Why is modeling think-alouds important in teaching reading?

Modeling think-alouds is crucial in teaching reading because it provides students with a demonstration of the cognitive processes involved in comprehension and problem-solving while reading. When a teacher verbalizes their thought process, it allows students to see how experienced readers navigate texts, including how they make predictions, visualize content, ask questions, and clarify confusing parts.

This practice helps to make the invisible processes of thinking and understanding visible to students, illustrating how to tackle challenging texts and develop strategies for monitoring their own comprehension. By using think-alouds, teachers can model metacognitive strategies, allowing students to learn how to approach reading with a critical and analytical mindset, ultimately improving their ability to comprehend and engage with a variety of texts.