Over the years, I have found that one of the most effective ways to strengthen inference skills is through the use of comics. Garfield is my character of choice for several reasons. First, I absolutely adore him! Second, his comics lend themselves to inferencing on an elementary level. Although, I have had to spend countless hours searching through his archives to find ones that are age appropriate. As with any comic, some are more difficult than others to decipher. But, more importantly, he is a character that the students actually begin to build a relationship with. They fall in love with his deadpan expressions and sarcastic attitude. They actually begin to understand that under his rough sardonic exterior lies a heart of gold. Many of the students begin to bring his comics to school and/or download Garfield Daily Apps on their IPhones or IPads. If the demand is there, I will begin to make a series of Garfield PowerPoint's to target inference skills. Gina Rochell PowerPoint Suggestions: 1.Because this is the first time that some students may be exposed to Garfield comics, they may have some difficulty identifying the underlying humor. 2.Read the comic aloud. Some kids may not be in the habit of reading comics frame by frame. 3.The questions are suggestions/samples. There are numerous other possibilities. 4.Enjoy! Please let me know if you find these helpful, and I will design additional presentations.

Teaching Inferencing Through Comics

Sample Discussion Questions: 1.Why do you think that Jon thinks he knows where the cheese puffs went? 2.Why does Jon ask Garfield to show him his paws? 3.What does Garfield mean when he says, “The perfect crime!”? Jon Garfield

Sample Discussion Questions: 1.Look at Garfield’s face in frames 1 and 2. What do his facial expressions tell you about what he is thinking? 2.Look at Garfield’s face in frame 3. How does his expression change? 3.How does Garfield’s attitude about birthdays change from frame 1 to frame 3? Why does it change? What does Garfield realize?

Odie Sample Discussion Questions: 1.What does Garfield mean by, “Forgot to let go again?” 2.Garfield says that Odie forgot to let go again. “Again” is an important clue. What does it tell you about past events in Odie’s life? 3. If you had to describe Odie, based on this comic, how might you describe him?

Sample Discussion Questions: 1.What is going through Garfield’s mind right here? 2.What is Garfield doing in the last frame? Why? 3.Do you think Garfield is a smart cat? Why or why not?

Sample Discussion Questions: 1.Look at frame 1. What does “Beedle, Beedle, Beedle,” mean? 2.Who is Liz? 3.Look at Jon’s expression in frame 6. How does he look? Why? 4.Why is Garfield saying “Uh-oh” in the last frame? 5.Give three words that you think describe Garfield.

The End!