Getting students to think about what they are reading and relate it back to their own prior knowledge is an excellent way to enhance reading comprehension. To help students do this more efficiently, graphic organizers can be a big help. You can create a 4-quadrant Connections Guide for just this purpose. To create this graphic organizer, divide a piece of paper into 4 equal squares. Place the following phrases in each box as listed below:

In box 1, place the heading: “In another text I read that…”
In box 2, place the heading: “In another class I learned that…”
In box 3, place the heading: “In my experience…”
In box 4, place the heading: “Putting it all together, I think…”

As students complete their reading, ask them to jot down some thoughts, ideas and connections into each of the 4 boxes. During class, have the students discuss their responses and compare notes for additional insights into the text.