In many reading instruction programs, more emphasis and time may be placed on testing reading comprehension than on teaching readers how to comprehend. Monitoring comprehension is essential to successful reading. Part of that monitoring process includes verifying that the predictions being made are correct and checking that the reader is making the necessary adjustments when meaning is not obtained.
Cognition can be defined as thinking. Metacognition can be defined as
thinking about our thinking. In order to teach for comprehension, it is my
belief that readers must monitor their comprehension processes and be able
to discuss with the teacher and/or fellow readers what strategies they use to
comprehend. By doing this, the readers use both their cognitive and metacognitive
skills.