The Directed Reading-Thinking Activity (DR-TA) is a strategy that involves previewing, predicting, monitoring comprehension, and revising predictions. This strategy can be used with students at all levels and with either expository or narrative texts.
1. Divide the reading material into segments appropriate for the students' reading level.
2. Tell the students the purpose of the strategy they are using (to help them comprehend by previewing, predicting, and using their prior knowledge).
3. The students preview the material in the first segment by looking at pictures and other graphic aids and reading titles and headings.
4. The students predict the content of the segment.
5. Write their predictions on the board or chart or have the students write their own predictions.
6. Students read the segment and stop at the point designated by the teacher.
7. Discuss whether their predictions were confirmed.
8. Ask the students to support their ideas and explain their reasoning using the information in the text and their prior knowledge.
(Repeat steps 3 – 8 for each segment.)
9. Discuss the story in relation to other stories, their personal experiences, and the author's purpose.
10. Discuss the strategies used to understand the story.
|
