Feeling of not understanding
Notice the feeling of not understanding — recognise when something is confusing rather than reading or listening past it
What a learner can do afterwards
- comprehension monitoring research
- Flavell metacognitive monitoring
The lesson
Sometimes when you are reading or listening, a part does not make sense. That mixed-up feeling has a name: not understanding. Good learners notice this feeling right away, instead of reading or listening past it.
Zara is listening to directions for a game. Halfway through, she thinks, 'Wait, I don't get how the second part works.' She notices the confused feeling and stops to think about it, instead of just nodding along.
One clue that you don't understand: you cannot say the idea back in your own words. If you cannot picture it or explain it simply, that is your signal to pay closer attention.
Theo is reading a story. One sentence feels like a jumble of words. Instead of skipping past it and hoping it will make sense later, he notices, 'That sentence confused me,' and rereads it.
The confused feeling is not bad, it is useful. Noticing it is the first step to understanding.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.