What strategy is likely to help middle school students in self-assessment?

Providing checklists and rating scales is a highly effective strategy for helping middle school students in self-assessment. This method gives students a clear framework to evaluate their work against specific criteria, which promotes understanding of what is expected and allows them to identify areas for improvement. Checklists can guide students through the necessary components of an assignment, making it easier for them to evaluate their performance accurately. Rating scales further enhance this process by offering a quantifiable measure of performance, allowing students to reflect on their progress over time and set achievable goals for future assignments. Together, these tools encourage students to take ownership of their learning and develop critical reflective skills that are essential for academic growth.

In contrast, including a performance prediction prompt on tests primarily focuses on students' expectations rather than their evaluation of their actual work. Writing positive comments on assignments, while supportive, does not inherently encourage self-assessment; it may reinforce good work but lacks a structured approach for students to assess their own progress. Recording grades on a performance chart offers a quantitative measure of success but doesn’t foster the reflective process necessary for self-assessment, as it does not provide qualitative feedback or promote a deeper understanding of learning objectives.