January’s Strategy:  Infer

 Detailed Explanation for Parents - Infer and Predict (click on the blue words to open a much more detailed explanation!)

Strategy Explained…Good readers make inferences while reading to improve their understanding of the story or text.  An inference is when we understand things that the author does not tell us!  We infer why things happen, why characters behave the way they do, and how characters are feeling.  The reader creates images and inferences based on what the author does tell you and your own knowledge.  This is one of the more difficult skills for students to grasp, and is also one of the largest components of reading tests, especially the EOGs.      

Helpful Hints...How can you help at home?

~ One way to help your child make an inference, is to think of it this way:

            Your knowledge  +  Clues in the text  = An Inference

It’s taking what you already know/understand and adding what the author does tell us, to come up with answers to the “Why” and “How” questions.

~ After reading, ask your child to list things the characters Say and Do, then come up with what those actions Show About the character.

~ As you ride down the road, pay attention to billboards or bumper stickers.  These are full of inferred messages – make it a game where you try to figure it out!  Charades are also fun!