7 Power Thinking Tools: Monitoring and Fix Up

I often liken the process of reading to that of driving a car. We hop in our vehicles each day with very little thought to the sophisticated and complex set of skills and strategies we use to get ourselves from Point A to Point B. 

Just as drivers stay active and aware, readers must do the same to as they navigate their way to meaning. This keen awareness that their reading is "staying the course" is called comprehension monitoring.

Comprehension monitoring involves the control and management of reading and thinking. Metacognitive readers, those that are aware of and think about their thinking, are clear about what they do understand, what they don't understand, and what they are prepared and equipped to do when comprehension breaks down.

Using the driving analogy can help readers see themselves in the "drivers seat" with text. We teach students to monitor their comprehension by helping them understand the comprehension strategies that allow them to arrive at meaning and be equipped to handle themselves when meaning breaks down.

Related Posts:

-Keys to Critical Learning

-Determining Importance

-Inferring

-Using Schema

Photo on Flicker by Twentyeight

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Comments

[Marie-France Perkins]

I really like you comparing reading to driving a car. It is so true!!! We can provide the skills but not everyone is skilled at it!!

[Angela Maiers]

Marie, My husband would agree with you there! Driving is a great way to explain all the things our brains need to think about and be in control of when we read. Thanks for the comment-glad you like the lesson!

[Julia]

Wow, you really know what you're talking about. I prefer reading over travelling, but that's just me. I liked this lesson :P

This is a brilliant blog - would you like to link to my blog, Something is Wrong? It covers the importance of education as well as the negative effects of media influences.

[Angela Maiers]

Julie, thanks for the comment. I look forward to reading your blog. I am always looking for ways to link out to new voices.