Strategy 3: Making Connections

When good readers think about a text they consider how it relates to their own life experiences and knowledge. In doing so, they make connections with the text, deepening their own understanding. Struggling readers often move directly through a text without stopping to consider whether the text makes sense based on their own background knowledge, or whether their prior knowledge can be used to help them understand confusing or challenging materials. There are three types of connections that can be made:

1. Text to Self Connections – where a link is established between the text and the reader’s own life. This is a highly personal connection.
2. Text to Text Connections – where a link is identified between two sections of the same book or another piece of literature.
3. Text to Wider World – a link between the text and knowledge derived from another source such as films, environment or newspapers.

There are many reasons why connecting to text helps readers:

1. It helps understand how characters feel and the motivation behind their actions.
2. It helps readers have a clearer picture in their head as they read thus making them more engaged.
3. It sets a purpose for reading and keeps the reader focused.
4. It forces readers to become actively involved.
5. It helps readers remember what they have read and ask questions about the text.

To make a ‘Making Connections’ CPM, children link their thumb and index finger on each hand and connect both of them.