While we read, it is important that we are checking for understanding to help us comprehend the story.  Another strategy that we can use while reading is making connections.  When we read a story, we can be reminded of a similar feeling or event in our own lives and make a connection.  We call this a text to self connection. The boys and girls have practiced making connections to stories that they have read by saying, ” When I read ___________, it reminds me of __________. ”

We can also make text to text connections ( similarities between stories) or text to world connections ( similarities between a storyline and what is happening in our world).  When we make these connections, we relate to the storyline and we gain a deeper understanding of a character’s feelings or actions.

We have some pretty amazing readers AND “connecters” in our classroom :)!