Making Connections Nelson 7 Making Connections Nelson 7 M. MacDonald Beaconsfield Jr. High.

Making ConnectionsMaking ConnectionsNelson 7Nelson 7

Making ConnectionsMaking ConnectionsNelson 7Nelson 7

M. MacDonaldM. MacDonaldBeaconsfield Jr. HighBeaconsfield 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 … “