Self-monitoring
Overview
When students monitor their comprehension, performance, and use of strategies when reading and writing, they build their Metacognition and actively participate in the reading process. Teaching students to self-assess their behavior based on clearly set goals helps develop their Self-regulation and also helps them to monitor their comprehension during reading of complex texts. Research has shown that when students are prompted to monitor their understanding during reading, their comprehension improves.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
Watch how these middle school students self-monitor their performance individually and in a group. By unpacking objectives, completing a formative assessment, and completing a reflective journaling activity, these students are equipped to assess their own understanding of the material.
Design It into Your Product
Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.
Learn how this prototype self-monitoring app prompts students to rate their behavior at regular intervals. Students reflect and self-assess their behavior against specific goals. By tracking their progress, students independently self-monitor how successful they are in reaching their goals.
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Metacognitive Supports Strategies
When annotating, students engage deeply with a text and make their thinking visible while reading.
Checklists and rubrics help students understand expectations as they navigate more complex tasks and assignments.
Setting overall goals with actionable steps for achievement can help students feel more confident in their skills and abilities.
Journaling allows students to reflect on their thinking and feelings, process their learning, and connect new information to what they know, supporting their identity development and Sense of Belonging.
When students reframe negative thoughts and tell themselves kind self-statements, they practice positive self-talk.
Student reflection on learning, particularly when done collaboratively, is critical for moving knowledge of content and strategies into Long-term Memory.
When students engage in a dialogue with themselves, they are able to orient, organize, and focus their thinking.
