Directed Reading and Thinking Activities

I recently finished an action research project using DRTA. I asked two questions:
1. Does DRTA engage students?
2. Does DRTA allow students to comprehend texts that are above their instructional reading level?
The answer to both questions was a resounding YES! I am so thrilled with the success I have had using this technique, and I hope that other teachers will enjoy using these activities as much as I have. Not only do they make reading fun for the students, but the activities cover three of the four pillars of ELA instruction: listening, speaking, and reading. To try this in your classroom please visit the DRTA Sample Page. There you can see a video demonstration of the technique, download the materials you will need to do DRTA in your class, and if you like it, purchase and download the book which includes twenty-one activities with teacher scripts.
1. Does DRTA engage students?
2. Does DRTA allow students to comprehend texts that are above their instructional reading level?
The answer to both questions was a resounding YES! I am so thrilled with the success I have had using this technique, and I hope that other teachers will enjoy using these activities as much as I have. Not only do they make reading fun for the students, but the activities cover three of the four pillars of ELA instruction: listening, speaking, and reading. To try this in your classroom please visit the DRTA Sample Page. There you can see a video demonstration of the technique, download the materials you will need to do DRTA in your class, and if you like it, purchase and download the book which includes twenty-one activities with teacher scripts.
What Students are Saying about DRTA
“All day, everyday, do it!” “Oh good, I love this!” "Keep doing it!"
“Are we doing the thing with the paper? Yay!” “Make it longer, and do it everyday!”
“Are we doing the thing with the paper? Yay!” “Make it longer, and do it everyday!”
What Students Like Most about DRTA
“It’s interesting." “Suspense.” “Making predictions.”
“That it is a mystery. Making predictions.” “Adventure.”
“It makes us think more.” "Predictions."
“That it is a mystery. Making predictions.” “Adventure.”
“It makes us think more.” "Predictions."