Making Connections
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Good readers connect what they read to their own lives, other books, and the world around them. Making connections helps you understand and remember stories better!
What Is Making Connections?
Making connections means thinking about how a story relates to something you already know. You link the new information to things you have experienced or learned before.
Three Types of Connections
- Text-to-Self: Connect the story to your own life. "This reminds me of when I..."
- Text-to-Text: Connect the story to another book or story. "This is like the book..."
- Text-to-World: Connect the story to things happening in the world. "This reminds me of..."
Sentence Starters for Making Connections
Use these phrases to share your connections:
- "This reminds me of..."
- "I felt the same way when..."
- "This is like the time I..."
- "This is similar to another book I read..."
- "I know about this because..."
Why Making Connections Helps
When you make connections:
- Stories make more sense
- You remember what you read better
- Reading feels more personal and fun
- You understand characters better
Worked Examples
Example 1: Text-to-Self Connection
Story: "Amy was nervous on her first day at her new school."
Connection: "This reminds me of when I started at my school. I was nervous too because I did not know anyone."
Why this helps: Understanding how Amy feels because you felt the same way!
Example 2: Text-to-Text Connection
Story: A story about a mouse who tricks a cat.
Connection: "This reminds me of Tom and Jerry! The mouse is clever and tricks the cat, just like in the cartoon."
Why this helps: You can predict what might happen because you have seen similar stories!
Example 3: Text-to-World Connection
Story: A story about animals losing their homes when trees are cut down.
Connection: "I saw on the news that forests are being cut down. This is a real problem for animals!"
Why this helps: You understand why the story matters in the real world!
Example 4: Making a Personal Connection
Story: "Ben's dog was sick, and Ben was very worried."
Connection: "I felt like Ben when my cat was sick. I was so worried! I understand how sad and scared Ben feels."
Example 5: Connecting to Help Understand
Story: "The family made special cookies for the holiday."
Connection: "My family makes special food for holidays too. We make my grandma's recipe. Holidays are a special time for families to be together."
This connection helps you understand why the family in the story is making the cookies.
Practice Problems
Read each story part and make a connection!
Problem 1: "Sam was excited to open his birthday presents." Make a text-to-self connection.
Show Answer
Example: "This reminds me of my birthday. I felt excited to open my presents too!"
Problem 2: "The princess lived in a tall castle." What other story might this remind you of?
Show Answer
Example: "This reminds me of Cinderella or Rapunzel - they also have princesses and castles!"
Problem 3: "The kids planted a garden at school." Make any connection.
Show Answer
Examples: Text-to-self: "We planted flowers at my house!" Text-to-world: "I know gardens help bees and butterflies!"
Problem 4: "Lily felt sad when her friend moved away." How might you connect to this?
Show Answer
Example: "I felt sad when my friend moved too" or "This reminds me of a movie where friends had to say goodbye."
Problem 5: "The boy learned to swim at summer camp." Make a text-to-self connection.
Show Answer
Example: "I learned to swim too! It was hard at first, but I kept trying."
Problem 6: "The superhero saved the city from danger." What other book or movie is this like?
Show Answer
Example: "This is like Spider-Man or Superman! Superheroes always help people."
Problem 7: "The family adopted a pet from the animal shelter." Make a text-to-world connection.
Show Answer
Example: "I know that animal shelters help pets find homes. There is a shelter in our town!"
Problem 8: "It was raining, so the soccer game was cancelled." Connect to your life.
Show Answer
Example: "Rain cancelled my baseball game once. I was disappointed just like the characters probably are."
Problem 9: "The brave little engine climbed the big hill." What book might this remind you of?
Show Answer
Example: "This is like 'The Little Engine That Could!' It never gave up."
Problem 10: "Emma helped her little brother tie his shoes." Make a connection.
Show Answer
Example: "I help my little sister sometimes too! It feels good to help family."
Check Your Understanding
Question 1: What are the three types of connections?
Show Answer
Text-to-Self (connecting to your life), Text-to-Text (connecting to other books), and Text-to-World (connecting to things in the world).
Question 2: What phrase can you use to share a connection?
Show Answer
Examples: "This reminds me of...", "I felt the same way when...", "This is like..."
Question 3: Why does making connections help you as a reader?
Show Answer
Making connections helps you understand stories better, remember what you read, and makes reading more personal and fun.
Question 4: If a story is about going to the dentist, what type of connection could you make?
Show Answer
Text-to-Self: You could connect it to your own visits to the dentist and how you felt!
Next Steps
- Practice: Make connections every time you read
- Share: Tell someone about a connection you made to a book
- Write: Keep a reading journal where you write down your connections
- Notice: Pay attention to how connections help you understand stories better