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

~ Lets Practice ~
Our Text:

The Best School Year Ever

by: Barbara Robinson