For most students it’s difficult to figure out how to use comprehension strategies just by hearing a definition. Further, many students don’t realize that the type of active engagement the good readers do. In order to comprehend you need to have a conversation with yourself
while you are reading.
Thinking aloud is one way that teachers can make this conversation visible to students. Students can listen to the teacher’s mind at work asking questions, forming images, making predictions, etc. when the teacher thinks aloud.
Download this continuum of processes for modeling by thinking aloud.