The Educator’s Toolkit: Integrating SRL Into Everyday Lessons
How do we teach students to learn—not just to complete tasks?
Educators are masters of curriculum—but often, what's missing from that curriculum is a plan for teaching students how to learn.
That’s where self-regulated learning (SRL) becomes essential. It equips students with the tools to plan, monitor, and reflect on their learning. And best of all? You don’t need to overhaul your entire teaching model to begin.
What is self-regulated learning in the classroom?
SRL is the process of students taking ownership of their learning by:
Setting clear goals
Choosing and applying strategies
Monitoring progress and adjusting as needed
Reflecting on performance and trying again
Teaching SRL doesn’t require new content—it requires new intentional moments within what you’re already doing.
5 ways to embed SRL in your lessons—without adding extra work
1. Use quick goal-setting routines
Start class with 2-minute prompts like:
“What do I want to understand better today?”
“How will I know if I’ve succeeded?”
2. Make thinking visible
Use anchor charts, reflection boards, or exit slips to externalize strategy use and goal tracking.
3. Introduce strategy menus
Give students a “menu” of options for planning, note-taking, or reviewing. Let them choose and explain why—building both autonomy and awareness.
4. Model your metacognition
Say things like, “This part of the text is tough, so I’m going to reread slowly and jot notes in the margin.”
Your internal thinking gives them a roadmap.
5. Build in reflection
Ask students to write or share:
“What helped me today?”
“What did I try that worked—or didn’t?”
Over time, these moments build habit and insight.
“SRL transforms learning from something students receive to something they actively construct.”
Reflect: Are your students being taught strategies—or just expected to have them?
Ask yourself:
Do my lessons include space for planning and reflection?
Are students encouraged to notice what works for them?
If they struggle, do they know how to adapt?
Teaching SRL can begin with one small shift—and make a lasting difference.
Want to go deeper?
Our Educator Courses and Metacognitive Learning Specialist Certification help teachers bring SRL to life in any grade or subject. You’ll learn to teach strategy as intentionally as you teach content—and empower your students for the long run.
Stay curious. Stay reflective. Stay engaged.
—Dr. Hope Link
