Turning Story Pages Into Performance at ISG Jubail

Reading, creativity and collaboration came together in a joyful celebration of learning as lower elementary students recently presented their Readers Theatre performance at ISG Jubail. Alongside teachers Mrs. Kristen Bourn, Mrs. Gina Castro-Basbas, Mrs. Sara Alfahad and Mrs. Shereen Ibrahim, students transformed familiar stories into engaging performances that reflected their growing confidence as readers, performers and creative thinkers.

Readers Theatre is an interactive approach to literacy that allows students to develop fluency, expression and reading accuracy through performance. Rather than memorizing lines, students focus on bringing stories to life through purposeful reading, helping them strengthen comprehension while building confidence in front of an audience.

Throughout the year, students worked together to prepare scripts based on beloved stories including The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Gingerbread Man and Hansel and Gretel. As they practiced in small groups, students learned how to use expression, pacing and character voices to communicate meaning and engage their audience. What began as words on a page gradually evolved into lively performances filled with personality, imagination and enthusiasm.

A special aspect of this year's Readers Theatre was the collaboration across multiple areas of learning. Alongside Mrs. Kristen Bourn, Mrs. Gina Castro-Basbas, Mrs. Sara Alfahad and Mrs. Shereen Ibrahim, students experienced how reading, language, performance and art can come together in meaningful ways. For the second consecutive year, Mrs. Sara Alfahad enriched the program with Arabic songs and a role-play performance of The Carrot, helping students connect their Arabic language multilingual learning to the stage while building confidence in their communication skills. 

The performance space itself reflected months of creativity and effort. With the support of Mrs. Shereen Ibrahim, student artwork filled the classroom, creating a colorful gallery that highlighted students' artistic growth and imagination. Families attending the event were able to enjoy both the performances and the artwork, creating a rich celebration of student learning.

By bringing together literacy, performance, Arabic and visual arts, the Readers Theatre experience reflected the collaborative spirit that defines ISG Jubail. By weaving together reading, performing, Arabic and art, the Readers Theatre became not just a reading showcase, but a celebration of language, creativity, and community. More importantly, it provided students with an opportunity to discover the joy of storytelling while sharing their learning with confidence.