Expressive reading is not limited to vocal variety. Properly used, actions are also important to conveying meaning. Actions include facial expressions, posture, hand or arm movements, gestures, and physical movements, large and small. Facial expressions can convey distinct feelings such as surprise, fear, happiness, confusion, disgust, interest, disbelief, anger, and sadness. Posture reflects an attitude and suggests character. Hand or arm movements may include waving, pointing or drawing with the finger. An open palm often is seen as giving or receiving. Gestures are a specific type of body movement made with the head, shoulders, legs, feet, hands or arms. A shrug of the shoulders may indicate ignorance, irony or perplexity. Physical movements are when the reader changes position or location. They may also include running, hopping, skipping, stomping, or other movements. All these types of actions help the reader get into character and emphasize the content of the story.

Actions add power and vitality to words. For example, if one of the characters in a Reader’s Theater story becomes fearful when someone knocks at the door, the reader can show this fear by tightening his or her posture, facial expression, and voice. As the character approaches the door to open it, the reader might show apprehension by raising the arm hesitantly and then bringing it close to the body. As the character recognizes the person at the door, the reader can show relief by relaxing the body and voice as he or she utters the person’s name. If the reader’s body language doesn’t mirror the words, those actions will call attention to themselves and away from the story. Every gesture made should be purposeful and reflective of the words read, so the audience will note the effect rather than the gesture.

Actions are probably the most evocative form of nonverbal communication a reader can employ, but it should be used to highlight and emphasize the spoken words of the text and not become the focus of the reading. Students who are able to effectively communicate the emotions and attitudes of the characters using both vocal variety and body expression demonstrate a comprehension of the story’s meaning and an ability to make the story come alive.

Click here for a classroom exercise
to help your students understand
how body language can improve
their ability to interpret a story.

Click here for a PDF of all
Previous Exercises