Best Practice: Activate Prior Knowledge

Suitability

Recommended Domains:

Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

Recommended Levels:

Entering (1) through Reaching (6)

Description

All students, including MLs, learn better when they connect new material they are learning to what they already know. Teachers can encourage students to think about what they already know about a topic or concept, or share experiences with that topic. Some students may have NO prior knowledge with a topic. For these students, it is crucial to build prior knowledge before the lesson.

Observability

What it Sounds Like in the Classroom

Teacher

Student

What do you know about pumpkins?

What can you tell me about the Civil Rights Movement?

I already know pumpkins are orange and have seeds.

I know MLK was part of the Civil Rights movement.

What it Looks Like in the Classroom

Teacher

Student

Posing questions to discuss about upcoming topic

Initiating a graphic organizer to document prior knowledge like KWL, Anticipation Charts. Using Multimedia and Preparatory Texts.

Brainstorming ideas, discussing with peers, journaling responses.

Completing graphic organizers independently/with a group, or in shared writing activity with the teacher.

Timeliness

When should the accommodation be removed?

Research-based best practices are strategies that can be quickly implemented within daily instruction, activities, and classroom assessmentsnot. They are essential for multilingual learners at all proficiency levels and highly beneficial to all students, including non-MLs. Therefore, they should be observed frequently across most lessons.

Additional Links

https://www.edutopia.org/article/activating-prior-knowledge-english-language-learners

https://www.colorincolorado.org/faq/how-do-you-build-background-knowledge

https://www.readingrockets.org/article/accessing-students-background-knowledge-ell-classroom

https://learn.teachingchannel.com/video/activating-prior-knowledge

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