Inferences

Inferring meaning is often called "making an inference" or "drawing a conclusion". This means that a reader figures out something about the text that isn't clearly said. The reader knows he/she is probably correct, though, because clues in the text lead us to that conclusion.

There are two parts to an inference: what we read, and what we know

What I Read + What I Already Know = Inference

Students benefit from clear direction with inferences. What you read HAS to come from the text, and you should be able to point to it. What you know comes only from your head - your background knowledge and life experience! Those combine to make the inference, which makes sense and is logical.

We infer every day! Here is an example I give to students often when starting this skill:

• Imagine you look outside. It is raining. You can see the rain coming down. You know that you haven't had recess yet that day, and you know that rain means you can't play outside. So, you INFER that it will be indoor recess! You know this even before anyone tells you, because what you saw and what you knew made that a logical idea for you.
  • I saw: rain outside (you can point to the rain!)
  • I know: rain often means we can't have outdoor recess (this comes from your head!)
  • I infer: we will likely have indoor recess

Here are some examples to do with your child. When teaching inferences, it's helpful to start with common life situations rather than a text. Read each statement to your child. What clues did you read? What do you know about this kind of situation? What might you infer? (Click on the text to see an example inference below it!)