Modeling: Think Alouds

Purpose

Thinking aloud is a procedure for guiding students to generate mental images about what is read as a means of enhancing comprehension and sustaining students’ interest and involvement in what they are reading.

Description

The teacher first models the process by discussing the images that he or she produces while reading a short selection. In the following example, the bold type is the original text, while the unbolded sections are the teacher’s comments.

”The Collision.“ From this title I can picture a number of different types of collisions I have seen or heard about involving cars and/or pedestrians. High Street was relatively busy on this dark and cool winter’s night. There were a few pedestrians out and a steady stream of cars. I picture a lot of headlights going by on a busy street, but it’s hard to see the cars themselves because it’s so dark. I picture a few pedestrians walking along the road on the sidewalk, bundled up from the cold. Suddenly, every pedestrian’s attention turned to the road. I picture pedestrians stopping and turning their heads. A Ford slammed on his brakes—its brake lights shining suddenly on the driver of the next car (a Chevy) who hit his brakes. I see the first car stopping suddenly, red lights shining on the car behind, and I hear the sound of the Chevy’s brakes. At first, nobody noticed that the brake lights of the Chevy did not shine. Instead they watched as an old BMW went slamming into the back of the Chevy which then slid into the Ford. I hear a loud crash and see the rear of the Chevy being crushed by the BMW, which is all dark because there are no brake lights shining on it. Then I see the Chevy being pushed forward with the squeaking of tires into the first car.

Students should then get multiple chances to practice “thinking aloud” through a passage with a partner. The students can compare the similarities and differences in their images.