Building Background: Beyond the Textbook

KNOWLDEGE IS POWER

Building Background KnowledgeBeyond the TextbookBy Alicia TheadoreInstructor, UCI International ProgramsATHEADORE@gmail.comATHEADORE@gmail.com1

Stay for this presentation if youTeach reading, vocabulary, speaking, listening or writingAre frustrated with your students lack of background knowledgeWant your students to be ready for academic lectures and readingATHEADORE@gmail.com2

Stay for this presentation if youWant your students to be able to use critical thinkingThey cannot talk about what they dont knowWant to build confidence in your students as intelligent communicatorsATHEADORE@gmail.com3

About me15 years of experience working with international studentsFull-time Instructor UCI Academic ESL ProgramReading Curriculum CoordinatorLead Teacher for the ESL Commons ProjectEmphasis on appealing to different learning styles, strong emphasis on technology in the classroomATHEADORE@gmail.com4

What do I mean by background knowledge?Not schema or prior knowledge = cursory knowledgeBuilding contextual knowledgeProviding opportunities for scaffoldingPerfect for classroomsflippedATHEADORE@gmail.com5

Why should students and teachers develop BK?ATHEADORE@gmail.com6

Some ideas: enhance bottom up/top down reading, improve memory/vocab, helps with test prep, overall academic success6

Most important reason for developing BKAccording to research, what students already know about the content is one of the strongest indicators of how well they will learn new information relative to the content. (Marzano 2004)Pre-reading vocabulary activities are not enough. (Ajideh 2003)ATHEADORE@gmail.com7

Increases academic successImproves standardized test scoresExpands cultural knowledgeIncreases job successATHEADORE@gmail.com8

What methods can you use in your classroom to build BK?By yourself, make a list of at least 3 things you can do to build context. (30 seconds)ATHEADORE@gmail.com930 seconds

What methods can you use in your classroom to build BK?With a partner, make a list of at least 6 things you can do to build context. No repeats! Underline them. (1 min.)ATHEADORE@gmail.com101 min.

What methods can you use in your classroom to build BK?Turn to a new partner, add to your list to create at least 12 things you can do to build context. No repeats! Underline them. (1 min.)ATHEADORE@gmail.com111 min.

Ways to Enhance Background Knowledge

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General tips:Use a variety of techniques for each unit.Use multimodal techniques.Provide (virtual) enrichment opportunities.Make context relevant to what they already know, every day life, or future goals.ATHEADORE@gmail.com13

General tips continuedAcknowledge overlapping knowledge areas.Provide rewards for accuracy.Be explicit about the activity and its benefit to students learning.ATHEADORE@gmail.com14

1-2-3 MethodStart with students working by themselves. Set a reasonable quantity and time limit to brainstorm what they already know.ATHEADORE@gmail.com15

1-2-3 MethodAfter the time limit, put students in pairs (or small groups). Acknowledge overlapping knowledge but encourage expansion of ideas. Increase time limit.ATHEADORE@gmail.com16

1-2-3 MethodAfter that time limit, get students in larger groups (or skip to step 4). Acknowledge overlapping knowledge but encourage expansion of ideas. Increase time limit again.ATHEADORE@gmail.com17

1-2-3 Method continuedDebrief as a class. Use a Venn diagram, table or list and categorize if possible. Underline items repeated across groups. This is where their BK overlaps.

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1-2-3 Method continuedSave the info! After the unit/lesson and before the test, show the students what they knew, add what they learned. ATHEADORE@gmail.com19

Your Turn!By yourself, make a list of at least 3 inventions and who invited them. (30 seconds)With a partner, make a list of at least 6 inventions and who invited them. (1 min.)Turn to a new partner, make a list of at least 12 inventions and who invited them. (2 min.)Your Topic: InventionsUnderline repeats but you must come up with 6-12 different inventions. ATHEADORE@gmail.com20

Brainstorming Ball TossHave a small (soft) ball students can throw to each other.Get students in a circle (if possible).Teacher stands at the board to act as recorder.Collect as many of the words/phrases as you can as students say them.ATHEADORE@gmail.com21

Brainstorming Ball Toss continuedGive the activity a time limit.When finished, ask students to help categorize ideas.ATHEADORE@gmail.com22

Brainstorming Ball TossStudent Rules: Students form a circle.Toss the ball to a student at least 2 people away from you.Dont need to use complete sentencesDont repeat ideas if possibleATHEADORE@gmail.com23

Brainstorming Ball Toss continuedStudent Rules: Ideas should be related be ready to explainBe positive and supportive!In large classes, make two circles with one student from each acting as secretary.ATHEADORE@gmail.com24

Your Turn!Student Rules: Students form a circle.Toss the ball to a student at least 2 people away from you.Dont need to use complete sentencesDont repeat ideas if possibleIdeas should be related be ready to explainBe positive and supportive!Your Topic: space and the galaxyATHEADORE@gmail.com25

Photo GalleryFind and print pictures about your topic (in color preferably).Number and place them around the room.Give students a handout with questions (individually or as a team).Students move around the room to check the pictures and find the answers to the handout.ATHEADORE@gmail.com26

Photo GalleryDebrief as a class, what was surprising or new? which answers did you already know? what is still true or used today?Change it up! Make it a jigsaw activity. ATHEADORE@gmail.com27

Photo Gallery Your Turn!Notice the small papers with numbers on them around the roomYou have 5 minutes to walk around the room and find all 12 pictures.Write down the answers to the 12 questions on the handout. GO!ATHEADORE@gmail.com28The first 3 people who completely and correctly answer the questions see me to get a prize!

STOP

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Sequential Internet SearchFind it give students suggested search phrases.Picture it find a meme that reflects the topic. What does the meme explain about it?Watch it send students to YouTube, TedEd, Khan Academy, Teacher Tube, etc. to research a topic. Read it supply news websites or actual links to a news story about the topic. For lower level students, find kid-friendly sites.ATHEADORE@gmail.com30

Sequential Internet Search TipsReflects what students do every dayProvide a handout for guidanceProvide 2-3 choicesGives students a sense of control Provides a shared learning opportunity when debriefingATHEADORE@gmail.com31

Sequential Internet Search SampleFIND ITUse Google, Bing or another search engine.Try one of these search phrases. Focus on news or informative sites (not movies, etc.)dinosaurs, sauropod, theropod, Jurassic PeriodATHEADORE@gmail.com32

Sequential Internet Search SampleFIND ITSkim the first 3 articles you find to learn what you can. You have 2 minutes.Turn to a partner and discuss for 2 minutesWhat did you learn? Was anything new or surprising? Was there any information you already knew?ATHEADORE@gmail.com33

Sequential Internet Search Sample PICTURE ITLook carefully at the picture and textTalk with your partner for 2 minutes:Can you guess the meaning of unknown words? What do the words tell you about the animals?ATHEADORE@gmail.com34

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Sequential Internet Search Sample WATCH ITWatch the short video and answer the questions on your handout. Talk with a partner for 2 minutes:What did you learn? Was anything new or surprising? Was there any information you already knew?ATHEADORE@gmail.com36

Sequential Internet Search Sample WATCH IT10 Things About Dinosaurs You Did Know about Dinosaurs (2:28, Top 10)How Did Feathers Evolve? (3:26, Ted Ed)ATHEADORE@gmail.com37

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1. Guided Internet Search

2. Meme SearchLevel 5ATHEADORE@gmail.com40

3. Video Search

4. Reading JournalLevel 5ATHEADORE@gmail.com41

Virtual Tours Tips:There are hundreds of free virtual toursGoogle maps street view can serve as virtual toursProvide a handout for guidance.ATHEADORE@gmail.com42

Virtual tours Your TurnGo to Smithsonian NMNH Virtual Tour Dinosaurshttp://paleobiology.si.edu/dinosaurs/interactives/tour/main.htmlWork with a partner to complete the questions.The first 3 pairs who completely and correctly answer the questions see me to get a prize!ATHEADORE@gmail.com43

Works CitedAjideh, P. (2003). Schema Theory-based Pre-reading Tasks: A neglected essential in the ESL reading class. The Reading Matrix, 3, 1. http://www.readingmatrix.com/articles/ajideh/article.pdf Marzano, R.J. (2004). Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools. ASCD. Retrieved from Google books. Inventors images from http://cdn.firstcry.com/brainbees/images/products/zoom/81166a.jpg ATHEADORE@gmail.com44

Suggested ResourcesVideosTop 10 YouTube ChannelSciShow YouTube Channel Animal PlanetNatGeo.comReading

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