Making Connections Nelson 7 M. MacDonald Beaconsfield Jr. High

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? Making connections while you read is how readers make sense of new information. We make connections to better understand what they are reading. Making connections can help give you ideas about how to respond to what you’re 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 …

What is Background Knowledge? Do you remember: vacation you took that was especially great the last book you read that you really liked a family event that everyone in the family still talks about a special friend from your childhood a movie that you really enjoyed All of these events, experiences, and memories make up your own personal background knowledge.

Connection #1 : Text – to - Self When you make a personal connection to a text, you are making a text-to-self connection. Text-to-self connections make the reading more real and more important for the reader. Text to self connections are made frequently without the student knowing she is making a connection. Readers naturally will begin a dialogue based on a story that relates to their family and experiences.

Text-to Self When reading a text, make a personal connection: That reminds me of when…. That’s how my family…. My friend used to…. I tried to do something like that when I…. I act like that character when I…

Connection #2: 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.

Text – to – Text Connections When making a text-to-text connection, you find what is similar and familiar in these texts. Finding the similarities makes learning and understanding easier. "This book reminds me of (another book) because...“ This connection requires more thinking as students have less prior knowledge.

Connection #3: Text – to - World These are connections that readers make between the text and the bigger issues, events, or concerns of society. Text-to-world connections help you learn about the world from what you read.

Connection #3: Text – to - World To make these types of connections the reader must think about what is going on in the world around them. Text-to-world connections are often the most difficult to make.

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. Visual Responses – The reader can represent the connections they make through visuals

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 … “