Using Literature to Teach Inference across the Curriculum

Today, increasing numbers of teachers at all grade levels are recognizing that inference is a powerful way of thinking and an important 21st century skill for all students to use and develop across the curriculum. Increasing numbers of teachers are also recognizing that developing and implementing integrative curriculum is important at all grade levels, especially in middle grades education. This article shares high-quality literature and instructional strategies to teach inference across the curriculum in middle grades education. It provides background on inference and then shares literature and strategies to teach inference in science, social studies, mathematics, and language arts. It ends with some thoughts about the teaching and learning of inference.