It's all about the Experience!

Building background knowledge is not new to education, but with hustle and bustle of the classroom it can be forgotten. We have to think of the additive approach to language acquisition. What do my students, specifically our English Language Learners, already know that can help them access the information in their classroom.

This is easier said than done. Recently, many of us have noticed that students come with less language. This does not only refer to our ELs. The truth is that students might not be presented with the same experiences they once were. It is up to us to create these experiences for them to acquire the language they need to be successful.

Previewing the Unit and/or Text:

In order to be more successful in our language workshop lesson, it is recommended to preview the unit or text that may present unfamiliar language. We can do this by building our students background knowledge. 

In the district, we are fortunate to have some lessons created. If you have seen the form below, you might already be using them.

The one seen above is a unit overview for second grade. This is a quick mini lesson that you would present before beginning this unit. All of these planners include vocabulary and building background presentation. They also highlight language oral strategies you can use. They have not been created for all units nor for all grades. You may find a link to the template here. A sample lesson is linked here. If you are interested in these supports, contact you building coach or ESL teacher leader, they can provide you with more information.

Additional Tips:

1. Showing a visual (an image, a presentation, a film) on a related topic.
2. Conducting an experiment or hands on activity.
3. Going on a field trip (physically or virtually).
4. Asking students to bring something related to "show and tell."

Resources:

• Colorin Colorado
• Teaching Channel- Activating Prior Knowledge