Making Connections Ashley Brown Westwood Elementary, 2005 What are Connections?

Making Connections

• Ashley Brown Westwood Elementary, 2005

What are Connections?

• Connections are links that readers can make between what they are reading and things they already know about.

Why should we make connections?

• Good readers make connections to better understand what they are reading.

How do readers make connections?

• Good readers use their own background knowledge and prior experiences to make connections.
• There are 3 different ways that a reader can make connections …

~ Types of Connections ~

• Text – to – Self
• Text – to - Text
• Text – to - World

Connection: Text – to - Self

• These are connections that readers make between the text (what you are reading) and their own past experiences and/or background knowledge.

Connection: Text – to - Text

• These are connections that readers make between the text they are reading and other texts the reader has read before.
• Other kinds of texts might include books, poems, scripts, songs, or anything written.
• You could even include movies or television shows that you have seen before.

Connection: Text – to - World

• These are connections that readers make between the text and the bigger issues, events, or concerns of society.
• To make these types of connections the reader must think about what is going on in the world around them.

Response Options for Sharing Connections …

• Verbal Reponses – The reader would discuss the connections they made with a text aloud with others in a group.
• Written Responses – The reader would write the connections they could make with a text down on a sheet of paper or in a response journal.

Ways to Start your Connections …

• “That reminds me of … “
• “Remember when … “
• “This is like … “
• “This character makes me think of …”
• “This setting reminds me of … “

~ Let’s Practice ~

• Our Text:
• The Best School Year Ever
• by: Barbara Robinson