Internet Academy Resources

Directed Reading/Thinking Activities

(DR/TA)

What is a Directed Reading/Thinking Activity?

A Directed Reading/Thinking Activity is useful if you have some background knowledge about a topic. It does not work for topics that are brand new to you.

How will a Directed Reading/Thinking Activity help me read better?

The DR/TA encourages active reading by:

• Activating prior knowledge
• Helping you to focus on the topic
• Predicting
• Checking accuracy of predictions

How could I use a Directed Reading/Thinking Activity in a class?

Using the chart below, fill in the first three sections before you read. Then complete the last section after you have finished reading. A sample referring to the web site about MARSUPIALS is done for you.

Topic: (This is an example) Marsupials

What I know: They are furry. They have babies in pouches. They come from Africa. They live in trees. They are brown

What I think I know: koalas and kangaroos are marsupials. They are very mean and bite people. They hop. They have about 20 babies.

What I think I’ll learn: their names, what they like to eat, how come we don’t have any here

What I know I learned: MARSUPIALS From the reading I learned they came from north America and moved to South America and Australia. Their babies are blind and live in their mom’s pouch for a long time. Koalas and wombats are two marsupials. There are lots of different kangaroos and wallabies. Koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves.

Here is a blank form you can now use.

Topic:

What I know:

What I think I know:

What I think I’ll learn:

What I know I learned: