2. Making Inferences Presented by: Beth Richter and Patty George November 21, 2007

3. 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)

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

5. Inferring is the bedrock of comprehension. (Harvey and Goudvis, 2000)

6. Background knowledge + Evidence from text = Inference + =

7. Ways to Teach Inferring Everyday situations Picture books Cartoons Photography The Inferring Song

8. 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.

9. Picture Books Yo! Yes? By Chris Raschka Ring! Yo? By Chris Raschka

10. Cartoons

14. Photography

17. The Inferring Song (To the tune of ‘My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean’) Sometimes when you’re reading a story The words are not all there for you So being a good book detective Will help you to find any clue! (Chorus) Infer! Filling what’s not in the book! Infer! It’s taking a much closer look!

18. Some authors leave clues in their pictures Some authors leave clues in their text They give you just part of their story And want you to fill in the rest! (Chorus) Infer! Filling what’s not in the book! Infer! It’s taking a much closer look!

19. So when you are reading a story Be careful to read what is there But then figure out what is missing- Now you are inferring with flair! (Chorus) Infer! Filling what’s not in the book! Infer! It’s taking a much closer look!

20. 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)

21. 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.