You want your 8th graders to make connections. You’ve assigned them an essay requiring them to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. And you’re ready to collect their rough drafts. Good.
 
Question: How can you help your students make better connections?
 
Answer: By having them reflect on the connections they made in their rough drafts. How? By asking them to respond to these questions:

• What connections did you make?
• What’s satisfying/unsatisfying about your connections?
• What helps you make connections?
• What question do you want to ask me about your connections?

Ask your students to write responses to these questions. Then, ask them to staple their responses to their rough drafts. Tell them you’ll answer the question they asked you about their connections.
 
Help your students make connections. Ask them questions. Today.