What does the practice of think-alouds in reading instruction involve?

The practice of think-alouds involves teachers verbalizing their thought processes while reading, which serves as a modeling strategy in reading instruction. This technique allows students to gain insight into the cognitive strategies that proficient readers use to understand text. When teachers articulate their thoughts, they demonstrate how to make predictions, ask questions, clarify confusion, and summarize information while reading. This not only enhances comprehension but also teaches students to engage in similar reflective thinking as they approach their reading tasks. By hearing the teacher's inner dialogue, students learn how to navigate texts effectively and develop their own metacognitive strategies.