How to Make Predictions
How to Make Predictions
Wouldn't it be nice if you had a crystal ball you could gaze into while you were reading? You'd never have to finish a book because the crystal ball would tell you everything that happened!While books don't come with their own crystal balls, you do have a way to guess what is going to happen next when you read. It's called making predictions.
A prediction is a forecast or guess about what is going to happen in the future.
Good readers make predictions to guess what is going to happen next while they're reading a book.
Why is making predictions important?
- Predictions encourage active reading and encourage you to pay attention to a story.
- Predictions help you know whether or not you really understand what you are reading.
- Predictions give you a chance to make connections between the story you're reading, other stories you have read, and things that have happened in your own life.
How to Make Predictions While Reading
When you read, you make predictions by looking at clues to tell you what is going to happen.
1. Look at the cover of the book and any chapter titles or headings inside
Before you read, you can make predictions. Start by looking at the cover of the book and ask the following questions:
- What does the title make me think the book will be about?
- What do the pictures suggest the book will be about?
- Have I seen or read anything like this before?
For example, if I have a book called "The Lonely Princess" that has a picture of a sad girl on the front, I would answer the questions like this:
What does the title make me think the book will be about?
A princess who is very lonely.
What do the pictures suggest the book will be about?
A princess who is very sad.
Have I seen or read anything like this before?
Yes, I have read many princess stories and they all have happy endings, so I predict the princess will not be lonely at the end of the story.
Next, you can flip through the books and look at the chapter titles or headings inside. As you do, ask yourself:
- What do these headings make me think the book will be about?
- What does the title suggest this chapter is going to be about?
For example, if I saw a chapter called "The Dragon Arrives" I may predict that a dragon is going to come to meet the lonely princess.
2. Stop and ask questions as you read
Once you start reading, you should regularly stop and ask yourself questions as you read. Good questions to help you make predictions include:
- What do I think will happen next?
- Why is this part of the story important?
- What decision will the character make?
- What are these clues telling me?
- Have I read about or experienced something like this before?
Look at this paragraph:
The lonely puppy curled up on a pile of leaves and started to cry. It was hopeless. He was never going to see his family again. To make matters worse, dark clouds were starting to fill the sky. The puppy shivered as a cold wind blew over him.
What do I think will happen next?
I think a storm is going to come.
Why is this part of the story important?
It shows that the puppy is sad and worried he won't see his family.
What important decision will the character make?
I think the puppy will decide to give up on his search to find his family.
What are these clues telling me?
They are telling me that the puppy is sad and tired of searching for his family. They tell me that it is going to rain.
Have I read about or experienced something like this before?
I have read other stories about lost animals. I know that they usually end up finding their way home, so I predict the puppy will find his way home.
3. Keep track of your predictions and see whether they came true
As you read, write down your predictions and keep track of them in your head. Then go back to them to see whether they come true. If most of your predictions do not come true, you'll know that you need to go back and re-read the story because you did not quite understand what was going on.
Think you know how to make predictions now? The practice questions and worksheets below will help you improve your predicting skills.
Related Worksheets: