What is the primary focus of metacognitive skills in reading?

Metacognitive skills in reading emphasize self-assessment of understanding, which is the ability to reflect on and evaluate one's own thinking processes while engaging with a text. This encompasses monitoring comprehension, recognizing when one does not understand something, and employing various strategies to enhance understanding and retention.

By focusing on self-assessment, learners can adjust their approach to reading based on their own awareness of their comprehension levels. This could involve asking themselves questions about what they have read, summarizing it in their own words, or identifying parts that were confusing. These skills empower readers to become more self-directed, ultimately improving their ability to learn from texts and apply that knowledge effectively.

In contrast, retaining facts, imitating others, or memorizing details do not inherently involve this level of self-reflection and active engagement with one's own understanding, which is at the core of metacognition.