Name: ____________________________
Per:
Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA)
for “Old Horse”
Part A: Before reading, write complete answers to the questions below. After you’ve
answered the question, read the italics before going on to the next question. Be prepared to share
your ideas with a group or the class.
1. What are or were some of your nicknames, or those of your friends? What do nicknames
indicate about people? How can nicknames be both positive and negative? Predict why
the students in this story might call their Algebra teacher “Old Horse”?
You will want to pay attention to nicknames in this story and what they indicate about
character. Authors use names and nicknames to reveal character
2. Recall a time when someone you’ve encountered turned out to be different than you
initially judged. What did you think about them at first? What caused your opinion to
change? How did it change the way you felt and thought about that person?
You will want to pay attention to surprises in this story. Authors use surprises to draw
our attention to hidden features of characters. When something surprising or unexpected
happens, we are supposed to notice this and figure out what it means.
2. What is someone like who is “sarcastic”? “brazen”? “patient”?
These are words that are used to describe characters in this story. You will want to pay
attention to how characters are described and what they are doing when they are first
introduced. Authors expect you to notice how characters are first introduced.
Part B: During reading, respond/react to the italic phrases. All of these phrases have to do
with character. How do these phrases help us to understand the characters and illuminate story
meaning?
Part C: After reading the story, answer the following questions:
1. Why do you think Old Horse changed his treatment of Rabbit? How does this
demonstrate new information about Old Horse?
2. What does this suggest about the nature of good relationships and perhaps teacher-student
relationships in particular? What is the author trying to communicate to us through this
story?
3. How do you feel about this message from the author, and do you accept, adapt, or reject
this vision of relationships?
4. How can your thinking be applied to the relationships in your own life?
Part D: Correspondence drama. Imagine that you are Rabbit. As a 28-year-old adult, write a
letter to Old Horse—tell him how he influenced who you are today and how you now think
about him. Now exchange letters with a partner. Imagine you are Old Horse receiving this
letter. How do you feel? What would you like to say or explain to Rabbit? Write a note back
and give it to your partner.