Making Connections
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.
Use the following prompts as you read
with your child.
Good Readers constantly make connections
between what they are reading and their lives, the world, and other texts.
Making connections deepens understanding and brings
meaning to the text.
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Text-to-Self
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This story reminds me of...
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I felt the way the character did in this
story when......
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Text-to-Text
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The main character in this story reminds
me of the main character in__________.
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The problem in this story reminds me of
the problem in __________ because...
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The solution in this story reminds me of
the solution in ___________ because...
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The lesson in this story reminds me of the
lesson in __________ because...
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The illustrations in this story remind me
of the illustrations in __________ because...
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The way this story is written reminds me
of __________ because...
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Text-to-World
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This story makes me think of...
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Good Readers constantly ask questions
before, during, and after reading. Questioning provides a purpose for reading
and keeps the reader engaged in the text. It propels the reader forward to
search for answers to their questions. Questions are answered many different
ways: in the text, from prior knowledge, inferences, and further research.
There are also some questions that are not answered.
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Before
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I wonder.......?
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What do I think is going to happen?
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What am I going to learn?
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Why did the author choose this title?
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Why did the author write this?
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When did the story take place?
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Who is the story about?
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Who is telling the story?
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During
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What do I think will happen next?
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How does the character feel?
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Why did __________ happen?
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I wonder why __________?
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What would I do?
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How is the problem going to be solved?
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Do you think ____ should have _______?
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Am I paying attention to the message?
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Would I be friends with _______?
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What might happen if __________?
What do I still need to
find out?
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Why is this information important?
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Do I understand what the author is saying?
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After
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How did I feel when.....?
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What was my opinion of.....?
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When the author said __, I wondered....?
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Why do you think the author.....?
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What was the main idea.....?
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Do I know someone like...?
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What would have happened if......?
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Do I agree with what the author said?
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Would I be friends with _______?
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What might happen if __________?
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What do I still need to find out?
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Why is this information important?
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Do I understand what the author is saying?
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When we visualize while reading, we
create pictures in our minds. Visualizing helps us to relate to the characters
in a text. We imagine what they look like and how they act. When children
hear a well-written text, they can mix the author's words with their own ideas
to create a visual image. The child adds his/her own experiences to the words
above to create a picture of the event. Children can describe these visual
images or draw a picture to illustrate the images.
When we first began practicing the
strategy, students drew a picture about what they were visualizing when I was
reading. We call our visualizations "Mental Pictures."