From the course: Teaching Complex Topics

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Develop background knowledge

Develop background knowledge

From the course: Teaching Complex Topics

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Develop background knowledge

- In this lesson, we will focus on another vital component in the lesson-planning process: developing background knowledge. Our goal as a teacher is to ensure that all students transform their knowledge into useable knowledge. This means that students must comprehend the material so well, that they can apply or use their knowledge in new or unfamiliar situations. One of the ways to help students build their comprehension of any topic, is to ensure that they have the necessary background knowledge. We have to remember that students will come to us having various levels of background knowledge, based on their culture, upbringing, interests, and socioeconomic status. Just as we discussed with vocabulary, we need to make sure that we aren't just discussing background knowledge, but that we are taking steps to fully develop background knowledge. I remember teaching second grade and reading a story about a three-ring circus. I knew that this was an experience that most students had not had.…

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