Teaching students to make inferences is one of the most important and sometimes most challenging aspects of reading comprehension instruction in upper elementary classrooms.  In grades 4–6, students are expected to move beyond literal understanding and begin drawing conclusions, analyzing characters, and interpreting information that is not directly stated in the text. One of the most effective ways to teach this skill is by using mentor texts .  Carefully chosen mentor texts

Teaching students to make inferences is one of the most important, and sometimes most challenging, reading comprehension skills in upper elementary.  Many students struggle because inference answers are not directly stated in the text. Instead, students must combine text clues with what they already know, which requires explicit instruction and guided practice. One of the most effective ways to teach making inferences in grades 4–6 is by using the gradual release of responsib