Blog | Metacognition and Reading Comprehension

Metacognitive practices should be a cornerstone of a language-based classroom. Explicit instruction in metacognition allows students to make deep connections between what they are reading and previously learned material. It also helps them to make sense of what they are reading and learning to determine when material does not make sense and to decide which strategies to employ to help overcome obstacles.

Encouraging this type of critical reflection helps students to become flexible learners and enables them to examine their performance on an academic task and ultimately creates a deeper understanding of content. When students know what they know, know what they don’t know, and are explicitly taught to apply strategies, they will be more likely to “actively monitor their learning strategies and resources and assess their readiness for particular tasks and performances” (Bransford, Brown, & Cocking, 2000, p. 67).