Mentor Texts for Teaching Text to Self Connections

Mentor Texts for Text to Self Connections

One important reading comprehension strategy is to help students activate their background knowledge in order to boost reading comprehension.

Teaching students about their schema (memories, experiences, everything they know…) is the first step.

Helping students make text to self connections is one way to move them from passive readers to active readers, which is what we want!

The more we can encourage students to “think” as they read, and to focus on connections that matter, the more deeply they will be able to understand the text.

Here are a few of my favorite mentor texts for text to self connections. These stories may help your students activate their schemas in some way.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, The Teacher Next Door, LLC receives a few cents on the dollar. This commission directly supports us as a small business and ensures that we can continue to create high-quality content for upper elementary teachers, like yourself! As always, the products shared are tried, true, and tested. Enjoy!

 

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco Mentor text

1. My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco follows a young girl, Patricia, whose older brother can do just about anything she can but better. That is, until Patricia wishes on a star and finds out just what wishes (and rotten redheaded older brothers) can really do.

 

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires Mentor Text

2. The Most Magnificent Thing

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires is a charming story in which a girl and her dog set out to make the most magnificent thing. Feeling defeated after much hard work, the girl goes for a walk and soon realizes what she must do to succeed!

 

The Potato Chip Champ by Maria Dismondy Mentor Text

3. The Potato Chip Champ

The Potato Chip Champ by Maria Dismondy is a heartwarming story of two kids who, despite their many differences, bond over their shared love of baseball and potato chips. And in the end, the boys learn a lesson about character that can only be learned with the help of one of their favorite things: crunchy potato chips.

 

Because by Mo Willems Mentor Text

4. Because by Mo Willems

Because by Mo Willems is the striking tale of a young girl’s journey to center stage. This beautiful picture book shows just how impactful one piece of music can be to another’s life.

 

I love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada Mentor Text

5. I Love Saturdays y domingos

I Love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada details how special the weekend is to the child in this story, as she spends each day with a different set of grandparents. Readers will find that while her European-American grandparents and Mexican-American grandparents have different traditions, they are really not very different at all.

 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst Mentor Text

6. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst is a popular story about all the little things that go wrong one day for little Alexander. Let’s face it. We have all had days where it seems like everything goes wrong!

 

Fred Stays With Me by Nancy Coffelt Mentor Text

7. Fred Stays With Me

Fred Stays With Me by Nancy Coffelt is about a young girl who finds herself in the middle of her parent’s divorce. Through this, she turns to her beloved dog, Fred, as the constant in her changing life.

 

Evelyn-Del-Rey-is-Moving-Away-by-Meg-Medina Mentor Text

8. Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away

Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina is a stunning book about the importance of friendship and the lasting impact it can have.

 

Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe Mentor Text

9. Fireflies

Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe is a sweet story of a young boy who excitedly catches a jar full of fireflies. However, as their light begins to fade, he realizes he must set them free.

 

Mentor Texts for Text to Self Connections Book Images Pin

Here are a few more Mentor Texts for Text to Self Connections:

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

The Bad Seed by Jory John

On Sudden Hill by Linda Sarah

I Don’t Want to be a Frog by Dev Petty

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor

What to Do with a Box by Jane Yolen

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Teacher Next Door - Creating upper elementary resources that target standards for busy teachers

Email
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter

You might also like...

The Teacher Next Door - Creating upper elementary resources that target standards for busy teachers

Hi, I’m Jenn, CEO and owner of The Teacher Next Door!

I know that you strive to be an effective upper elementary teacher while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

In order to do that, you need resources that are impactful,
yet simple.

The problem is that most resources and curriculums out there are far from simple. The pages upon pages of daily lesson plans are just plain overwhelming.

At TTND, we believe teachers should be living their lives outside of the classroom, and not spend hours lesson planning and searching for resources.

We understand that now, more than ever, teachers need space to be themselves which is why we create and support teachers with timesaving tips and standards-aligned resources.

Want access to TTND's Free Resource Library? Sign up for our newsletter and we'll email you the exclusive password!

TRENDING POSTS

SEARCH BY TOPIC

POPULAR RESOURCES

FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY (3)

* Please note: If your school has strong email filters, you may wish to use your personal email to ensure access.

Cookie Consent Banner by Real Cookie Banner
0