ABSTRACT
This chapter provides suggestions for helping students comprehend texts; think critically about ideas, concepts, and positions in texts; and become intellectually engaged and eager to learn more about topics. Metacognitive strategies are mechanisms that emanate from the reader's awareness of the cognitive demands of the text, the goals and purposes that will be accomplished in reading given texts, and the need to generate a variety of cognitive strategies in accomplishing these objectives. Students must understand what metacognition is and how it can help them comprehend text, and should be taught how to monitor their reading. Metacognitive strategies concentrating on process and reflection can be used across the curriculum, in science, math, theatre, history, and other areas. According to T. Lesesne, mystery is the favourite genre of middle school students and mysteries involve critical thinking and problem solving. J. Swinehart describes how she teaches her eighth-grade students to employ metacognitive strategies in order to become proficient, flexible, and independent readers.
