Media Contact: Dianna Cleveland
Telephone: 1-800-375-2926
Email: dcleveland@playbooks.com
Playbooks Reader’s Theater publishes “My Wide World of Sports”
Ladera Ranch, CA - (January 8, 2008) – Playbooks Reader’s Theater Company announces today that it has added a new multi-cultural story focusing on sports and exercise to its collection of health-themed titles. The story, entitled My Wide World of Sports, addresses an important and relevant topic in today’s education. With childhood obesity on the rise, it is important to instill in children healthy living habits including the value of exercise from a young age. The story explores the fun and excitement, as well as the health benefits, associated with physical activity and participation in sports. The story is written and presented in the unique Playbook® multi-leveled and color-coded Reader’s Theater format which is designed for building reading fluency and confidence in students.
In this charming and funny tale, Michael, a 12-year-old boy who loves video games, does not know what to do with himself when his television breaks one afternoon. He notices his chubby reflection in the blank television screen, and this revelation sets him on a path to discover a sport he can enjoy, not without the dedicated help of his friends, of course! Michael discovers sports from around the world, practiced by each of his friends, but finds he doesn’t seem to be good at any of them. His classmates insist that he can find a sport to enjoy if he doesn’t give up looking, and soon enough Michael proves they are right! The story ends with Michael winning several gold medals for swimming. The story features six character roles with each targeting a specific reading ability level for kids in Grades 3-6.
Reader’s Theater is an approved form of “Repeated Guided Oral Reading,” a highly effective teaching method designed to improve reading fluency. The method works best when students read the same text four separate times, but keeping students’ attention for that long can be a difficult task! Not with Reader’s Theater as it truly engages students as they bring a story to life by reading a character role aloud with different creative expression each time. With the Playbooks® patented format, students each read a role fitted to his or her own reading level, yet can read the same story together with higher or lower level readers. Higher level readers effectively model fluent reading for less fluent readers, while lower level readers, who often have a better aptitude for dramatic expression, help other students come out of their shells and into the spotlight! Supported by scientific research, Reader’s Theater has quickly grown in popularity in schools and After School programs as a valuable tool that effectively improves a child’s reading skills and confidence while also encouraging a life long love of reading.
About the Author
Francesca Passudetti was born in Spilimbergo, Italy. She has been studying English since middle school and she chose to attend an International High school. She came to California as an exchange student, fulfilling her dream to visit America. Here she found not only a second family, but also the opportunity to write her first children’s story.
About Playbooks, Inc., the Reader’s Theater Company
Playbook, Inc., headquartered in Ladera Ranch, CA, is a leading Reader’s Theater specialty children’s book publisher supplying the education and consumer markets. Playbooks, Inc. owns the patent for character dialogue printed in multiple colors and written at multiple reading levels. Information about Playbooks, Inc. and Reader’s Theater titles can be found at www.playbooks.com or by calling 1-800-375-2926.
