Developing metacognitive skills in students

Teach students to 'think about their thinking'. Strategies: 1. Pre-assessment: Before a unit, have students complete a 'What I Know, What I Want to Know' (KWL) chart. 2. The Muddiest Point: During a lesson, pause and ask students to write down the 'muddiest point'—what is least clear to them. 3. Exam Wrappers: After a test, have students analyze their performance. Ask: 'How did you study?' 'What types of questions did you miss?' 'What will you do differently next time?' 4. Reflective Journals: Prompt students to reflect on their learning process weekly. 'What strategy worked well for you this week?' 'Where did you get stuck?' Goal: move students from passive recipients to active managers of their own learning.