1. Build an awareness of when inferences are needed and how to make them. Start with sentences and the lexical word to word inferences. Then move on to longer texts/stories.
Sleepy Jack was late for school again.
Sleepy: might have overslept; might be the reason he is late
Jack: Must be a student as a teacher would have been introduced with a Mr. or Mrs.
Again: this has happened before
2. Teach the wh questions: who, what, when, and where. These help kids see causal relationships. Causal relationships are inferences. Can also ask general questions: "How does the sentence you just read connect with something that happened before in the story?" (Oakhill, et al., 2015, p. 50).
3. Use graphic organizers. Focus on why to reveal the causal inferences.
Text: During the 20th century, fishing boats became hugely more efficient to that it was possible to catch large quantities of fish in a short time. Towards the end of the century, it became necessary to regulate fishing, for example by setting limits (quotas) on the catches of each fisherman or boat. (from Elbro & Buch-Everson, 2013)
WHY has it become necessary to regulate fishing? What's the cause?
From the text: "Fishing boats became more efficient." + "large quantities" + comparison to previous centuries
From the reader: (Leave this blank. Kids have to think of what they have to bring to the text that connects the two statements.) The reasoning goes something like this...they went from catching a few fish to loads of fish. Something made it necessary to limit the amount. What would cause this? There are only so many fish in the sea and it takes time for them to reproduce.
From the text: "It became necessary to regulate fishing."
Now you try Activity 4.4:
Draw a graphic organizer that illustrates the inference needed to answer these questions: In Paula's view, why has Margot been absent? What is Paula's role at school? Make sure your organizer shows what comes from the text and what comes from you as the reader.
Paula had not seen Margot at school for a whole week. It was so unlike her. But last week Margot has been coughing and sneezing. She wondered whether she should give Margot's parents a call.