Why Is Building Knowledge Important in Literacy Learning?

There is a reason the saying “knowledge is power” is so common. Knowledge is the key to understanding how the world works from the natural wonders of the planet to how society functions. It’s no different when it comes to the importance of bringing background knowledge to literacy learning. 

Background knowledge, also known as prior knowledge, is information students already know about a subject before a new learning experience. While student can learn background knowledge during class, a lot of times students build their knowledge through day-to-day interactions outside the classroom. Background knowledge often runs parallel to traditional learning skills, but both are essential for academic success. 

The Science Behind Background Knowledge

In 1988, researchers Donna Recht and Lauren Leslie conducted an experiment known as the baseball study. Students were assessed first as strong or weak readers then as having high or low baseball knowledge. The students then read a passage about a baseball game and were asked to recount what they read. The results showed that no matter how skilled they were at reading, students who had background knowledge of baseball had a better understanding of the passage. 

The Benefits of Background Knowledge

Learning is Easier             

As the baseball study showed, students understand more when they already have some context about what they’re reading. The more students know about a subject, the more they can learn, which leads to more knowledge and more learning. It’s a cycle that leads to richer and more enjoyable learning. 

Increase Reading Comprehension

Background knowledge and reading comprehension go hand in hand. When students approach a text with familiarity about the subject, they can quickly comprehend key ideas and interpret context without getting bogged down by unfamiliar terms or concepts. Background knowledge acts as a framework that students can use to connect new information to what they already know, deepening their reading comprehension. 

Fills in Gaps

As students grow and texts become more complicated, writers stop explaining basic concepts, trusting the reader to be able to fill in the gaps and make assumptions based off their background knowledge. Let’s go back to the baseball example. If an article is giving a recap of the latest game, they don’t have time to explain how the game works. Students not only need to rely on prior knowledge, but also need to have the skills to make inferences based on what they read. 

Builds Confidence

It’s frustrating for students to read a text and not understand it. They will not only lose interest, but also begin to doubt their skills as a reader and lack the motivation to learn. But when students understand what they are reading, they become more confident readers. Learning becomes fun, especially if they find a topic they are interested in. Sometimes that confidence can turn into passion. 

How to Develop Background Knowledge

Knowledge comes from anywhere and everywhere. People learn from places they’ve been, texts they’ve read, videos they’ve watch, and conversations they’ve had. Everyone’s knowledge is different. Here are some ways to encourage knowledge growth in the classroom: 

• Discussions encourage students to share what they know and where they learned it, giving their classmates a chance to learn from their experiences. 
• KWL charts are also fantastic ways to determine what students already know, what they are interested in, and evaluate what they have learned.
• Multiple entry points can encourage students to do their own research and dig deeper into the materials.

Build Background Knowledge with Interactive Read-Aloud 

Our Interactive Read-Aloud Collection is a perfect place to start building background knowledge. Each of our text sets are connected around a central theme or subject, giving students multiple entry points to dig deeper into a topic. With diverse authors and illustrators, our stories encourage students to think about different perspectives. Students can have meaningful discussions while building their background knowledge, improving their comprehension and expanding their vocabulary.