Chapter 5: Drawing Inferences

Learning to draw inferences and make predictions are very important parts of the reading process. An inference is a logical assumption based on facts from the text. Similarly, a prediction is making an inference about what might happen next in a story or text.

The authors suggest that cartoons, big books, picture book, and other non-traditional sources of visual input are a great way to start with students who struggle with inferences or predictions. Show a cartoon strip that contains little to no text and have students discuss or guess what each character is thinking or feeling, or what might happen in the next frame or on the next page. Then ask students what clues "told" them about their inference or prediction.

As always, the tried-and-true "Read Aloud/Think Aloud" strategy is one of the best ways to modl this skill!

Other suggestions that might help: Fill in the blank activities, 20 questions, guessing games, using sticky notes or highlighters to draw attention to important story elements would all be helpful. Also, dust off the old Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or Encyclopedia Brown books - they're great for teaching these skills! Nate the Great books are a newer version of the mystery theme. And, though I haven'tread them yet, I would imagine that the new "39 Clues" series of books and its companions websites, trading cards, board games, etc., would probably help as well!