Build your students’ self-awareness with levels of understanding. These four posters transformed the my students' understanding of their own learning. Incorporating these posters into my daily lessons has become one of the most valuable changes I've made in my classroom. One small change has created lasting change in students' level of vulnerability and motivation more than any other technique I've tried. Included in this resource: 4 levels of effort, each in their own 8.5 x 11 poster 5 color palettes as well as black and white posters Desk plates for easy access Editable slides - edit the title, number and color of each level Headers Tips for use Easy to adapt and incorporate into your existing classroom structure. Ask students to rate themselves with their fingers before independent work time. This quick check-in can be especially helpful for creating on-the-spot small groups. Ask students to write their current level of understanding in the corner of their exit tickets or worksheets at the end of each lesson. Create a leveled turn-in system based on levels of understanding. Adhere the mini squares to desks so students can monitor their understanding as they work. Slip them into Target dollar spot squares, tape them on or laminate and Velcro them to the desks. Give explicit examples for each lesson, especially in the beginning, and provide opportunities for students to rate themselves in non-academic activities such as playing soccer or tic-tac-toe. After a few weeks of you, I hope you find this to be a powerful tool for student growth. Hold your students accountable for their learning and increase student motivation by teaching them to analyze their learning and take the steps it takes to become experts in each topic. Pair this resource with Levels of Effort for a classroom management match made in heaven!