This week, students began working on inferring when reading literature. Readers infer when they "read between the lines" to figure out what is happening without being told by the author. We talked about how people infer on a daily basis. We can tell how someone is feeling based on their body language or the way they are speaking to us. When readers apply this skill, they come away with a deeper understanding of what they are reading.
There is a formula to forming an inference. It is: Background Knowledge + Text Clues = Inference.
In order to infer, students need clues from the story, but that is not enough. They use their background knowledge to make sense of those clues and make an inference. This skill requires careful reading. Encourage your child to carefully monitor their thinking when reading. I have been very excited by their progress already. Ask your child to explain inferencing to you and share some examples.
