| 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. |
Asking students to make connections to the text is one way to encourage active reading and improve reading comprehension. Text connections can also spark meaningful discussions about a novel and its themes and can act as precursors to some essays. For this activity, have students use three storyboard frames to connect The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to themselves, another text (or film), and the world around them. Ask them to explain the connection in the text box below each frame.
TEXT TO SELF
I felt like Tom did at Muff Potter’s trial when I told on one of the older kids in my neighborhood. I knew that he had egged the Browns’ mailbox, but I was afraid he would find out if I told them. I did it anyway, and Mr. Brown made him clean it up!
TEXT TO TEXT
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is similar to the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Tom and Ferris both skip school in favor of adventure. Their adventurous spirits get them into trouble but also make them likable and, in the end, bring them success and social approval.
TEXT TO WORLD
Tom Sawyer has a lot to do with social expectations. Our world today still has many rules for what makes a person “good” or “bad”. Tom and Huck seem “bad” because they disobey their elders, skip school, and play tricks on people; however, their hearts are in the right place. Many children today are punished or labeled “bad” simply because they have a lot of energy, even though they may be very kind-hearted people.
(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 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Include a connection for text to text, text to world, and text to self.