Media Contact:  Diane Alexander
Telephone:  1-800-375-2926 ext. 705

Reading Fluency Marvel:
Increases Reading Proficiency

LADERA RANCH, CA, November 28, 2007– Playbooks, Inc. introduces a patented Reader’s Theater format that increases students’ reading proficiency in a fun and engaging way.

Designed around the basic principle of increasing reading fluency by guided and repeated oral reading of text, Playbooks, Inc. built upon this premise using the entertaining Reader’s Theater format and added color to the character dialogue and multiple reading levels within the story. A study at Loyola University indicates that reading comprehension improves 27% when the text is presented in color. Having multiple reading levels in the story enables the teacher to assign character roles according to reading ability yet integrate students of all reading abilities together in the same reading group. The multiple reading levels in the small group dynamic allow students to learn by listening to higher-level vocabulary modeled by peers while participating in the reading activity at their own level.

Noted fluency expert and author of The Fluent Reader, Timothy Rasinski, recommends the use of Reader’s Theater in the classroom, “Reader’s theater is an authentic, entertaining, and educationally powerful way to read and communicate meaning. When implemented properly, it offers many opportunities for students to practice reading in multiple and meaningful ways.” Playbooks founder Dianna Cleveland adds, “I have seen struggling readers come alive when using a Playbook® as part of their classroom reading practice. They often have a better aptitude for creative and dramatic expression, and the leveled character roles enable them to read aloud with confidence and enthusiasm ... providing them room for real growth in reading fluency, comprehension and retention.”

Playbooks® Reader’s Theater original stories are written for grades K-12 and are available in school sets, grade level kits and other flexible formats. Mini-costume kits are included with some titles. For more information on Reader’s Theater and the research supporting its use for building students’ reading fluency, go to www.playbooks.com/readerstheaterresearch.shtml. A complete list of titles may be viewed at www.playbooks.com/browse.shtml.

Playbooks, Inc. is the leading provider of multi-leveled, color-coded dialogue Reader’s Theater books for schools and other reading support programs. It is located at 111 Corporate Drive, Suite 240, Ladera Ranch, California, 92694. For Playbooks, Inc. News Archive and "All About Reader's Theater News Blasts (Learning & Exercises)," go to: http://playbooks.com/NewsArchive.shtml.