Using Think Alouds to Get Students to Think Like Experts

Using Think Alouds to Get Students to Think Like Experts


Most of our content specialists and teachers. Using Think Alouds during synchronous learning shows students HOW an expert chooses a course of action. When thinking aloud we demonstrate ways of approaching difficult problems through complex thinking. There are 3 steps to effective Think Alouds. 

  1. Use an I statement to signal your expert thinking

  2. Speculate to unpack the thinking (most often this is an act on our part)

  3. Slow the process down so students can observe and learn from the think aloud and discuss problems you face and how you tried to solve them. 


Think aloud strategies can be easily adapted to different situations and can be integrated into student learning to make learning more visible. They are an exceptional way of scaffolding instruction for students of lagging academic skills and/or metacognitive or learning skills. It’s uses are varied and include 

  1. Solving a complex math problem. 

  2. Deciphering a graph, map, chart, or other visual. 

  3. Actively reading. 

  4. Making prediction or observations. 

  5. Accessing prior knowledge to prime the student’s brain. 

  6. Creating something new from a written work to a work of art to technology. 


Examples

So from what I know about this…

I am going to predict that…

I wonder why this happened….What would have happened if…

So what I see here…

I’m not sure what this means…

I’m not sure how to….

But I’m a little confused about…

I realized that…

This reminds me of….

Here’s what I noticed…

So I do know that___, so maybe if...



Tips

  1. Think alouds should be short 

  2. When using think alouds, including recorded lessons, have students think about and note, discuss, or record what they noticed the teacher expert did. What strategies did the expert employ?  

  3. If you’re a collaborative partner, have one teacher model the thinking process and the other observe and comment about what the other teacher did. 


Having students think aloud

As students become familiar with the think aloud process, incorporate them into the thinking aloud process. Having students think aloud enables them to think like an expert and develops their metacognitive and learning skills. It also helps them recognize that learning takes effort. 


Some examples of student think aloud strategies include: 

  1. Paired reading 

  2. Have students individually think through a complex question and then share with a partner how they would solve the problem. Adjust the roles with one student speaking and the other(s) taking notes on what the student said. They can then compare and contrast how they thought through the process. 

  3. Have students record how they solved a problem using screencasting software or Flipgrid. 

  4. Have students reflect or journal on their process. 


Whether it’s the student or teacher thinking aloud, the think aloud is a great instructional strategy for increasing student knowledge and thinking. 


Tasks/Important Information


https://bit.ly/WAHSannounce To request an announcement, calendar event, etc. 

 

https://bit.ly/TWCStuRec Together We Care Student Recognition 


Birthdays

November 18: Brian Ball

November 19: Amy Wright 

November 20: Katie Pugh

November 22: John Ratcliffe


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