Which term focuses on planning and self-monitoring as part of thinking about thinking?

• A. Metacognition
• B. Metacognitive skills
• C. Summarization
• D. Graphic organizers

Answer: (A)

Metacognition is thinking about thinking. It describes being aware of your own learning processes and taking control of them, including planning before you start a task and monitoring your understanding as you go, adjusting strategies if needed. This self-regulation—setting goals, choosing approaches, checking for comprehension, and deciding when to change tactics—is what makes metacognition powerful for learning. For example, before reading, you might decide to skim for main ideas and set a plan to pause and ask questions as you read; as you work, you check if you’re understanding and switch strategies if something isn’t making sense. The other options describe specific strategies or tools rather than the overarching process of regulating your own thinking, so they don’t capture the full concept as well.