Reading Strategy: Activate Background Knowledge

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Reading Strategy Activate Background Knowledge
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Activating your Background knowledge is an
important reading strategy.
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I use what I know, to understand what I read.
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Readers comprehend better when they actively
think about and apply their knowledge of the
topic, their own experiences, and the world
around them. strategies that work by Stephanie
Harvey and Anne Goudvis
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• Before reading, take a minute to think about what
  you already know about the reading topic.
• Activate, or turn-on, your prior knowledge -
  what you already know.
• New information will stick better if you first
  activate your prior knowledge about the topic.

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Background Knowledge can be used to increase
comprehension

• use prior knowledge to make a connection
• activate memories, personal experiences, and
  information about the subject
• recall factual information to help you understand
  why an event is taking place
• remember another story with a similar plot to
  enable you to anticipate action

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As an example of why background knowledge is so
important, go to the next page and follow the
directions.
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Read the following passage.The Batsmen were
merciless against the Bowlers. The bowlers
placed their men in slips and covers. But to no
avail. The Batsmen hit one hour after another
along with an occasional six. Not once did their
balls hit their stumps or get caught.
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Answer the following questions.1. Who were
merciless against the Bowlers?2. Where did the
Bowlers place their men?3. Was this strategy
successful?4. Who hit the occasional six?5.
How many times did the Batemens balls hit the
stump?
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Answers1. The Batsmen2. Slips and covers3.
No4. The Batsmen5. zero
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How did you do?Did you get all the questions
correct? If so, then you successfully read the
passage, but did you comprehend what you read?
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If I asked you to tell me what this passage is
about, to share your comprehension, could you do
it?
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If you could, then your background knowledge
provided the information needed to read and
comprehend. Reading and Comprehension are not
the same thing!!!
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Comprehension is what allows us to understand
and learn from what we read.
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One of the biggest predictors of Reading
comprehension is background knowledge. What
background knowledge is needed to understand
the passage we just read?
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The sport of Cricket!!!
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If you have background knowledge of Cricket, then
you understood what you read. If you did not
know about Cricket, then you read, but probably
did not comprehend.
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So next time you read anything, use the
knowledge youve been gaining every minute of
every day since you were born.
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If you do not have background knowledge on the
topic you will be reading about, here are some
things you can do.
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• Preview the reading and explore text features
  that will give you valuable information
  (headings, subheadings, bold face, bullets,
  pictures/captions, sidebars, etc.).
• Ask questions of the teacher, other students, and
  your parents.
• Discuss the topic with others to gain knowledge.
• Look up a word(s) you dont know.
• Research the topic at the library or on a website.

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Building background knowledge will increase your
reading comprehension.
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For successful reading, remember to activate your
Background Knowledge, Before, during, and after
reading.
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Bibliography

• Harvey, S., Goudvis, A. Strategies That Work.
  Stenhouse Publishers. 2000.
• Tovani, C. I Read It But I Dont Get It
  Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers.
  Stenhouse Publishers. 2000.