Thinking Skill: Connect
Thinking Skill: Connect is a critical thinking and reading comprehension skill for K-12 students. It teaches learners to make meaningful connections between new information and prior knowledge, other texts, and real-world experiences. This skill strengthens deep understanding and retention across all subjects.
Key Concepts
Property To solve an equation, we reverse the order of operations. To check a solution, we perform the operations in the correct order (PEMDAS).
Examples Check $x=12$ in $3x+4 x=28$: $3(12)+4 12=36+4 12=28$. The solution is correct! Check $x= 7$ in $ 2x 5=9$: $ 2( 7) 5 = 14 5=9$. The solution is correct!
Explanation Solving an equation is like playing a movie in reverse to find out what happened at the start. To check your work, you play the movie forward with your solution to make sure the story makes sense and the ending is correct!
Common Questions
What is the thinking skill Connect?
The Connect thinking skill involves linking new ideas or information to what you already know, to other texts, or to real-world experiences in order to deepen understanding.
Why is making connections important in learning?
Making connections helps students build on prior knowledge, improve comprehension, and retain new information more effectively.
What are the three types of connections students make?
Text-to-self (connecting to personal experience), text-to-text (connecting to other books or content), and text-to-world (connecting to real-world events or knowledge).
How do teachers use the Connect thinking skill?
Teachers prompt students to identify similarities between new content and prior learning, encouraging reflection and active engagement during lessons.
What subjects use the Connect thinking skill?
The Connect thinking skill is used across all K-12 subjects including reading, science, social studies, and math to encourage deeper learning.