At the 4/5 level, we use a mental tool that I'm calling (for lack of a better, more concise name) the five point competency scale. We ask students to use it to check in on their own understanding of a concept, strategy or skill. If you're a 1 on the scale, that means you don't know that you don't know. I like to think of a 1 as blissful ignorance. (College and grad school are great at moving people from 1 to 2) A 2 on the scale means that you are aware of this concept, skill, or strategy, but you don't know it or can't apply it. A 3 means you are at a point of awkward practice. You may be feeling frustrated or challenged; you probably feel uncertain; you still need some support. I stress for kids that this is a hard, but very important, place in learning. I acknowledge that sometimes the impulse is to hide when you are a 3, but that it's more helpful to me as a teacher (and you as a learner) if you let me know where you are and what support you need. A 4 on the scale is proud confidence: I am excited that I've mastered this and I want to show off my new skill. I'm eager to talk about it and to help others learn it too. A 5 on the scale indicates a level of automaticity or mastery: I can't remember not knowing that.
The Rookery 