making inferences. today, we’re going to make inferences about text. we’re going to do this by...

Making InferencesMaking Inferences

Today, we’re going to make inferences about text.

We’re going to do this by using evidence from the text and our own schema.

Today, we’re going to make inferences about text.

We’re going to do this by using evidence from the text and our own schema.

Have you ever been confused about by something and

thought…

Have you ever been confused about by something and

thought…

I wonder why?I wonder why?

Or

That doesn’t make any sense to me.

Or

That doesn’t make any sense to me.

What is an Inference?What is an Inference?

• An inference is a conclusion, or judgment, you make by putting together:

* information that is given to you (evidence)

* your own personal experiences or knowledge (schema)

• An inference is a conclusion, or judgment, you make by putting together:

* information that is given to you (evidence)

* your own personal experiences or knowledge (schema)

In other words…In other words…

An inference is a connection you make between what you observe or read and what you already know.

Making those connections helps you build new understanding or meaning.

An inference is a connection you make between what you observe or read and what you already know.

Making those connections helps you build new understanding or meaning.

What it isn’t…What it isn’t…

An inference is NOT a guess. A guess is an opinion based on little or no evidence.

An inference is NOT a guess. A guess is an opinion based on little or no evidence.

How is an inference different from a prediction?

How is an inference different from a prediction?

Inferring is something we do while we are reading or when we reflect, or look back, at what we’ve read.

Predicting is something we do before we read. When we predict, we are thinking about whatmight happen in the future.

Predicting is something we do before we read. When we predict, we are thinking about whatmight happen in the future.

Another Difference…Another Difference…

Our inferences can be more difficult to prove. In fact, we might never really know if they are right or wrong.

We can check our predictions when we finishreading. Our prediction is either right or wrong.

We can check our predictions when we finishreading. Our prediction is either right or wrong.

We make inferences everyday in the real world.

We make inferences everyday in the real world.

• Jigsaw puzzles• Answering Riddles• Problem Solving• Answering questions• Reading • Math word problems• Conversing with people

• Jigsaw puzzles• Answering Riddles• Problem Solving• Answering questions• Reading • Math word problems• Conversing with people

How do we use inferences?How do we use inferences?

• They help us:• compare things.• evaluate situations.• make predictions.• gain a deeper understanding about what

we read.

• They help us:• compare things.• evaluate situations.• make predictions.• gain a deeper understanding about what

we read.

What does it have to do with reading?

What does it have to do with reading?

• Good readers try to make sense of what they don’t understand by asking questions as they read.

• When their questions aren’t answered in the passage or text, they must make an inference.

• Good readers try to make sense of what they don’t understand by asking questions as they read.

• When their questions aren’t answered in the passage or text, they must make an inference.

When you infer, you might find yourself

thinking…

When you infer, you might find yourself

thinking…Maybe…Maybe…

I wonder …

I think…

It could be because…

It means that…

Steps for Making an InferenceSteps for Making an Inference1. Make as many observations as you can about

the situation or character. (Evidence)2. Think about your personal experiences and

what you already know. (Schema)3. Build a connection between the observations

you made and your schema, write your inference.

I can infer _________. The evidence suggests _________.

1. Make as many observations as you can about the situation or character. (Evidence)

2. Think about your personal experiences and what you already know. (Schema)

3. Build a connection between the observations you made and your schema, write your inference.


Making an InferenceMaking an Inference

• What can you infer from this picture?


Question…Question…

• What information were you given?

• What did you already know that helped you make that inference?


• What did you already know that helped you make that inference?



• What did you already know from personal experience?

• Did you use picture or written clues?


• What did you already know from personal experience?




• What did you already know from personal experience (schema)?



• What did you already know from personal experience (schema)?


How Do Good Readers Make Inferences?

How Do Good Readers Make Inferences?

They:1. Use word/text clues2. Use picture clues3. Define unknown words4. Look for emotion (feelings)5. Use what they already know

(schema)6. Look for explanations for events7. ASK themselves questions!

They:1. Use word/text clues2. Use picture clues3. Define unknown words4. Look for emotion (feelings)5. Use what they already know

(schema)6. Look for explanations for events7. ASK themselves questions!

Let’s try a few together…

Let’s try a few together…

• Mrs. Tanner has recess duty. Alan finds a spider, picks it up, and runs over to show it to Mrs. Tanner. When she sees it, she screams, jumps backwards, and runs as fast as she can into the school.

• What information does the passage give you?

• What schema do you have? What do you already know?

• What can you infer?

• Mrs. Tanner has recess duty. Alan finds a spider, picks it up, and runs over to show it to Mrs. Tanner. When she sees it, she screams, jumps backwards, and runs as fast as she can into the school.

• What information does the passage give you?

• What schema do you have? What do you already know?

• What can you infer?

Rusty walked along the edge of the road. He anxiously sniffed the ground trying to pick up a scent that might help him. He could not rely on his eyesight to help him in the darkness. Nothing seemed familiar. He wondered if he would be able to find his way back.

Rusty walked along the edge of the road. He anxiously sniffed the ground trying to pick up a scent that might help him. He could not rely on his eyesight to help him in the darkness. Nothing seemed familiar. He wondered if he would be able to find his way back.

Let’s try another one…Let’s try another one…

As Pablo’s mother drags him out of the candy aisle, he starts to kick and scream. He tries desperately to pull away from hismother as he reaches for something on theshelf. His mother tightens her grip andquickly heads for the exit.

As Pablo’s mother drags him out of the candy aisle, he starts to kick and scream. He tries desperately to pull away from hismother as he reaches for something on theshelf. His mother tightens her grip andquickly heads for the exit.

The house stood at the top of the hill surrounded by twisted, bare trees. The girl shivered in the cold wind and brushed the wet snow from her shoes. She remembered her nice, warm home in Florida with its sandy beaches and bright sunshine. Slowly, she walked towards her new home.

The house stood at the top of the hill surrounded by twisted, bare trees. The girl shivered in the cold wind and brushed the wet snow from her shoes. She remembered her nice, warm home in Florida with its sandy beaches and bright sunshine. Slowly, she walked towards her new home.

And another…And another…

Fireworks lit the night in flashes of red, blue, green, and yellow. Children ran across the green grass waving sparklers. Parents sat on blankets and drank icy drinks to cool off. Laughter could be heard across the field.

Fireworks lit the night in flashes of red, blue, green, and yellow. Children ran across the green grass waving sparklers. Parents sat on blankets and drank icy drinks to cool off. Laughter could be heard across the field.

Warm sand shifts under my feet as I walk across the beach. The soothing sound of the waves calms my mind and gentle breezes seem to carry my worries away. I stand at the water’s edge watching the playful sea otters play hide and seek in the kelp beds. I hope this day never ends.

What can you infer about how the narrator feels about the beach?

Warm sand shifts under my feet as I walk across the beach. The soothing sound of the waves calms my mind and gentle breezes seem to carry my worries away. I stand at the water’s edge watching the playful sea otters play hide and seek in the kelp beds. I hope this day never ends.

What can you infer about how the narrator feels about the beach?

What might it look like on a test?What might it look like on a test?

The reader can conclude that ______.Based on information in the passage, the

reader can conclude that ______.What can the reader infer about _________?From the character’s thought and feelings,

the reader can infer that ________.Which of these will probably happen next?What is likely to happen next?

The reader can conclude that ______.Based on information in the passage, the

reader can conclude that ______.What can the reader infer about _________?From the character’s thought and feelings,

the reader can infer that ________.Which of these will probably happen next?What is likely to happen next?

Steps for Making an InferenceSteps for Making an Inference1. Make as many observations as you can about

the situation or character. (Evidence)2. Think about your personal experiences and what

you already know about the situation or character. (Schema)

3. Build a connection between the observations you made and what you already know, write your inference.


1. Make as many observations as you can about the situation or character. (Evidence)

2. Think about your personal experiences and what you already know about the situation or character. (Schema)

3. Build a connection between the observations you made and what you already know, write your inference.


Become a Detective!Become a Detective!

Good readers are detectives who arealways looking out for clues to help

thembetter understand stories and pictures.

Good readers are detectives who arealways looking out for clues to help

thembetter understand stories and pictures.

making inferences. today, we’re going to make inferences about text. we’re going to do this by...

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