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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Educ Psychol. 2021 Oct 21;114(6):1292–1306. doi: 10.1037/edu0000715
Control Lesson Metacognitive Lesson
There are two sides to this problem, one on this side of the equal sign [gesture to left side] and one on the other side of the equal sign [gesture to right side]. One side is 4 + 2 [gesture to left side] and the other side is 3 + box [gesture to right side]. Question 1 is what information is given [hold up one finger]. There are two sides to this problem, one on this side of the equal sign [gesture to left side] and one on the other side of the equal sign [gesture to right side]. One side is 4 + 2 [gesture to left side] and the other side is 3 + box [gesture to right side].
First, you add up the numbers on one side of the equal sign. Then, find the number that goes in the box that will make the other side of the equal sign have that same number. Question 2 is what steps do I need to take to get the right answer [hold up two fingers]. First, you add up the numbers on one side of the equal sign. Then, find the number that goes in the box that will make the other side of the equal sign have that same number.
So for this problem, what is 4 + 2 [gesture to left side, wait for response]. Right, this side has 6 [draw vee below 4 + 2 and write 6], And what number goes in the box to make this side of the equal sign have 6 also? [gesture to right side, wait for response]. Right, 3, because 3 + 3 is also 6. [Write 3 in the box.] So for this problem, what is 4 + 2 [gesture to left side, wait for response]. Right, this side has 6 [draw vee below 4 + 2 and write 6], And what number goes in the box to make this side of the equal sign have 6 also? [gesture to right side, wait for response]. Right, 3, because 3 + 3 is also 6. [Write 3 in the box.]
We have 6 on this side of the equal sign [point to 6 on left] and 6 on this side of the equal sign [point to 6 on right]. 4 + 2 = 6 AND 3 + 3 = 6. So we know we solved it correctly. Okay, Question 3 is how can I check that my solution is correct [hold up three fingers]. We have 6 on this side of the equal sign [point to 6 on left] and 6 on this side of the equal sign [point to 6 on right]. 4 + 2 = 6 AND 3 + 3 = 6. So we know we solved it correctly.