Inside This Week’s Episode: Reading comprehension instruction doesn’t have to be complicated! When it comes to teaching reading strategies like making inferences, a simple, student-friendly approach is easier than you think. Get the step-by-step guidance to help your elementary students master inferring while they read.

How can teachers help their students to become stronger readers?

Simple. Give them the tools (aka reading comprehension strategies) to help them make sense of what they read.

Ok, maybe not so simple.

Teaching students these strategies does take practice, intentional instruction, and loooots of modeling. But that doesn’t mean we have to make it complicated in the way that we teach these reading strategies.

When it comes to teaching comprehension strategies, like inferring, we can provide our students with simple, concrete examples before turning them loose to try it on for size.

In this episode, we’ll break down reading comprehension instruction, specifically, how to teach students to make inferences while reading. I’ll take a straightforward, step-by-step approach to make sure you know how to explain inferring to your students (and how to explain what it is not.) I’ll show you how to seamlessly go from modeling concrete and tangible examples before transitioning into using this comprehension strategy in different texts.

It’s an episode that you’re going to want to tuck away in your teacher toolbox.

Let’s Get your students Making Inferences!

Here’s a Snapshot:

• [03:22] It's important to help students distinguish between inferring and stating the obvious. Inferring is one of those abstract concepts that students don't automatically fully understand right off the bat. We have to help them see the difference between inferring and stating the obvious. I’ll share the easiest way to do this through little-to-no-prep introductory activity.

• [04:21] It's also important to help students understand the difference between inferences and predictions. Although they are related, they are not the same. I discuss common mistakes many students make and how to help them fix it!

• [10:00] Once students understand what inferring really is, the next step is to apply it to our reading. I’ll guide you how to start gradual before launching into a larger text.

• [11:26] Try out a simple 3-part formula that students can follow to help make inferences. This will help them structure their thought flow and make inferences that make sense.

• [12:53] Be sure to have plenty of great anchor texts on hand for modeling and practicing how to make inferences. I’m sharing some of my favorite book titles so that you can get started right away!

• [14:24] Although we want students to apply this reading comprehension strategy (and all the other reading strategies) to any book that they're reading, it does help to have a little bit of a controlled environment at the beginning. That's where my reading comprehension strategy LINKtivities comes into play. I’ll walk you though how I use the, where to find them, and how they can benefit your learners.

• [15:44] Be sure to assess your students often on how they apply the inferring strategy to their own reading. I’ll discuss some things to consider and look out for in your own students to help them master the strategy.

Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode

EPISODE 41: Teaching Reading Comprehension Strategies

EPISODE 42: Reading Comprehension Instruction: How to Teach Making Connections

EPISODE 47: Reading Comprehension Strategies: How to Teach Visualizing

EPISODE 51: Reading Comprehension Strategies: How to Teach Making Predictions

EPISODE 59: A Step-By-Step Guide to Teaching Determining Importance in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Get access to all of my reading comprehension LINKtivities inside the LINKtivity® Learning Membership

Here are some of my favorite books to use when modeling inferring (affiliate links):

• The Wretched Stone by Chris Van Allsburg

• The Memory String by Eve Bunting

• This Is Not My Hat by Job Klassen

• The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson

Grab my FREE Inferring Bookmark below:

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Transcript