PerÂsonÂal prefÂerÂences and expeÂriÂences guide our life choicÂes. They impact what we wear, eat, do, even the peoÂple we spend time with. It should come as no surÂprise, then, that perÂsonÂal prefÂerÂences also affect what we read— maybe even whether we read.
StudÂies show that young readÂers who feel a perÂsonÂal conÂnecÂtion to what they are readÂing demonÂstrate betÂter comÂpreÂhenÂsion and derive greater enjoyÂment from their readÂing. They engage more thorÂoughÂly when they see ideas conÂnectÂing to their own expeÂriÂences and pasÂsions. In the case of nonÂficÂtion, perÂsonÂal conÂnecÂtions help readÂers see sciÂence, facts, and events as meanÂingÂful to their lives.
Even the youngest readÂers have expeÂriÂences, knowlÂedge, opinÂions, and emoÂtions they can tap when lookÂing for perÂsonÂal conÂnecÂtions to their readÂing. Good readÂers may find it easÂiÂer to see conÂnecÂtions, but with help, new or strugÂgling readÂers can find conÂnecÂtions, too. ChoosÂing strong, well-craftÂed nonÂficÂtion is a good first step toward buildÂing conÂnecÂtions. IntenÂtionÂalÂly guidÂing young readÂers to a disÂcovÂery of how books conÂnect to their lives comÂpletes the process.
ChoosÂing good nonfiction
Today’s nonÂficÂtion books are kid-friendÂly and relatÂable. They explain difÂfiÂcult conÂcepts clearÂly, simÂply, and withÂout conÂdeÂscenÂsion. They are visuÂalÂly appealÂing, with attracÂtive and accuÂrate illusÂtraÂtions, page layÂouts that break up text, and strong design features.
Some nonÂficÂtion books are interÂacÂtive and engagÂing. This is incredÂiÂbly effecÂtive at buildÂing conÂnecÂtions. They pose quesÂtions or include fun, litÂtle known facts. That’s the approach takÂen by StaÂcy Tornio and Ken KefÂfer in The Secret Lives of AniÂmals — 1,001 TidÂbits, OddÂiÂties & AmazÂing Facts about North America’s Coolest AniÂmals.
Some books build on young readÂers’ already estabÂlished knowlÂedge as a way of conÂnectÂing to new ideas. Swirl by Swirl: SpiÂrals in Nature by Joyce SidÂman is a great examÂple of this. It explores the ways the spiÂral — a shape already familÂiar to young readÂers — occurs over and over in nature, thereÂby promptÂing a greater interÂest in the natÂurÂal world.
Some books just tell a good stoÂryvÂsomeÂthing we all tend to rememÂber much betÂter than abstract rules, forÂmuÂlas, and conÂcepts. That’s the case with Mary Losure’s Isaac the Alchemist. Isaac NewÂton may have lived hunÂdreds of years ago, but readÂers learn how simÂiÂlar some of Newton’s expeÂriÂences were to those of kids today. They see NewÂton as being just like them and they want to folÂlow him on his journey.
EstabÂlishÂing perÂsonÂal connections
ConÂnecÂtion buildÂing occurs when young readÂers see books as relÂeÂvant to their lives. And there’s plenÂty that’s relÂeÂvant in the world of nonÂficÂtion. All that’s needÂed is a litÂtle prompting.
TeachÂers and librarÂiÂans can help young readÂers see conÂnecÂtions by askÂing quesÂtions like these:
- What were your feelÂings when you read this?
- Does anyÂthing in this stoÂry remind you of anyÂthing in your own life?
- Is what hapÂpened in this book someÂthing you’d like to do? SomeÂthing you’d like to learn more about?
- How is this book simÂiÂlar to othÂer things you have read?
- How is it difÂferÂent from othÂer things you have read?
- What does this remind you of in the real world?
- Are the events in this stoÂry simÂiÂlar to or difÂferÂent from things that hapÂpen in the real world?
These quesÂtions can be used with any type of text, any age group, and at any stage of the readÂing expeÂriÂence. All young readÂers can benÂeÂfit from them.
FindÂing meanÂingÂful conÂnecÂtions in nonÂficÂtion helps young readÂers bridge the gap between curÂrent knowlÂedge and new mateÂrÂiÂal. It allows readÂers to see themÂselves in new roles, have a clearÂer picÂture of hisÂtorÂiÂcal events, become more activeÂly involved in learnÂing sciÂenÂtifÂic theÂoÂries, and more.
If we give young readÂers a purÂpose for their readÂing, they will be able to betÂter comÂpreÂhend and make meanÂing of the ideas preÂsentÂed. But perÂhaps most imporÂtantÂly, they’ll enjoy readÂing more. And that’s a tremenÂdous outÂcome in and of itself — using perÂsonÂal expeÂriÂence to make readÂing a posÂiÂtive expeÂriÂence. EveryÂone wins!
Resources
ReadÂwriteÂthink: MakÂing ConÂnecÂtions StratÂeÂgy Guide
FacÂing HisÂtoÂry: Text-to-Text, Text-to-Self, Text-to-World HandÂout
MakÂing ConÂnecÂtions: Text to Self, Text to Text, Text to World