Activating prior knowledge is crucial to a child's academic success. Students learn so much more effectively when the information they are being taught can be integrated into a preexisting schema. There are many ways to tap into a student's prior knowledge. One way that I like to start off a new lesson is by simply asking the students what they know about a topic. This allows me to gauge their level of awareness and determine any preconceptions or misconceptions. It also begins a much needed dialogue. Next, I really enjoy using KWL (know/ want to know/ learned) charts. This invaluable tool enlightens the teacher as to what the students already know and what they want to know about a subject. This can be (and should be) very influential to ones' lesson planning. I have used this tool on many occasions and will continue to do so in my future classroom.
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