Making Inferences

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Making Inferences Drawing Conclusions
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To infer as we read is to go beyond literal
interpretation and to open a world of meaning
deeply connected to our lives. Ellin Keene
Author of Mosaic of Thought
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Background Knowledge (schema)
Making Connections
Questioning
Inference
Drawing Conclusions
Predictions
Analysis of Text Interpretation/ Judgment
Imagination/ Visualization
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Inferring through Questioning
Questioning and inferring work in tandem to
enhance understanding of text. Harvey
Goudvis Authors of Strategies That Work
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Inferring through Questioning
Students language provides a clue to their
thinking.
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Inferring through Making Connections
Readers are able to think inferentially when they
connect their background of information, ideas,
and experiences with the text.
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Inferring through Background Knowledge
It is important for the reader to have background
knowledge about a text they are reading if they
are expected to read inferentially.
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Inferring through Background Knowledge
Word Clues Experience Inference
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Inferring through Background Knowledge
Dorothy Strickland shares, For struggling
readers, it is critical that we not only activate
their knowledge of topics they must read about
and study, but also be aware of situations in
which they have little or no background knowledge
so that we can build essential understandings
before they begin reading.
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Inferring through Predictions
Predicting is related to inferring - -
- BUT whats the difference?
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Inferring through Imagination/Visualization
When you read, you use all your senses. You see
things in your minds eye and hear the sounds
you connect to that about which you are
reading. Guided Reading the Four Blocks Way
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Inferring through Imagination/Visualization
Proficient readers use images to draw
conclusions, to create distinct and unique
interpretations of the text, to recall details
significant to the text, and to recall a text
after it has been read. Ellin Keene
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Inferring through Analysis of
Text Interpretation/Judgment
Inferring is the process of taking that which is
stated in text and extrapolating it to ones life
to create a wholly original interpretation that,
in turn, becomes part of ones beliefs or
knowledge. Ellin Keene
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Inferring through Drawing Conclusions
Proficient readers make connections between
conclusions they draw and other beliefs or
knowledge.
Ellin Keene
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Inferring
All the processes work together. Each works in
concert with the others to aid the reader in
comprehending text.
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Teaching Strategies
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Teacher Modeling
Step 1 The teacher explains the strategy
(reading between the lines) using short
scenarios, riddles, or charades that require
students to add up clues and make a
conclusion. Step 2 The teacher demonstrates how
to apply the strategy successfully. Step 3 The
teacher thinks aloud to model the mental
processes he/she uses when he/she reads.
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The Think Aloud

• Do several think alouds for this strategy.
• Use picture books for students of all ages.
• Students are only observers at this stage.
• Demonstrate the use of sticky notes to code
  connections, questions, predictions, conclusions,
  judgments, etc.
• Allow students to discuss what they observed
  following the think aloud.

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Guided Practice

• Use a variety of lifted text from different
  types of books giving everyone a copy or using
  the overhead.
• Use whole group to small group model.
• Use short text such as magazine and newspaper
  articles and poetry.
• Encourage students to code their inferences with
  sticky notes or highlighting.
• Use concept maps, two-column notes, and margin
  writing to record thinking.
• Engage students in conversation about their
  inferences with the text with partners or whole
  group.

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Guided Practice

• Guide students thinking before reading by using
  anticipation guides or prediction guides.
• Show students how to do a chapter tour or
  preview of nonfiction text to help them make
  predictions about the chapter.
• Point out connections between inference and the
  other strategies theyve learned.
• Text sets can be used to have students reflect
  on inferences and compare them with different
  books within the set.
• Use a book that can create an anchor
  experience for the class.

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Independent Practice

• The teacher gives the students text that is easy
  to read on their own.
• Students may practice their strategy alone, in
  pairs, or in small groups such as book clubs or
  literature circles.
• Students can discuss and compare their
  inferences with other students.
• The teacher confers with the students and gives
  them feedback.

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Independent Application
Assessing Application of Inference Keenes Major
Point Interview Anecdotal Records Journal
Responses Other Written Responses
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Inference Using Different Types of Text
Fiction and Poetry Allows a variety of
interpretation Nonfiction/Content Area
Text Permits a narrow range of interpretation
Best for drawing conclusions, predictions,
questioning, and determining importance
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Inferring occurs with

• Word meanings
• Meanings of text
• Meanings of larger
• themes of texts

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Inferring Word Meanings

• Predicting Words In Text
• (before reading)
• Vocabulary Strategy
• Connect Two
• Cloze Technique
• Guess the Covered Word

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Classes of Inferences Relevant to Expository Text

• Anaphoric Inferences A pronoun or noun-
• phrase that refers to a previous text
  constituent
• or to an entity already introduced in the
  mental
• model.
• Bridging Inferences These are any inferences
  that a
• reader needs to systematically or
  conceptually relate the
• sentence being read with the previous
  content. These are
• sometimes called backward inferences.

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More Inferences...

• Explanation Based Inferences The event being
  read
• about is explained by a causal chain or
  network of previous
• events. These are sometimes called causal
  antecedent
• inferences.
• Goal Inferences The reader infers that an
  agent has a
• motive that explains an intentional action.
• Elaborative Inferences These are properties
  of
• entities, facts, and other associations that
  are not explained
• by causal mechanisms.

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More Inferences...

• Predictive Inferences The reader forecasts
  what
• events will causally unfold after the current
  event that is
• being read. These are sometimes called
  causal consequences
• or forward references.
• Process Inferences These inferences specify
  the
• detailed steps, manner, or dynamic
  characteristics of an
• event as it unfolds.

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(No Transcript)
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Art is so much more interesting if everything
isnt in the picture. And so it is with
inferring. From I Read It But I Dont Get It
Cris Tovani
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Making Inferences Drawing Conclusions