A book about going to camp or sleeping in a tent might bring up a vision of cozy tents and bonfires for one child, while another child may think of  living in a makeshift refugee camp with unsanitary and crowded conditions. We can never assume that all children come to us with the same experiences and background knowledge.  Taking the time to activate prior knowledge and fill in any gaps in experience and understanding can be vital to student success, especially for our students with limited prior schooling.

Teacher Tips and Strategies to activate prior knowledge and provide context for English Language Learners:

When we provide appropriate scaffolds for our English Language Learners, ALL students in the classroom benefit.