The Nature of Descriptive Text

C. Directed Reading Activity

1. The Nature of Directed Reading Activity

Some readers or students maybe encountered some difficulties in comprehending or deducing meaning from the text they read. Therefore, English teachers implement some technique and strategies in teaching reading in the classroom. One of the strategies could be considered to be used in helping students in comprehending text is Directed Reading Activity, such as stated by Bruner: “When beginning to teach a new reading lesson, the teacher models the expected reading behaviors, offering support and guidance to students so that they will be successful in interpreting the words and grasping the meaning of the story. That support by a knowledge adult is referred to as scaffolding. ” 31 The definition above actually explains the foundation of the technique of teaching reading of Directed Reading Activity and it is Scaffolding. Scaffolding validated by a prominent Russian psychologist, Lev Vygotsky, underlined the basis theory of Directed Reading Activity where the strategy tries to build students’ comprehension of reading text. Scaffolding strategy can be illustrated like house painters not simply using and standing on a ladder. They instead construct thing or scaffold by putting some planks between strong pillars. Therefore, the painters stand on the scaffold that is safer and more convenient for them to paint the house. Correspondingly, scaffolding provides help for students as readers. In this case, teacher builds a “Scaffold” for students to improve their abilities. Teacher guides students step by step from low to high as the painter put each planks one by one until reaching the fit height. 32 The concept of Scaffolding in teaching reading comprehension actually underlines two strategies in teaching reading in classroom. The first one is 31 Farris, op. cit., p. 330. 32 Wilma H. Miller, Strategies for Developing Emergent Literacy, United States: McGraw Hill, 2000, p. 182.