ABSTRAKThe aim of this research is to find out whether: (1) Numbered Heads Togetheris more effective than Direct Instruction method to teach reading to the seventh gradestudents of Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri Bagor, Nganjuk in the academic year of2012/2013; (2) the students having high motivation have better reading skill thanthose having low motivation; and (3) there is an interaction between teachingmethods and motivation in teaching reading to the seventh grade students ofMadrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri Bagor, Nganjuk in the academic year of 2012/2013.The research method was an experimental study. The research was conductedin Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri Bagor, Nganjuk. The population was the seventhgrade students of Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri Bagor, Nganjuk in the academic yearof 2012/2013. The researcher used cluster random sampling to get the sample. Therewere two classes used as sample. One class consisted of 24 students who wereexperimental class taught by Numbered Heads Together and the other 24 studentswere as control class taught by Direct Instruction method. The instruments ofcollecting data are reading test and questionnaire. The data were analyzed by usingmultifactor analysis of variance 2x2. Then, it was analyzed by using Tuckey test.The research findings show that: (1) Numbered Heads Together is moreeffective than Direct Instruction method in teaching reading; (2) The students havinghigh motivation have better reading skill than the students having low selfmotivation;and (3) There is an interaction between teaching methods and students’ motivationfor teaching reading. It means the effect of teaching methods on the students’ readingskill depends on the students’ motivation.Based on the research findings, in general it can be concluded that NumberedHeads Together is an effective method to teach reading. Therefore, the teacher issuggested to apply Numbered Heads Together for teaching reading.Keywords : Experimental Study, Reading Skill, Numbered Heads Together,Direct Instruction method, Motivation.