How can we help learners to think metacognitively and how can thinking metacognitively help in accelerating pupil progress?
Get pupils to:
- think about the planning, monitoring, and evaluation;
- talk aloud about how they think they can tackle the task (planning);
- talk about any adjustments they made as they were doing the task (monitoring);
- think about how they may do it differently if they started again (evaluating).
Provide learners with a task that they have never or rarely done before.
Helping your learners to think metacognitively
Teaching Tips: Provide your pupils with an activity that will be relatively unfamiliar to them. Help them to think out loud about what they went through. There are three examples set out here for you and each has a set of questions that you could use with your pupils.
Example 1: Writing a sentence/ their name with their non-dominant hand
When writing with their non-dominant hand get the learners to consider:
- Why am I finding this more difficult compared to using my dominant hand?
- Would I be better with practice?
- If I were to start again would I find it easier?
- How are my friends doing?
- What if I hold the pencil in a different grip?
- Should I consider moving or tilting the paper?
- Is it a physical problem I have or is it in my mind?
- What do I need to do to speed up?
- If I was to help someone else, what advice would I give them
Want to see more on helping learners to think using metacognition?
This is an extract taken from Accelerating Pupil Progress by Applying the Principles of Metacognition by Clive Davies. To view sample pages and to find out more click here.
Read more blogs about Metacognition
What is Metacognition? by Clive Davies
Master Maths with Metacognition by Clive Davies
Continue the conversation on metacognition
To continue the conversation further, join @CliveDaviesOBE on Twitter or get in touch with the Focus Education office on 01457 821 818.
Accelerating Pupil Progress by Applying the Principles of Metacognition
Writing at Greater Depth
A Focus on Mathematical Reasoning to Promote Deep and Mastery Learning Years 1-2
Vicky is the Marketing Executive at Focus Education.
