Making Connections
Making connections helps readers comprehend what they are reading. If students can make connections with what they are reading they will be more interested in the context and become better independent readers.
Students will also be able to have a better understanding of the text. Students can activate their prior knowledge by making a connection to a text they have already read, something in their lives, or something in the real world (Allen).
"Recognizing that children from culturally diverse backgrounds may struggle with comprehending a text or concept presented in class because their schemata do not match those of the culture for which the text was written" (Echevarria, Vogt, & Short, 2014).
Students will also be able to have a better understanding of the text. Students can activate their prior knowledge by making a connection to a text they have already read, something in their lives, or something in the real world (Allen).
"Recognizing that children from culturally diverse backgrounds may struggle with comprehending a text or concept presented in class because their schemata do not match those of the culture for which the text was written" (Echevarria, Vogt, & Short, 2014).
How can this strategy by adapted for English language learners in the content areas?
There are various ways you can directly implement this strategy in the content areas. Three content areas to focus on are writing, mathematics, and social studies. When it comes to writing, many students enjoy the process if the topic interests them or they are writing about a personal experience or hobby. If the topic is sports, not all students would be able to connect to the topic. However, if the topic for writing was "favorite place to go out to eat", you would have many more students who could use personal experience to write. It is important to keep in mind that a student doesn't just have to have a connection with their personal experience, but with something they've read in other text or just seen in the world around them.
Math is another content area that needs to be adapted so English learners, and all students, are able to make connections. When giving students word problems, you want to make sure the information relates to items students use in every day life. A student who is a newcomer may not be knowledgeable about all the different foods or toys that you may use in a math problem. Role playing can also be used in math in showing students subtraction or addition problems, by "adding" or "taking away" students.
When discussing Social Studies topics, it can be helpful to help students make connections by activating prior knowledge. One way to do this is having a class discussion, or have students fill out a graphic organizer such as a K-W-L chart. If there is any information students do know about the topic they are forced to think about it and write it down. While learning students write down information, and summarize everything they learned.