Codes
Inferring involves students in recognising CODES - character stereotypes, typical plots, genre codes - so that they can predict where the storyline may be going. Start off teaching inferential reading by walking students through the opening credits of an imaginary movie - or even show them the first minutes of film. For example, it's dark and stormy, there's thunder and lightning, and eerie music. A car full of teenagers breaks down. They can't get it started again, so they walk up the long driveway of a derelict looking mansion. They knock on the front door and it creaks slowly open...
Ask: What will happen by the end of this movie? [Everyone will die but one] What sort of movie is it? [Horror] What were your clues? Music, lightning, thunder, car break down, derelict house.
Say: You just put all the clues together to make a pattern. You INFERRED what was happening. That's what good readers do too - they INFER while they read - they connect, predict and visualise what is happening. They make connections the whole time they are reading...
Students write one of the Hats stories or they focus their writing task towards answering these inferential questions and quiz their buddy.
Ask: What will happen by the end of this movie? [Everyone will die but one] What sort of movie is it? [Horror] What were your clues? Music, lightning, thunder, car break down, derelict house.
Say: You just put all the clues together to make a pattern. You INFERRED what was happening. That's what good readers do too - they INFER while they read - they connect, predict and visualise what is happening. They make connections the whole time they are reading...
Students write one of the Hats stories or they focus their writing task towards answering these inferential questions and quiz their buddy.