Lesson Plan Overview
| Text Connections | |
|---|---|
| Text to Text | Connection that reminds you of something in another book or story |
| Text to Self | Connection that reminds you of something in your life. |
| Text to World | Connection that reminds you of something happening in the world. |
Example Text Connections from TITLE
TEXT TO TEXT
Description of connection
TEXT TO SELF
Description of connection
TEXT TO WORLD
Description of connection
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows connections you have made with [TITLE]. Include a connection for text to text, text to world, and text to self.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Create an image for each connection using scenes, characters, items, and text boxes.
- Write a description of how the text relates to another text, the world, and you.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Connections | Student made and labeled all three text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled two text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled one text connection correctly. |
| Examples of Connections | All examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections do not support understanding of text or are difficult to understand. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
Lesson Plan Overview
| Text Connections | |
|---|---|
| Text to Text | Connection that reminds you of something in another book or story |
| Text to Self | Connection that reminds you of something in your life. |
| Text to World | Connection that reminds you of something happening in the world. |
Example Text Connections from TITLE
TEXT TO TEXT
Description of connection
TEXT TO SELF
Description of connection
TEXT TO WORLD
Description of connection
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows connections you have made with [TITLE]. Include a connection for text to text, text to world, and text to self.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Create an image for each connection using scenes, characters, items, and text boxes.
- Write a description of how the text relates to another text, the world, and you.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Connections | Student made and labeled all three text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled two text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled one text connection correctly. |
| Examples of Connections | All examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections do not support understanding of text or are difficult to understand. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Text Connections
Encourage Deeper Thinking with Anchor Charts for Text Connections
Create a text connections anchor chart with your class to visually organize examples as you read. Anchor charts help students recall the types of connections and spark thoughtful sharing. Display it prominently for ongoing reference.
Model Making Personal Connections During Read-Alouds
Demonstrate how to make text to self, text to text, and text to world connections out loud as you read. This shows students your thinking process and gives them practical examples to follow.
Invite Students to Share Connections in Small Groups
Organize students into small groups to share their text connections. Collaborative discussion helps students refine their ideas and build confidence in expressing their thoughts.
Use Graphic Organizers to Track Connections
Provide students with a simple graphic organizer for recording their text to self, text to text, and text to world connections as they read. This keeps their thinking organized and can be used for assessment or reflection.
Frequently Asked Questions about Text Connections
What are text connections in reading?
Text connections are links readers make between what they're reading and their own experiences, other texts, or the world. Making these connections helps students better understand and engage with the material.
How can students make text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections?
Students can make text-to-self connections by relating the story to their own lives, text-to-text by comparing it to other books they've read, and text-to-world by linking the story to real-world events or issues.
Why are text connections important for student comprehension?
Text connections deepen understanding by making reading more relatable. They help students process new information, remember details, and think critically about what they read.
What is an example of a text-to-world connection?
An example of a text-to-world connection is reading a story about overcoming adversity and connecting it to current events such as people helping each other after a natural disaster.
What's an easy classroom activity to teach text connections?
Have students create a storyboard that illustrates their text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections for a specific story. This visual activity encourages deeper thinking and discussion.
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