New Research, DRTA: A Boost for Third-Grade Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension, a cornerstone of academic success, often poses challenges for young learners. While traditional teaching methods have their place, educators are continually seeking innovative approaches to enhance students’ understanding of written text. One such method, the Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA), has garnered attention for its potential to significantly improve reading comprehension.

The funny thing…it’s just a new name for the same comprehension strategies.

More on that later.

The DRTA Study on 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension

A recent study conducted at Toro Hills Elementary School (download PDF of the study here) aimed to investigate the effectiveness of DRTA in boosting the reading comprehension of third-grade students. Researchers employed an experimental design, dividing students into two groups: a control group receiving traditional instruction and an experimental group implementing the DRTA method.

Both groups were administered pre- and post-tests to measure their reading comprehension levels.

Before we see the results of the study, let’s look into DRTA (Directed Reading Thinking Activity).

DRTA: A Closer Look

The DRTA approach encourages active engagement with text by guiding students through a series of steps:

• Prediction: Students make predictions about the text based on the title, illustrations, or prior knowledge.
• Questioning: They formulate questions they hope the text will answer.
• Reading: Students read the text, pausing to confirm or refute their predictions and answer their questions.
• Reflecting: They summarize the text, connect it to their prior knowledge, and evaluate the accuracy of their predictions.

By involving students in these cognitive processes, DRTA fosters deeper understanding and critical thinking skills.

Comprehension Srategies We’ve Recommended

If you are familiar with our 32 open-ended reading comprehension questions, you’ll know that the first 12 questions are dedicated to making predictions. These questions work with any text and any instructional setting: small group, warm-ups, whole class, test review, etc.

In fact, our Making Inferences Task Card Bundles are loaded with predictions and other DRTA questions.

But that’s off-topic.

Let’s look into the DRTA research and discover the findings for these 3rd-graders.

DRTA, Key Findings

The results of the study were compelling. Students in the experimental group, who received DRTA instruction, demonstrated significantly higher reading comprehension scores on the post-test compared to the control group.

This suggests that the DRTA method is a valuable tool for improving students’ ability to extract meaning from text.

By actively involving students in the reading process, DRTA promotes deeper understanding, critical thinking, and a positive attitude toward reading.

Implications for Education

The findings of this study have important implications for educators. By incorporating DRTA into their reading instruction, teachers can create a more engaging and effective learning environment. This approach can help students develop a love of reading, enhance their critical thinking skills, and ultimately improve their academic performance.

Also Read: 5 Ways to Teach Summarizing with Task Cards >

DRTA (Directed Reading Thinking Activity)

The name says it all. We’re using scaffolded direction to build thinking skills. Reading is the medium, not the end goal.

It just happens to help reading comprehension immensely!

The Directed Reading Thinking Activity offers a promising approach to enhancing reading comprehension in third-grade students. By actively involving students in the reading process, DRTA promotes deeper understanding, critical thinking, and a positive attitude toward reading. As educators continue to explore strategies for improving student outcomes, the DRTA method deserves serious consideration.

Dig Deeper: More Research on DRTA and Reading Comprehension

Reading Teaching Tips: How to Use Text Dependent Questions