Self Check Lesson Plan Asking 'How Am I Doing?'
Lesson Plan • 15 Minutes
8th Grade
Objective Reflect on work/progress and identify one specific thing going well.
Approach Guided discussion & self-assessment activity.
Time 15 Minutes Total
Why This Matters
This lesson empowers students to take ownership of their learning by developing metacognitive skills and practicing self-assessment. Proactive reflection helps students monitor their progress, align their work with goals, and build independence, preparing them for future academic and life challenges.
Preparation
Review the How Am I Doing? Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with talking points.
Print copies of the "Rate My Work" Rubric Activity for each student.
Materials Needed
Slide Deck Rubric Handouts Teacher Script
Instructional Steps
3m
1. Connect to Prior Knowledge: What Does Success Look Like?
• Display Slide 2: "What does it mean to do well on an assignment or towards a goal?"
• Teacher Action: Use the script to invite students to think about a time they felt proud. Facilitate partner talk and brief class share-out.
4m
2. Introduce New Concept: Asking 'How Am I Doing?'
• Display Slides 3 & 4: Why proactive assessment matters and the power of finding strengths.
• Teacher Action: Explain "metacognition" (thinking about your thinking). Emphasize catching problems early and celebrating small wins.
5m
3. Guided Practice: Using the Rubric Activity
• Display Slide 5: "Let's Practice: 'Rate My Work' Rubric Activity"
• Teacher Action: Distribute the Rubric Activity. Have students identify ONE thing going well in their current work. Circulate and support.
3m
4. Reflect and Share: One Thing Going Well
• Display Slide 6: "Share Your Success!"
• Teacher Action: Facilitate a discussion where volunteers share what they identified and why it is going well. Close with the reminder that this is a superpower for learning.
Self Check Slides Deck Metacognition Skills
Asking 'How Am I Doing?'
Before someone else tells you...
What Does Success Look Like?
Think about a time you felt really proud of your work or achieved a goal.
What made it successful?
How did you know you were 'doing well'?
Why Ask 'How Am I Doing?'
It's all about Metacognition!
(Thinking about your own thinking)
Be Proactive: Spot strengths and growth early.
Take Charge: Own your learning journey.
Grow Independently: Become self-sufficient.
The Power of Self-Reflection
What's going well?
It's often easier to see what's wrong, but finding your strengths helps you know what's working!
Let's Practice!
Using the "Rate My Work" Rubric Activity , reflect on a piece of your work or your progress towards a goal.
Identify ONE thing that is going well.
Be ready to explain why!
Refer to your rubric handout
Share Your Success!
1
What did you identify?
2
Why do you think it's going well?
Evidence matters! Give specific examples.
Rate My Work Activity Rate My Work Activity
Metacognition & Self-Reflection
Name:
Date:
Instructions
Think about a recent piece of work, an assignment you're currently doing, or your progress towards a goal in this class. Use the rubric below to assess your own work. Your main task is to identify ONE thing that is going well and explain why .
Self-Assessment Rubric
Criteria Developing (1) Approaching (2) Proficient (3) Exemplary (4) Effort & Engagement I put in minimal effort and struggled to stay focused. I put in some effort, but my focus varied. I consistently put in good effort and maintained focus. I demonstrated exceptional effort and remained highly engaged. Understanding I have a limited understanding of the task. I have a basic understanding, but still have questions. I understand the core concepts well and can explain them. I have a deep understanding; I can apply and connect concepts. Goal Alignment My work does not clearly align with the intended goal. My work shows some connection, but it's not consistent. My work is clearly aligned with the intended goal. My work meets the goal and shows initiative beyond expectations.
My Self-Reflection
1. Identify ONE thing that is going well (Circle the level on the rubric above).
Which criterion did you choose?
2. Explain WHY you believe this is going well. Use specific examples from your work.
3. (Optional) What is one small step you could take to move another criterion up one level?
Self Check Teacher Script Teacher Script
Asking 'How Am I Doing?' Before the Teacher Does
FACILITATION GUIDE
Slide 1
Title
Introduction
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really important for your learning journey: knowing how you're doing before someone else tells you. We're going to explore how you can become your own best coach when it comes to your schoolwork and goals."
Slide 2
Success
Connect to Prior Knowledge
"Think about a time you felt really proud of your work. Maybe it was a project you aced, a skill you finally mastered, or even just a difficult problem you solved. What made it successful? What did 'doing well' look like for you in that moment?"
[Action: Partner Talk - 1 minute]
"Alright, let's bring it back together. Can a few pairs share some of the things you discussed? What does 'doing well' look like to you?"
[Action: Facilitate share-out from 2-3 students]
Slides 3-4
Concept
The Concept: Metacognition
"Now, sometimes, we wait for a teacher to tell us if we're on track. We turn in an assignment and then wait for the grade. But what if we could figure that out ourselves? That's what 'metacognition' is all about – thinking about your own thinking and learning!"
"Identifying what's going well is our first step. It's easy to spot what's wrong, but recognizing our strengths helps us build confidence and understand what strategies are effective. It's about being aware of your own progress!"
Slide 5
Practice
Guided Practice
[Action: Distribute "Rate My Work" Rubric Activity]
"Using the rubric on this handout, I want you to assess your own work. Specifically, I want you to identify one thing that is going well according to the criteria. Pinpoint one area where you feel successful, and be ready to share why ."
Slide 6
Closing
Reflect and Share
"Who can share one thing that is going well in their work and explain why? Don't just tell us what you circled, tell us why you believe that aspect is going well. Give us some evidence!"
"Remember, constantly checking in with yourself is a superpower for learning. Keep practicing this skill in all your subjects!"
