Strategies for Habit 2 Activate Background Knowledge

Our brains are wired to make connections.  I often describe students' brains like sophisticated filing cabinets and each file is cross referenced with multiple tags so that content is well connected.

When planning lessons it is essential to structure content so that students can make connections; educators call this activating background knowledge.  Students need to see, experience the connections to make meaning out of new content.

I collected a few strategies - some tried and true, some new ...

Stimulating Interest; Developing Curiosity

• Anticipation Guides can stimulate discussion before a unit begins.
• True/False questions can be used for 2-corner voting.
• Start with I notice ... I wonder sessions.

Building knowledge, making connections through vocabulary

• Mathematics Word Wall is a creative collection of math words.
• Vocabulary Cards Set 1 and Set 2 are illustrated cards.
• Vocabulary Activities ... ways to use word walls.

Scaffold learning

• Use paired learning, Think, Pair, Share to support new learning.
• Use thinking aloud to support learners.
• Clarify learning targets and criteria for success.

How do you activate background knowledge?

I started delving into Teaching Numeracy: 9 Critical Habits to Ignite Mathematical Thinking this week.  The introduction caught my attention because I spent a chunk of my career in elementary school.  There, much attention is given to teaching reading strategies to students like fix up strategies, thinking strategies, making connections and more.  Authors Pearse and Walton take those ideas and apply them to math.

Yes, the book is written primarily for K-8 teachers.  But strategies can often be applied to a wide range of audiences and I want to make connections from the book to my high school class!

Pearse, M., & Walton, K. (2011). Habit 1: Monitor and Repair Understanding. In Teaching numeracy: 9 critical habits to ignite mathematical thinking. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.