Implementing Direct Instruction: A Teacher’s Perspective

“Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t go back to teaching the way I did before.”

In this video, Ashley Barrett, an experienced educator from St. Charles Parish Public Schools in Luling, Louisiana, shares her firsthand experience implementing the Reading Mastery Language program, a Direct Instruction (DI) approach, for the first time.

Ashley discusses the realities of introducing DI in her classroom, including the initial challenges, the strategies she employed to adapt, and the significant academic gains her students achieved. Her experience not only transformed her classroom instruction but also deepened her understanding of effective literacy education.

She also highlights the role of the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) in supporting her school through ongoing coaching and feedback, which contributed to measurable improvements in student performance. This video offers valuable insight for educators, administrators, and instructional leaders considering the adoption of Direct Instruction programs or seeking to enhance their implementation practices.