Learning the Difference Between Making a Prediction and Forming an Inference

The children are working hard to make inferences in their reading each day.  Using posters from The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg the children used "right there descriptions" to help them determine what might be happening in their black and white sketches.  Initially, we covered the text to help our eyes focus on what was happening in the pictures.  We documented exactly what we saw and did not predict what we thought might be happening in the sketches. Then we exposed the title and captions, and with this added information we were able to make a strong inference, or "read between the lines."  The children are now in the process of writing their own stories.  We look forward to sharing these with you at our Author Share in June.

The House on Maple Street: It was a perfect lift-off!

A Strange Day in July: He threw with all his might, but the third stone came skipping back!

The Harp: So it was true, he thought, it was really true!

Uninvited Guests:  His heart was pounding.  He was sure he had seen the doorknob turn!