Metacognition

We have been talking about metacognition for the last few days in reading.  Metacognition is one of the new terms I do not remember learning in fourth grade.  If I had to define metacognition, I would say it is thinking about your thinking.

We really want the students to understand that when they read they have to interact with the text.  I always describe reading as a playing a video game not watching television.  When you watch television, you can sit and stare and zone out.  Too often I see students do this when they read.  We need students to realize that just like a video game you have to react.  The barrel rolls to you and you must jump (my video game references show my age).  Students must realize that they must do the same thing when reading text.  When reading they must think about what is happening.  Then need to notice, they need to think, they need to wonder and so much more.

Today we wanted students to realize that these thinking strategies we are using do not just need to be used when they read.  They can be used on the football field or on the soccer field or in the science classroom.  They can also be used when we look at a piece of art.

This painting by Edward Hopper called Nighthawks was what we decided to think about today.  The students told me what they could see, then what they noticed, and finally what they wondered about the painting.  The thinking the students shared was amazing.

When students are reading at home, you can use these metacognition thinking stems to help students explain their thinking.  

• I'm thinking...
• I'm noticing...
• I'm wondering...
• I'm seeing...
• I'm feeling...

Hope that you are all having a great week.