Making Connections
Making connections is a teaching strategy that helps students connect the reading to what they already know. Students who make connections while reading are better able to understand the text they are reading. When you use this strategy, students should draw on their prior knowledge and experiences to connect with the text. Students will be more engaged in reading if they are thinking during the reading process. When students make connections while reading, they are deepening their understanding of the text. In this strategy, teachers will need to model how a text connects to their lives, another text they have read, or the world around them. There are several different ways to make connections. They are text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections. (Simon, n.d)
Listed below are a few prompts that will lead to making general connections. (http://benchmarkeducation.com)
Listed below are examples of questions that will lead to text-to-self connections: (Simon, n.d)
Here are examples of creating text-to text connections:
Here are examples of creating text-to-world connections:
|
Image Source: www.pinterest.com
|
Examples of how this strategy can be used in different content areas:
Reading/Language arts
Making Connections strategy can be used in the content area of reading and language arts very easily. First, the teacher would select the text for the students to read. After the students read the text, they would use writing prompts, such as the ones listed above. Give the students time to think about their responses, then use a form of a graphic organizer to have the students make connections and list their ideas. They could use a quote, a passage, or an entire book to make connections, it is up to each teacher and the objective that they are trying to achieve. After students complete the graphic organizer, students can share their connections, or use the information to create an essay or journal entry.
FACS
In the content area of FACS, students can use the "Making connections" strategy in a foods and nutrition class. One way that this strategy can be incorporated is by reading articles on different types of diseases that are directly related to a poor diet. Have the students make connections and evaluate their own diet to see if they have any poor eating habits, which would put themselves at risk for diseases. Next, students can make connections to people they have known who suffer from each disease, evaluating their eating habits. Finally, they can look at how the dietary habits and diseases have affected the overall health of our community, state, world, etc. Again, students can use a form of a graphic organizer to list which foods/dietary contributions lead to certain diseases. Look for similarities and differences to make conclusions on which foods/lifestyle choices they should avoid to live a healthy life.
Making Connections strategy can be used in the content area of reading and language arts very easily. First, the teacher would select the text for the students to read. After the students read the text, they would use writing prompts, such as the ones listed above. Give the students time to think about their responses, then use a form of a graphic organizer to have the students make connections and list their ideas. They could use a quote, a passage, or an entire book to make connections, it is up to each teacher and the objective that they are trying to achieve. After students complete the graphic organizer, students can share their connections, or use the information to create an essay or journal entry.
FACS
In the content area of FACS, students can use the "Making connections" strategy in a foods and nutrition class. One way that this strategy can be incorporated is by reading articles on different types of diseases that are directly related to a poor diet. Have the students make connections and evaluate their own diet to see if they have any poor eating habits, which would put themselves at risk for diseases. Next, students can make connections to people they have known who suffer from each disease, evaluating their eating habits. Finally, they can look at how the dietary habits and diseases have affected the overall health of our community, state, world, etc. Again, students can use a form of a graphic organizer to list which foods/dietary contributions lead to certain diseases. Look for similarities and differences to make conclusions on which foods/lifestyle choices they should avoid to live a healthy life.
To understand how Making Connections works in action, see these video clips
This video demonstrates exactly how you can ask questions to students to help them make connections while reading. It highlights the three different types of text connections and how students can make connections to themselves, the text, and the world. The video shows how students can make connections in a group discussion, but then students go on to write their responses (connections) in their journals. This encourages students to not only develop their comprehension but also strengthen their writing skills.
|
This video is a great example of how you can model "Making connections" with your class. This teacher goes over the different types of connections, then she reads a passage to the class. The video shows how students use a pair-share method to share their connections with one another. Then the teacher creates a list of common connections with the class. She explains how you can use post it notes while reading to help remember where the connections are made.
|
How does writing tie into this strategy?
Making Connections strategy can help students with their writing skills, as well as reading. The MN writing standard that works with "Making Connections" is 6.7.9.9 (Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Students should compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres.) This strategy encourages students to read a text, then make connections to themselves, to other text, and to the world. By doing this, students can compare and contrast fiction stories and how they relate to historical events for example. Or, they can make connections from one type of text/genre to another. Writing can be done in journals, graphic organizers, or their connections could be expanded into an essay.