Readers bring information from what they already know from their experiences about the topic, type of text, and purpose for reading, to connect with what they are reading. This increases their understanding of the text and helps them anticipate what will happen next.
If you see readers who . . .
Using prior knowledge can help students connect their own experiences with the text to anticipate, better understand, and make sense of what they are reading.
When you are reading, pause before and during the reading of the text to relate what you are reading to what you already know.
Have you ever read a story and been amazed at the many ways the text reminds you of things you already know or have experienced? Before I read a story, I try to use my prior knowledge to connect with text. I look at the cover and see if it reminds me of anything from my own life. Then I begin reading and think about ways that I am like the characters. I notice ways that our lives and experiences are the same. My prior knowledge and experiences help me make connections and enable me to understand the text better.
We might think about other books we have read that remind us of the one we are reading. Recalling other books by the same author can be helpful, too, because authors often write about similar topics or characters in their books. It is important for readers to connect with the text because it helps them understand and remember what they are reading.
Suggested language:
Possible ways to differentiate instruction:
Reconsider materials, setting, instruction, and cognitive processes.
These strategies may provide support before, during, and after teaching this strategy:
Want to hear about this strategy from a student's perspective? Let Kid Teacher, Miss Hadley, tell you—in her own words—how this strategy helps her grow as a reader. We think it will help your students too!
Each book below has a coordinating lesson with an explicit example to teach this strategy. Select a book cover below, then download the lesson to see for yourself. At The Daily CAFE these were called Lit Lessons.
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