Text Evidence & Inference | Parent Activity

Dear Families,

Your child is learning two essential reading skills: finding text evidence (proof from the passage) and making inferences (conclusions based on clues + what they know). These skills are tested heavily on the FAST assessment. The good news? You can practice these skills with any reading you do together!

Why This Matters for the FAST Test

The FAST asks questions like "According to the passage..." and "Which sentence BEST supports..." Students must find specific evidence from the text. They also need to make inferences - figuring out things the author doesn't say directly by using text clues.

Text Evidence

Exact words, phrases, or sentences from the text that PROVE an answer is correct. Students should be able to point to it!

Inference

A conclusion you figure out by combining text clues with what you already know. Reading "between the lines!"

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Activity 1: Prove It! Reading Game

Practice finding text evidence during reading time

Read a book, article, or story together (any reading material works!).
After reading, ask a question about what happened.
After your child answers, say "Prove it!" and have them point to or read the exact words in the text that support their answer.
Practice using sentence starters: "According to the text..." or "The text states..."

Sample Conversation:
Parent: "What did the character do when she found the lost dog?"
Child: "She took it home."
Parent: "Prove it! Show me where it says that."
Child: "Right here - 'Maya scooped up the trembling puppy and carried it home.'"

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Activity 2: Inference Detectives

Practice making inferences from everyday situations

While reading, stop at key moments and ask inference questions (things not directly stated).
Have your child use the formula: "The text says [clue]. I know [from experience]. So I can infer [conclusion]."
You can also practice with everyday situations - what can you infer from what you see?

Text Example:
Text: "Jake slammed his locker and stomped down the hallway."
Inference: Jake is probably upset or angry. The text clues are "slammed" and "stomped" - these are angry actions. I know from experience that people slam things when they're frustrated.

Real-Life Example:
You see a neighbor carrying a birthday cake into their house.
Inference: Someone in that house is probably having a birthday. The clue is the birthday cake. I know cakes are often for birthday celebrations.

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Activity 3: TV Show Inference

Practice inferring while watching shows together

While watching a TV show or movie together, pause at key moments.
Ask: "What do you think will happen next? What clues tell you that?"
Ask: "How do you think the character is feeling? What evidence shows that?"
Discuss: "What did we see that helped us figure that out?"

Sample Questions:
"Look at the character's face. How do you think she's feeling? What clues tell you that?"
"Why do you think he made that choice? What happened earlier that gives us a clue?"

Practice These Skills Everywhere!

At the grocery store: "The line is really long. What can we infer about how long we'll wait?"
Looking at photos: "What can you infer about this person's job from the photo?"
Reading menus: "What evidence tells us this is an Italian restaurant?"
Weather observations: "It's cloudy and windy. What can we infer about the weather later?"
Book covers: "What can you infer about this book from the cover?"

Questions to Ask During Any Reading

"What does the text say about...? Show me where."
"What can you infer about the character? What clues tell you that?"
"How do you know that? Prove it with the text."
"What text evidence supports your answer?"
"The text doesn't say this directly, but what can you figure out?"
"What clues in the text helped you figure that out?"

Resumen en Espanol

Evidencia del texto: Palabras exactas del texto que PRUEBAN una respuesta

Inferencia: Una conclusion que sacamos combinando pistas del texto + lo que ya sabemos

Formula: Pistas del texto + Lo que ya se = Mi inferencia

Actividades en casa: Mientras leen juntos, pidan a su hijo que "pruebe" sus respuestas mostrando las palabras exactas en el texto. Practiquen hacer inferencias preguntando "Que puedes concluir?" y "Que pistas te ayudaron a saber eso?"

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