Tips and Tricks for Working on Inferencing in Speech! - Speech Time Fun: Speech and Language Activities

Although inferencing can be difficult for students, it doesn't have to be difficult for SLPs to come up with fun activities that will help our students!

How do I teach inferencing differently than a teacher/reading teacher:

I teach the language of inferencing! What should students say while they are thinking, what key words in questions will help them know they need to infer, and what key words should they include in their answers to show they understand.

I use visuals like the one above to make students aware of their thinking and what they should be saying to themselves. Also, model model model!

They also need to know, what is an inference and what is not? Literal vs. inferential

I use my Text Evidence worksheets to help practice recognizing the different types of questions. Above, I am using the free app, Doodle Buddy, to make this worksheet more fun! I also use my Inferencing Detectives part 1 and part 2 packs to help recognize the different types of questions/answers!

Social inferences: inferring body language, interpreting actions of others.

It is important for our students to know how to make social inferencing. This is a skill they need every day, not just in school and while reading a text. I like to use my QR Code activity and my body language activity from my no prep social skills pack.

How else can you work on inferencing? Start at the picture level!

Above, I took a card from my Inferencing Pictures activity. I made a quick graphic organizer on a piece of paper that says “what do I see?” “what do I know?” This helps students think about their thinking. What do they know for sure?! What can they see specifically!? What do they know about it? What have they seen before? Have students document all of these things. Use WH question forms to help prompt your students: who is in the picture, what is in the picture, where does the picture take place, when was this picture taken?

I also love using this book which allows students to select from an array of pictures to answer basic inferencing questions.

As you can see, there are TONS of ways that I like to work on inferencing in my speech room. The students are expected to know how use to do this skill by 3rd grade according to the common core state standards. Even earlier than that, they are expected to have the fundamental skills such as being able to guess when given descriptions. Want to learn more about the inferencing activities I have in my TpT store that can help you address this skill…click HERE.

Want to learn how I work on background knowledge/schema? Click HERE!

Want to learn how I use commercials to work on inferencing? Click HERE!

Want to learn how I use Norman Rockwell art to work on inferencing? Click HERE!

Did you catch my free webinar on critical thinking skills for older students?! Click HERE to check it out!