Comprehension
Strategies
Think-Aloud Strategy by Dr. Pat Campbell
Learning Connection: Nov/Dec 2016
The
think-aloud strategy is intended to help readers examine and develop reading
behaviors and strategies. Studies have
shown that poor readers are weak in five areas related to comprehension: making
predictions, visualizing, linking with prior knowledge, monitoring, and
self-correction. Good readers do these
strategies automatically. New readers
need to be taught how to do them.
The
following are “active reading” skills you can teach your learner to help them
improve their comprehension. Model these
skills by thinking aloud as you read, then have the learner try it.
What
do active readers do when they read?
Monitor their comprehension: Ask yourself questions as you read.
Relate information to prior knowledge: Make connections with what you already
know.
Make inferences: Figure things out based on experiences.
Made Predictions: Ask yourself what do you think will happen next?
Visualize: Picture the story in your mind.
Identify main ideas and highlights: Ask yourself what is the story about?
Note important details: Write down meaningful items from the story.
Skim and scan: Look through the text to find important information.
