Language Arts/English Curriculum Frameworks - Albemarle County ...

Comprehension: Possible Learning Activities
K-5
• Directed Listening-Thinking Activity (DLTA) – Students listen to a story read aloud by the teacher
who stops strategically throughout the story to ask students to make and justify predictions about
what will happen next in the story. Throughout this process, students are encouraged to confirm or
modify their predictions based on new information provided in the text.
• Directed Reading-Thinking Activity (DRTA) – Students read a story and stop at places designated by
the teacher to reflect on what has happened, predict and justify predictions of what might happen
next. This can be done as a small group, guided reading group or individually in a reading response
log.
• Reader Response Logs – Journals where students reflect on text being read.
• Graphic Organizers – Diagrams that allow students to visually organize the information gained from
reading the text. An example is a Venn Diagram used to show the similarities and differences
between two stories.
• Guided Reading Groups – Reading group conducted by a teacher where the students, as a group,
predict, read, and discuss. The difference between a guided reading group and a more traditional
reading group lies in the format used for reading texts. In a guided reading group, students read
either silently or in a whisper voice as opposed to round robin which is used in more traditional
reading groups. The benefit of the guided reading format is that each child reads ALL of the text
rather than selected pages.
• Instruction in Literary Elements – Direct instruction in identifying the characteristics of various
literary genres. Student knowledge in this area greatly enhances comprehension skills.
• Book Talks – Students read a book and orally present the book to the class, promoting the plot of
the book without giving away the exciting moments. The purpose is to require the reader to reflect
© ASPIRE K-12, Albemarle County Public Schools, 2003
Appendix B
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