For many teachers and students, the metaphor of a “metacognitive funnel” helps them think about and talk about the ways readers’ attention may shift as they read any given text. This resource shows these different areas of attention and gives examples of representative metacognitive statements that apply to each. The goal for readers is to be able to intentionally and strategically focus their attention in ways that will help them accomplish their reading purposes.

This PDF consists of two pages, with two versions of the framework: one that is filled in, and one that is blank for student use.

To deepen the metacognative conversation, teachers can have their students work in pairs to review and discuss their Metacognative Reading Log Graphic Organizers.

When students keep metacognitive reading logs in a loose-leaf binder or electronically, the individual sheets or documents can easily be turned in for teacher assessment, as with this Metacognative Reading Log Graphic Organizer. The log entries allow the teacher to see what students are understanding, curious about, or confused by—and respond accordingly.

This document can be printed for students to use hard copies or can be used electronically via fillable text fields.

When teachers model metacognitive conversation with a Think Aloud, many give students a bookmark for keeping track of the common kinds of thinking processes the teacher will be demonstrating. Students can use this same bookmark as a scaffold for their own metacognitive conversations when practicing with a partner.

As students identify and describe their reading processes and problems, they will naturally include their problem-solving processes. For many students, the Fix-Up Steps Protocol is useful when they get stopped by a “roadblock” and need to clarify a point of confusion in a text. The last step, getting outside help, should become increasingly comfortable for students when the collaborative structure of the classroom begins to reveal their peers as valuable outside resources.

Even a simple investigation of research showing relationships between literacy and financial life trajectories can build motivation and create a shared context for the effort the class will undertake as they engage with challenging texts. Students might be interested in the following research linking education and earnings.