CONTACT:  Dianna Cleveland
23121 Antonio Pkwy Ste 130
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(800) 375-2926 Ext. 701
Email: dcleveland@playbooks.com

“Whole Child” Afterschool Conference Features Interactive Workshop by Playbooks® Reader’s Theater

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (November 5, 2009) – Playbooks® Reader’s Theater Company will be at the upcoming “Whole Child, Whole World” conference, hosted by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence. The statewide conference, taking place in Mesa, Arizona on November 14, is catered to directors and staff of afterschool programs, recreation centers, and youth development organizations. The conference will feature numerous workshops on various topics to help out-of-school time educators improve their curriculum and child development skills and keep aware of best practices in the field.

In addition to its exhibit booth, Playbooks® will provide an interactive Reader’s Theater Implementation Workshop! Attendees will learn specific methods for using this valuable form of “Repeated Guided Oral Reading” and will even read a script aloud in small groups of their own! Playbooks® author, Kelli Casas will be available to sign books and speak about her stories, including her newest title, “Stone Soup.” This heartwarming adaptation of a classic tale shows the magic that is revealed when people in a community work together for the common good!

One of Playbooks®’ newest products, Lend and Extend Reader’s Theater™, will be showcased at the conference as a fun and simple way to increase parent involvement! These accessory packs allow you to split a typical Playbook® story set into three take home packs to be checked out by three different students at a time, and returned when the activity is completed with parental participation.

Reader's Theater continues to grow in popularity with out of school programs because it engages students in a fun, interactive activity while meeting academic content standards. Reader’s Theater stories are similar to plays with character dialogue that is read aloud by a group of readers who bring the story to life! With Playbooks' patented format, each role targets a specific reading level and appears in a different color of text so that older and younger students can be grouped together to bring a story to life, each reading at their own ability level. No memorization, props, costumes, or stage are required, but expressive voices and gestures help students gain the most in comprehension skills. 
About Playbooks® Reader’s Theater Company
Playbooks, Inc. is located in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and is the leading supplier of Reader’s Theater scripts and classroom story sets to schools and families across the country. For more information, call 1-800-375-2926 or visit http://playbooks.com/NewsArchive.shtml