There are some students that seem to intuitively know how to learn. They are organized, they complete tasks on schedule, they keep their desks clean. Why are these students this way? Is there a way to teach other students to think about their thoughts in order to improve their learning? The ability to think about your thoughts in order to improve your learning is called metacognition.
Today's teaching tips involve a list of suggestions about how to teach students to be more metacognitive:
Tip # 67 - Begin by defining the term metacognition to your students. Younger students might benefit from a metaphor such as "driving their brains." We all love to feel in control of our destiny, why not introduce this concept to our students as a way for them to take lead in their learning.
Tip # 68 - Ask students to describe the benefits of being in control of their brain. Why would it be important for them to know when to pause or to accelerate their learning?
Tip # 69 - Whenever possible give students the choice of what to read or what topics they want to learn about. Having input in our learning will make it much more enjoyable and engaging for our students. As you teach about metacognition it is worthwhile to not only give your students choices but to explain why having choices will benefit their learning.
Tip # 70 - Look for opportunities to discuss and apply metacognition across core subjects and in a variety of lessons so that students can transfer it for the most benefit. You might want to ask how the lesson you are teaching might apply to a future job? How can we relate this lesson to the real world?
Tip # 71 - Model metacognition by talking through problems. When we show our students our thinking out loud they will see that we too make mistakes and that making mistakes is part of learning. This final tip will help our students move towards a growth mindset.
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