Making Inferences:
Use facts and details from the text to discover UNSTATED (the things the author doesn’t write but you know anyway) meanings about characters, feelings, motivations, decisions, conflicts and information.
When do we make inferences? We make inferences to deepen our understanding about the text by drawing conclusions about events and characters. The inferences come from the facts and details in the text.
How do I make inferences to help me understand (comprehend) the book better?
- Make inferences to understand predictions, conclusions and interpretations.
Inference Organizer Inferencing Character’s Feelings Inferencing…Describe a Character
Predictions:
Using pictures, titles and your past experiences to figure out what MIGHT happen in the story to help you understand the story better.
When do we make predictions? We make predictions about a text before, during and after we read.
What is predicting? Predicting is using words and clues from the book to think about what will happen next in the story.
How do I use predicting to help me understand (comprehend) the book better?
- Use CLEAR examples from the story to tell WHY you made a prediction. Remember: Support your thinking with an example.
- Choose examples that are meaningful and well-thought. Ask these questions before, during and after you read:
a. What do I think is going to happen next?
b. What in the book made me think this?
3. Support every prediction with an example from the book.
Prediction Organizer Prediction…Before, During and After
Visualizing:
Using sensory details to visualize will help you understand the book better.
What are sensory details? Sensory details use your 5 senses to describe an event in the book. They are see, hear, smell, taste and touch.
What is visualizing? Visualizing is using the author’s words to paint a picture in your mind as you read a book.
How do I use visualizing to help me understand (comprehend) the book better?
- Use examples from different parts of the story. Remember: You are reading for at least 30 minutes!
- Choose examples that are meaningful and well-thought. Ask these questions as you read:
a. Why is this part important?
b. How will visualizing this part help me to understand the book better?
Visualizing Organizer Visualize…Things that Pop
Questioning:
Asking questions and seeking answers makes a reader ACTIVELY involved in the text.
When do we ask questions? We ask questions before, during and after reading a text. These questions help us become actively involved with reading and learning.
How do I ask questions to help me understand (comprehend) the book better?
- Asking questions before and during reading helps you to set a purpose, clarify the meaning of the text, build comprehension and stay hooked on the book.
- Asking questions after reading helps you to find examples to support your opinions and beliefs.
- ALWAYS ask questions!
- Try to find answers to your questions!
- Be an ACTIVE READER!!!
Questioning Organizer Read Aloud Organizer with Questioning Focus
Making Connections:
Relating the text to oneself, another text or to the rest of the world.
When do we make connections? We make connections to a text based on things we know and our experiences. These connections help us engage with the characters, events and themes of a book by relating it to our lives.
What is connecting? Connecting is thinking about the characters and events from a book and how they are similar to (alike) or different from a person or event that we know.
How do I use connections to help me understand (comprehend) the book better?
- Connect the text to your own experiences. Be sure to explain both examples.
- Compare characters and texts. Think about character traits.
- Explore different points of view.
- Ask these questions as you read:
a. Who does this character remind me of?
b. How is this event like another event I know?
5. Always EXPLAIN an example from the book and why it connects.
Making Connections Organizer Character Feelings Sheet
Determining Importance
Making purposeful and spontaneous decisions about the important details in the text
When do we determine importance? We determine importance in a text based on the BIG ideas. These ideas help us understand the text and decide on main ideas and themes. Determining importance can be used to help us build a summary after reading.
What is determining importance? Deciding which facts and events in a text are the MOST important. Determining importance helps to build understanding.
How do I use determining importance to help me understand (comprehend) the text better?
- Figure out the main ideas. Use to support your thinking.
- Identify important information.
- Analyze details by comparing to other details to determine importance.
- Ask these questions as you read:
- a. What is the text MAINLY about?
- b. How will these details help me understand the text better?
Determining Importance Organizer Main Idea and Supporting Details Important Evidence (Fiction) Noting Details Chart Opposing Perspectives Organizer What’s the Big Idea
Other Organizers for Comprehension
Comprehension Retell Comprehension Think Ahead and Wrap Up Passage Essence Compare and Contrast with T Chart Comprehension Strategies Group Cards How to Write Responses for Reading Comprehension
Fiction Stories
TEXT: StoryWorks Treasure Hunt by Margaret Peterson Haddix
TEXT: StoryWorks A Week in Texas by Watt Key
TEXT: The Mind Game by Stephen Cosgrove (A to Z readers)
Non-Fiction Stories
TEXT: StoryWorks Volcano by Donna O’Meara
TEXT: StoryWorks Guardian Angel by Alexis Burling
TEXT: StoryWorks Alien by Unknown
TEXT: Albert Einstein by Michael Emerson (A to Z readers); Animals Feel Emotions by Kira Freed (A to Z readers); China by Judy Braus (A to Z readers); Deep in the Ocean by Natalie Rompella (A to Z readers); Endangered Birds by Rachel Lawson (A to Z readers); Hard Stuff All About Bones by Lisa Trumbauer (A to Z readers); History to Chew On by Marilyn Gould (A to Z readers); How Animals Sleep by Kira Freed (A to Z readers); Mighty Glaciers by Ned Jensen (A to Z readers); Hubble: An Out of This World Telescope by Amy S. Hansen (A to Z readers); Salt Rocks by Joan Linck (A to Z readers); Sharks by Kira Freed (A to Z readers); Telescopes Eyes on Space by David Dreier and Brian Roberts (A to Z readers); You’re a Jellyfish by Kira Freed (A to Z readers)
Compare and Contrast
TEXT: StoryWorks Yesterday and Today by Alexis Burling
