Making Inferences

Presented by:Beth Richter and Patty George

November 21, 2007

When teachers use phrases like read between the lines, make an inference, draw a conclusion and think harder, they are not showing students how to infer, they are merely telling them to infer. (Tovani, 2000)

What is Inferring?

Inferring is abstract thinking- something readers do in their head when they are reading beyond the words. (Tovani, 2000)

Inferring is the

bedrock of

comprehension.

(Harvey and

Goudvis, 2000)

Background knowledge + Evidence from text =

Inference

+ =

Ways to Teach Inferring

• Everyday situations• Picture books• Cartoons• Photography• The Inferring Song

Everyday Situations

• We bought tickets and some popcorn.

• When I woke up, there were branches and leaves all over the yard.

• Yesterday we cleaned out our desks and took everything home.

• Our neighbors packed their car.

Picture Books

• Yo! Yes? By Chris Raschka

• Ring! Yo? By Chris Raschka

Cartoons

Cartoons

Cartoons

Cartoons

Photography

Photography

Photography

The Inferring Song(To the tune of ‘My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean’)

Sometimes when you’re reading a storyThe words are not all there for youSo being a good book detectiveWill help you to find any clue!

(Chorus)

Infer! Infer!Filling what’s not in the book!Infer! Infer!It’s taking a much closer look!

Some authors leave clues in their picturesSome authors leave clues in their textThey give you just part of their storyAnd want you to fill in the rest!

(Chorus)

Infer! Infer!Filling what’s not in the book!Infer! Infer!It’s taking a much closer look!

So when you are reading a storyBe careful to read what is thereBut then figure out what is missing-Now you are inferring with flair!

(Chorus)

Infer! Infer!Filling what’s not in the book!Infer! Infer!It’s taking a much closer look!

Reading is much more interesting if readers can add their own two cents worth as they unite personal connections with textual evidence. Inferring makes the text multidimensional. Readers get to put their own personal stamp on every text they read. (Tovanni, 2000)

References

• Tovani, Cris, (2000). I Read it, But I Don’t Get It. Stenhouse Publishers.

• Harvey, Stephanie and Goudvis, Anne (2007). Strategies that Work: Teaching Comprehension for Understanding and Engagement. Second edition. Portland, ME: Stenhouse.