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Cris
Tovani (2000) offers reasons why connecting to text helps readers:
§ It
helps readers understand how characters feel and the motivation behind their
actions.
§ It
helps readers have a clearer picture in their head as they read, thus, making
the reader more engaged.
§ It
keeps the reader from becoming bored while reading.
§ It
sets a purpose for reading and keeps the reader focused.
§ It
forces readers to become actively involved.
§ It
helps readers remember what they have read and ask questions about the text.
Text-To- Self Connection
Text-to-self connection is highly
personal connections that a reader makes between a piece of reading material
and the reader’s own experiences or life. An example of a text-to-self
connection might be, "This story
reminds me of a vacation we took to my grandfather’s farm." for a
story about visiting grandparents in a farm.
How to Use the Strategy?
Commonly,
after seeing a story or after reading it, you will be asked with some examples
of questions that can be used text-to-self connections:
1. What
does this remind me of in my life?
2. Why
is this similar to my life?
3. How
is this different from my life?
4. Has
something like this ever happened to me?
5. How
does this relate to my life?
6. What
were my feelings when I see this?
And
a key phrase that prompts text-to-self connection answers are:
a. This part reminds me of . . .
b. I felt like. . . (character) when I . . .
c. If that happened to me I would . . .
d. I can relate to . . . (part of text) because one time . . .
e. Something similar happened to me when . .
.
Here
are examples of good connections that enhance understanding:
Question: What does this story remind you of?
Possible answer: When
I was in second grade, I moved to a new school like Shirley did. I remember feeling like everyone ignored me
and missing my home, so I can relate to what she’s going through.
Question: Can you relate to the characters in the
story?
Possible answer: I know how (character)
felt when (event) because I had a similar experience when
(your own experience).
Question: Do you relate to a certain event in the
story?
Possible answer: The part of the story where (event) reminds
me of the time (your own experience).
Question: Does anything in this story remind you of
anything in your own life?
Possible answer: I know how (character) felt
because I once (your own experience).
Question: How did you use your senses to recall
experiences?
Possible answer: I could taste the sticky peanut butter
and grape jelly sandwich Sam was eating because that is my favorite sandwich.
Sources: Retrieved at https://sites.google.com/a/alaska.edu/diane-kardash/Home/making-connections
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