Use our inference boosters to become an Inference Investigator! Try out our clever strategies as you read your next book.
Feeling Finder
Look for sentences that show how a character is feeling without directly saying it. Copy the sentence and explain what you think the character is feeling and why, using clues from the text.
Hidden Meaning Detective
Find a phrase or description that doesn’t directly say what’s happening, but gives you a hint. Think about what it really tells the reader.
Example: “The floor was covered in muddy footprints.” → We can infer someone walked in from outside, maybe without cleaning their shoes.
Prediction + Inference
Stop at a key event in the story. Ask yourself: What might happen next? Use clues from the text to support your prediction. This helps you to use your inference and prediction skills!
Thought Tracker
Pause at a moment where a character makes a decision. Ask yourself: Why do I think they made that choice?
Write down your answer and underline the words in the text that gave you the clue.
Clue Collector
While reading, make a list of three clues from the text that tell you something about a character, the setting, or a problem. Write down what you can infer from each clue.
Between the Lines
Find a sentence or paragraph that is not fully explained. Ask yourself: What is the author trying to tell me without saying it directly? Write a short answer explaining your inference (what you think this sentence or paragraph is telling you).