Master Making Predictions with New Information While Reading

You can make predictions by looking for clues in the words and pictures. When a character packs hiking boots, water, and snacks, you can predict they will go on a hike. If you read about dark clouds and strong wind, you can predict a storm is coming.

As you read more, you might find new information that changes your prediction. Maybe the character with hiking gear decides to stay inside because of the storm. Good readers change their predictions when they learn new things. This shows you are thinking carefully about the story.

You can also use your prior knowledge to help make predictions. If you know that dark clouds usually mean rain, you can use that knowledge when reading weather stories.

Text evidence means the actual words in the story that support your predictions. When you read that a detective finds muddy footprints leading to the kitchen, that evidence helps you predict the detective will investigate the kitchen next.

Story clues can be actions, descriptions, or dialogue. If a character looks worried and keeps checking the clock, these clues suggest something important might go wrong. You can practice using context clues while reading to find these helpful hints.

Pictures and illustrations also give you clues. A book cover showing a pirate ship tells you the story will probably be about adventures. You learned about reading strategies using illustrations and cueing to help with this skill.

Prediction: Your best guess about what will happen next in a story based on clues you find.

Clues: Hints in the words and pictures that help you figure out what might happen next.

New Information: Facts or details you learn as you keep reading that might change your predictions.

Text Evidence: The actual words from the story that prove your predictions make sense.

Prior Knowledge: Everything you already know that helps you make good guesses about stories.

Confirm: When your prediction turns out to be correct as you keep reading.

Revise: To change or update your prediction when you learn new information.

Story Details: The small facts and descriptions in a story that give you hints about what might happen.

You can practice making predictions by reading the first page of a story and writing down what you think will happen. As you read more pages, check if your predictions were right or if you need to change them.

Try reading mystery books where characters find clues. Predict what the clues mean and see if you are right. You can also practice making predictions using evidence from different types of stories.

When you watch movies or TV shows, pause and predict what will happen next. This helps you practice the same thinking skills you use when reading.

Before you start making predictions with new information, you should know how to make predictions using evidence and make inferences using text evidence. These skills help you find clues in stories.

You should also understand activating prior knowledge text connections so you can use what you already know to help make better predictions.

This skill connects to many other reading strategies. You will use answering questions using text evidence to support your predictions with proof from the story.

Making predictions also helps with comprehension monitoring multiple strategy because you check your understanding as you read. You can practice finding word meanings in text to understand story clues better.

After you master this skill, you will learn making predictions checking accuracy and making inferences from text support to become an even better reader.