MetacognitionResearch: Metacognition means awareness and understanding of one's though process. For students, it means to think and read simultaneously (ReadingResource.Net, 2009). It is important for students to learn this word so that they understand how to become a better reader with better reading comprehension. Metacognition forces students to think about reading. Being aware of this strategy means that students are willing to use their strategies to help in comprehension. Research done has shown that just reading more does not increase comprehension, but using strategies does. (Boulware-Gooden,Carreker, Thornhill, & Joshi, 2007).
Student Benefits: By taking the time to discuss metacognition in your classroom, students become aware of their thinking process. Student awareness increases their ability to problem solve and use strategies to aid in comprehension. Procedures: (ReadingResource.Net, 2009) 1.) Select a text that is engaging to your students and that has places to pause and think. 2.) Ahead of time, cut apart green and red pieces of paper to be the lettuce (the thinking) and the tomato (the text). 3.) Read the book aloud to students, pausing to “stop and think”. 4.) Have students on both sides of you, depositing a piece of lettuce (when you think) and a tomato (when you are reading). 5.) Make sure you have more lettuce than tomatoes in your “reading salad” because students need to know there is usually more thinking in reading, than reading. |
Writing Ideas: After modeling this process, read another text aloud to students. Instead of sharing your thoughts, hold up a green slip and have them record what they are thinking at that moment. Also, they can do this on their own as well with a book (using their journals).
Web Sources: http://www.gse.uci.edu/person/martinez_m/docs/mmartinez_metacognition.pdf (additional information about metacognition and its relation to the classroom) http://www.benchmarkeducation.com/best-practices-library/metacognitive-strategies.html (other ways to teach metacognition and teaching the definition to students) |
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