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| Hmmm...., How do I infer? |
Inferring is a skill that almost everyone does when they read naturally, without even thinking about it. Inferring is when you "see what is not being said", or you "read between the lines". Inferring is like a mystery. You must rely on evidence (clues in the text) and schema (what you already know). Practicing inferring can be as simple as solving riddles, playing charades, or playing guessing games like "I Spy". when we make judgments, draw conclusions, or think about cause and effect, we are inferring. We have worked on inferring since the first week of school by making judgements about characters in a story. One way to ask yourself our your child an inference question is to ask the following:
- Describe the character in one word (kind, mean, generous, jealous...etc.). What text clues support your description?
- Why did the character do that?
- Why did the author chose that to happen in the plot?
- What do you think will happen next? Why?
- If you were to write a sequel to the story, what would happen? Does your plot make sense based on what you know about the characters and their actions?
Of course, charades might be more fun!
Have fun practicing inferring this week!
