How to Teach Background Knowledge for Reading Comprehension in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series

How do you teach first graders to use background knowledge while reading? In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson shares a simple, first-grade-friendly way to introduce background knowledge, also called schema, as a reading comprehension strategy.

Robin shares how she begins with a big-brain anchor chart and asks one simple question: “What do you know?” As students share everything from dinosaurs to Minecraft and Roblox, they begin to understand that their brains are already filled with knowledge from their experiences, learning, and reading.

Then Robin takes the strategy to a book. After reading, students draw and write about one thing they already know about the topic, creating a simple bridge from thinking and talking to writing about reading.

You'll also hear why activating background knowledge doesn't need to be complicated and how this simple strategy helps young readers understand an important truth: their brains should be thinking while they read.

Plus, Robin shares a little peek at something new she's beginning to develop behind the scenes for her Writing About Reading approach.

🎁 FREE Background Knowledge Worksheet

Use the same simple activity Robin describes in this episode with your own students. Students draw what they already know inside the brain and then write about one of their ideas.

GET THE FREEBIE HERE

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