Background Knowledge
Knowledge begets knowledge — students draw upon what they already know to master new vocabulary and content. The articles in this section discuss why background knowledge is so important and offer ways to build this knowledge.
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Use Easy Nonfiction to Build Background Knowledge
A Texas librarian shares his strategy of using nonfiction picture books to introduce new concepts to struggling adolescent readers and to build their background knowledge. Once students have been exposed to academic content in easy reading material, they are more confident in making the transition to textbooks.
Adolescent Literacy: Where We Are Now?
This essay summarizes adolescent literacy interventions and trends, and its relation to dropout rates.
Adolescents and Literacy: Reading for the 21st Century
This report reviews and analyzes existing research on effective literacy instruction and the impact of successful literacy programs for students in grades 4-12.
Urgent but Overlooked: The Literacy Crisis Among Adolescent English Language Learners
English language learners represent more than 10% of the national pre-K through 12th grade enrollment. Also, over 70% of ELLs fail to develop strong literacy skills. To increase this group's educational, college, and job opportunities, policymakers must address the unique ELL literacy questions.
How Knowledge Helps
The author, a professor of cognitive psychology, notes, "it's true that knowledge gives students something to think about, but… knowledge does much more than just help students hone their thinking skills, it actually makes learning easier." Factual knowledge enhances cognitive processes like problem solving and reasoning, and once you have some knowledge, the brain finds it easier to get more and more knowledge.
How to Know a Good Adolescent Literacy Program When You See One: Quality Criteria to Consider
Literacy programs seem to have sprung up everywhere, but how can you tell the good ones from the bad ones? This guide identifies the key elements to consider in evaluating adolescent literacy programs.
