Danni Mitchell

I’ve put a load of my most popular files together in a Dropbox folder. Let me know if you’d like the link. Can I also ask that you share this post pretty please 🙏 (as it seems the only way to get anything seen nowadays!). 😊

Metacognition in the primary classroom: what you might hear… 🧠Teachers explain how to approach tasks, not just the task itself Instead of saying, “Write a paragraph about the rainforest,” you might say: •“First, I think about what I already know.” •“Now I plan where to find the information.” •“While I’m working, I’ll check if I’m on track.” Teachers make their thinking visible so pupils learn the process, not just the answer. 🧠Children learn three key habits: Plan – Monitor – Evaluate Across all subjects, teachers help pupils: •Plan: “What do I need? What steps will I take?” •Monitor: “Is this working? Do I need to change something?” •Evaluate: “How did it go? What would I do differently next time?” These habits are woven into normal lessons. 🧠Teachers model their thinking (“think-alouds”) A teacher might say: •In writing: “I want to show contrast, so I’ll use the word ‘however’ here.” •In maths: “I’m stuck. What strategies do I know that would help?” •In PE: “First I tuck my chin so I roll safely.” Children learn how skilled learners think. 🧠Pupils talk about their thinking with each other Teachers encourage partners to ask each other: •“What makes you think that?” •“Could it be something else?” •“How do you know this is correct?” This isn’t just chatting—it’s structured talk that helps pupils reason and reflect.