In what way does a "think-aloud" strategy assist readers?

The think-aloud strategy supports readers by modeling the cognitive processes involved in reading and comprehension. When educators or students verbalize their thoughts while reading, they reveal how they make connections, monitor understanding, ask questions, and infer meanings from the text. This oral processing of thoughts helps illuminate the often invisible mental strategies that proficient readers employ. By sharing this thinking process aloud, learners can better understand how to approach texts, recognize their comprehension strategies, and ultimately improve their reading skills.

While peer assessment, silent reading, and simplifying texts might have their own merits in the context of reading instruction, they do not specifically address the cognitive modeling aspect that the think-aloud strategy emphasizes. This makes the correct choice both focused and relevant to enhancing comprehension abilities.