Why do we Make Connections?

 

  • Reading is thinking!  Good readers make connections that are text to self, text to text, and text to world
  • To better predict and understand text because of what you already know  ~ how the characters feel,  what may happen based on another text. . . .
  • T-S means more to me because it reminds me of my own life.  Everyone has different schema and different experiences which can be shared to help us understand more

 

When do we Make Connections?

 

  • Before, during, and after reading
  • Make connections when you’re figuring out unknown words!
  • When we are reminded of a similar event
  • T-S :   That reminds me of . . .   I remember when . . .  I have a connection . . .  An experience I have had like that . . .  I felt like that character when . . .  If I were that character I would . . . .
  • T-T:

Content ~ I’ve read another book on this topic

 

Genre~ this is a “mystery” (etc.) like. . .

 

Author ~ this author always. . .

 

Illustrator ~ I recognize these pictures by. . .

 

Setting ~ ___________ took place at this location

 

Characters ~ she/he reminds me of. . .

 

Illustrations ~ remind me of . . .

 

Plot ~ this story is like. . .

 

Structure ~ this story has a literary device (like a flashback) like. . .

 

Theme ~ this book had the same lesson as . . .

 

Language ~ the writer’s language reminds me of. . .

 

Tone ~ this book has the same feel as. . .

 

T-W on nonfiction ~ open your mental files and make connections between what you know and the new information

How do we Make Connections?

  • Chart connections.  What connections helped to understand the story, which didn’t?
  • Venn diagrams
  • Connect to the theme or main idea of the text
  • Start with “It helps me understand . . .”  (Character feelings, setting, events)
  • Activate prior knowledge before, during, and after reading
  • On nonfiction (T-W) make a KWL chart.  Do T-W with newspaper articles, too!
  • Use a double entry journal ~ one side is for key event, idea, word, quote, or content.  The other is for connections.
  • Always ask yourself “How does this connection help me understand the text?”

 

 

Making text-to-self connections and text-to-text connections while reading helps students to internalize the story and relate to the characters or the problem. Students are encouraged to use sticky notes to make sure that they are consciously making connections as they read.

 

I introduced the strategy by reading "The Relatives Came" by Cynthia Rylant.  Students wrote about and illustrated the text-to-self connections they made while listening to the story.

Students use sticky notes to code the connections they make as they read.  We also made a class chart so that students could share their connections with others.

 

 

 

 

 

Types of Connections

Text to Self

Text to Text

Text to World

 

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