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Choose a story or article with clear "clues" or a strong narrative arc. It shouldn't be too easy, but it shouldn't be so hard that the students can't make logical guesses.

For reluctant readers, "boring" texts become puzzles to be solved. The act of predicting creates an immediate stake in the narrative. Students want to know if they were right, which provides the intrinsic motivation to continue reading.

Unlike traditional reading methods where a teacher might provide a summary or a list of vocabulary beforehand, DRTA centers on the student's ability to use their prior knowledge and textual clues to navigate the narrative. It shifts the focus from "What happened?" to "What do you think will happen next, and why?" The Three Core Phases of DRTA

Not every text works for DRTA. Choose texts with:

However, in the age of the "Science of Reading" movement—which emphasizes phonemic awareness and phonics—it is vital to remember that DRTA is a strategy, not a decoding strategy. It should not replace foundational skills instruction for early readers who are still learning to decode. It is a tool for "reading to learn," not "learning to read."

Ask students to look at the cover or title. Record their initial predictions on the board. The First Read: Have students read to the first stop point.

Directed Reading Thinking Activity Jun 2026

Choose a story or article with clear "clues" or a strong narrative arc. It shouldn't be too easy, but it shouldn't be so hard that the students can't make logical guesses.

For reluctant readers, "boring" texts become puzzles to be solved. The act of predicting creates an immediate stake in the narrative. Students want to know if they were right, which provides the intrinsic motivation to continue reading. directed reading thinking activity

Unlike traditional reading methods where a teacher might provide a summary or a list of vocabulary beforehand, DRTA centers on the student's ability to use their prior knowledge and textual clues to navigate the narrative. It shifts the focus from "What happened?" to "What do you think will happen next, and why?" The Three Core Phases of DRTA Choose a story or article with clear "clues"

Not every text works for DRTA. Choose texts with: The act of predicting creates an immediate stake

However, in the age of the "Science of Reading" movement—which emphasizes phonemic awareness and phonics—it is vital to remember that DRTA is a strategy, not a decoding strategy. It should not replace foundational skills instruction for early readers who are still learning to decode. It is a tool for "reading to learn," not "learning to read."

Ask students to look at the cover or title. Record their initial predictions on the board. The First Read: Have students read to the first stop point.