Each month we take a closer look at one of the metacognition or self-regulated learning teaching resource that we offer. The aim of self-regulated learning is to empower students to take control of their own learning-processes; metacognition is the cognitive aspect of self-regulated learning and emphasises the awareness, understanding & regulation of thought.
Reading these monthly posts can contribute to your continued professional development and give you new ideas for classroom practice: why not try a new resource each month and, slowly but surely, become a master of metacognition? Perhaps you’ll be inspired to make a new resource to use with your students or, if you’d like to save time, you might download and try one of the resources from our site.
Our teaching resources are aimed at teachers of students aged 11-16 and can be used by all teachers: regardless of their subject-specialism. They emphasise student-reflection, metacognition and self-regulation.
This month we’re looking at our range of workbook enhancers. Links to order and download the resource can be found at the bottom of the article or you can click here.
What Are Workbook Enhancers?
Our range of metacognition and self-regulation themed workbook enhancers are designed to be stuck in the front and/or back of students’ exercise books (workbooks).
What Are Workbook Enhancers For?
The workbook enhancers serve a number of functions depending on the one’s you choose to use (there are five to choose from in the download).
'Are You Stuck?' – Students use metacognitive questions to help them complete their task before asking a teacher for help...
'Finished Early!?' – Students are given a range of metacognitive reflection/extension questions to work on if they finish a task ahead of schedule...
'Are You Stuck?' – As before, students use the metacognitive questions provided to help them complete their task before asking a teacher for help...
Metacognition Extension Tasks - A list of extension tasks that students can work on in the back of their exercise books if they find themselves having finished learning activities before other students (perfect for high-ability students in mixed-ability classes!)
Important Theories for Boosting Learning Power - Big pedagogical ideas explained clearly and simply for students (Metacognition, Self-Regulated Learning, Independent Learning, Active Learning, Growth Mindset, Learning Styles & Learning Power) which will help students to gain metacognitive knowledge.
How Do I Use These Workbook Enhancers?
The download contains five different designs; simply select the ones you wish to use, print them off, and have your students glue them into the front and/or back of their exercise books (workbooks).
How Does It Foster Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning?
One of the worksheets explains what ‘metacognition’ and ‘self-regulated learning’ means whilst the others foster metacognition and self-regulation in less direct ways: two of the workbook-enhancers use of extension and reflection questions and/or extension tasks, and two use more task-specific metacognitive instructions such as the two worksheets that use metacognition to help students who are stuck on a specific learning-task.
Which Teachers Can Use These Workbook Enhancers?
These workbook enhancers are suitable for teachers of students aged 11-16. They are suitable for teachers of all subjects.
To Which Students Is It Most Suited?
These worksheets are suitable for all students aged 11-16: the ‘Are You Stuck?’ worksheets may be particularly useful with “low-ability” classes and will help reduce the need for students to keep asking for help from teachers and teaching-assistants whilst the ‘Finished Early?’ worksheets might be more suited to mixed-ability classes as a means of helping with differentiation. The ‘Important Theories of Learning’ information might be more suited for high-ability students.
How Else Do These Workbook Enhancers Benefit Students?
The worksheets foster reflective learning and independent learners; they lead students towards metacognitive reflection, regulation and knowledge. The worksheets decrease student dependence on teacher interaction, which is likely to cause a more holistic benefit to students as a whole since teachers will be able to make more effective use of their time as a result.
Where Can I Get Them!?
This resource can be ordered or downloaded by clicking here.
Membership Plan holders can download it freely via the ‘Member’s Area’ by clicking here.
You can browse our other metacognition and self-regulated learning-resources here.
You can also use the site menu to navigate and download our large collection of metacognition & self-regulated learning teaching resources. Don’t forget to check-out the ‘Free Downloads’ section of the site!
