Use Prior Knowledge to Connect with Text–Parent Pipeline

Can you remember the last lesson you taught where your students were all eagerly raising their hands, excited to participate? As a teacher, it is always a good feeling to know your students are in tune with the lesson rather than thinking about what they had for supper last night. Many times their attentiveness is due to the fact that they have made a connection with what you are teaching and have a story to tell of their own. It is important that we give children a chance to share these connections and to realize these connections help to build comprehension. It is also important that we help parents understand when a child stops reading to make a connection, they are using an important comprehension strategy and not falling off task.

After introducing this strategy to your students, send home the Pipeline to provide guidance to families when reading at home.