“Inferential questions help students think more deeply about the text. They draw on the literal level and the structural level so students can make logical inferences about the text. These questions really tax students. They are not a great place to start a close reading, but they’re our goal. We want students making inferences, forming opinions, and forming arguments.” –Dr. Doug Fisher
On Day 21, Dr. Fisher focuses on crafting inferential questions to guide students to make logical inferences about the text. In this session, you’ll also hear from a teacher as she speaks about the value of inferential questions during the close reading process.
Revisit the text from the previous session.
Craft a few text-dependent questions at the inferential level that require students to go back into the text and focus on the level of meaning. List the inferential questions in this template.
Invite students to engage in a close reading with the text using the inferential questions to focus their reading. Respond to students’ needs and change/adjust as you move through the process.
After you engage students in a close reading using the inferential questions, consider using the Learning Log to reflect on the process.
This template can be used across multiple sessions to help guide the development of literal, structural, and inferential questions, and progression into inspirational tasks.
This log can be used to capture new learnings as you develop close reading techniques.
