-fiction because the focus is on the performance. The form can be filled out by students in the audience (e.g., classmates) or the teacher. You may evaluate a whole group or just one performer. [NOTE: The form takes only a half of a page, so you'll save paper, too!]

I hope it helps you!

*** Click on the yellow link below to download the free PDF "Group or Performer Readers Theater Rubric" for evaluating Readers Theater performers and performances.

Download the GIFT PDF "Group or Performer Readers Theater Rubric" for evaluating Readers Theater performers and performances.

For self-evaluations or to use with non-fiction Readers Theater scripts consider our soon-to-be-published non-fiction Readers Theater rubric in this same category.