Metacognition

Learning to learn or the metacognitive approach to learning is not an easy technique to explain to students. However, modeling how you analyze a difficult reading passage out loud to studen... See More

Learning to learn or the metacognitive approach to learning is not an easy technique to explain to students. However, modeling how you analyze a difficult reading passage out loud to students helps students understand how you, the teacher, process information. This technique should include demonstrating strategies such as rephrasing, rereading, mental pictures and more. This can be difficult at first. The article provides a five point self-assessment rubric students can use in all types of activities for self-assessment. The article also provides several types of assessment that can be used by the teacher to gauge students’ acquisition of content knowledge. In all of this learning and understanding is the main goal of what a teacher should be doing with students.

Self Assessment of Level of Understanding

A simple rubric posted in the classroom assists students with clarifying their understanding of specific standards or “targets.” This non-threatening method can be used to inform your teachi... See More

A simple rubric posted in the classroom assists students with clarifying their understanding of specific standards or “targets.” This non-threatening method can be used to inform your teaching and build student understanding as they rate themselves on readings, labs, and lessons (i.e. “I read it and am totally confused” versus “I could teach it.”). Helping students become metacognitive shifts emphasis from tests to understanding in a manner that can easily be documented.