Direct Instruction Review~

I think the most difficult step for teachers is the seventh and final step. We as teachers have so much ground to cover in any given subject and grade level that taking the time to go back later on and review material in an enjoyable way can be nearly impossible. Unless we give cumulative tests at the end of units or semesters there isn't a true assessment of that knowledge that they learned previously. We have already moved on from that material and it's almost a guarantee that the students have forgotten it. It is our job as teachers to make that step a priority and to create fun ways to show the students that the material that was covered in the past is important and that it is still pertinent to them and applicable (without giving them a written test).
For me, personally, the most unnatural step in the direct instruction model is stating the objective. It feels to me that is similar to stating at the beginning of one's essay, "In this essay I will talk about..." I have always been taught that this is not how you write an effective and good essay. I know there are better ways to state one's objective in a classroom like an attention grabbing activity or demonstration, without actually saying, "today you're going to learn about..." That step could be difficult for me if I don't make it an interesting instructional step rather than a blatant statement.
For the students, reviewing and assessing their previous knowledge can feel like a total waste of time. Reviews can always feel tedious and useless, especially when done in a boring, unengaging way. Unless this first step is done with enthusiasm and treated as something fun rather than a straight review and or assessment then the rest of the lesson will feel the same. You don't always have to do an extensive activity that is fun and exciting, but you do need to grab the attention of the students and make them interested in what you're about to teach them.