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Pima County Public Library Share Building Background Knowledge, An Essential Tool For Reading And Learning
The more information your child has about the world, the better reader they will be. This is called background knowledge.
March 11, 2021
As a parent, you are your child’s first and best teacher. You have the amazing and terrifying job of introducing your child to the world around them. The more information your child has about the world, the better reader they will be. This is called background knowledge.
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Building background knowledge helps us make sense of new concepts and experiences and leads to greater reading comprehension. Take advantage of your child’s natural curiosity about the world and give them multiple opportunities to learn. One way to build your child’s background knowledge is by reading together every day. Make it a habit to read all kinds of books that introduce your child to a variety of people, places, experiences, and ideas!
Here are a few activities and strategies for reading that will help build your child’s background knowledge. These tips work best for ages 3-5.
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Group words into categories
Talk about different kinds of footwear. Boots, flats, heels, platforms, sneakers- these are all kinds of shoes that we wear on our feet! Go on a scavenger hunt to find the different types of shoes in your house.
New Shoes New Shoes
Raschka, ChristopherRaschka, Christopher
Book, 2018Available View detailsView details for New Shoes, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd New ShoesBook by Raschka, Christopher to your for later shelfAdd New ShoesBook by Raschka, Christopher to a different shelf
Those Shoes Those Shoes
Boelts, Maribeth, 1964-Boelts, Maribeth, 1964-
Book, 2007Available View detailsView details for Those Shoes, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Those ShoesBook by Boelts, Maribeth to your for later shelfAdd Those ShoesBook by Boelts, Maribeth to a different shelf
Compare and contrast
Develop your child’s background knowledge and critical thinking skills by sorting objects into different categories. You can do this with many common household items, such as buttons, fruits and vegetables, toys, socks, silverware, and more! Compare and contrast fruits and vegetables, or ask your child to sort socks by color or size. Ask your child how they are alike and different. Let them come up with their own sorting categories, too, and ask them how they did it.
Gray Rabbit's Favorite Things Gray Rabbit's Favorite Things
a Book About SortingBaker, Alan, 1951-Baker, Alan, 1951-
Board Book, 2018Available View detailsView details for Gray Rabbit's Favorite Things, Board Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Gray Rabbit's Favorite ThingsBoard Book by Baker, Alan to your for later shelfAdd Gray Rabbit's Favorite ThingsBoard Book by Baker, Alan to a different shelf
Sam Sorts Sam Sorts
(one Hundred Favorite Things)Jocelyn, MartheJocelyn, Marthe
Book, 2017Available View detailsView details for Sam Sorts, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Sam SortsBook by Jocelyn, Marthe to your for later shelfAdd Sam SortsBook by Jocelyn, Marthe to a different shelf
Dive deep into your child’s interests
If your child loves a topic- read everything you can find about it together! Is your child fascinated by the natural world? Do they love animals? Do they wonder what grownups do all day? Here are a few books to enjoy together.
Planting a Rainbow Planting a Rainbow
Book, 1988Available View detailsView details for Planting A Rainbow, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Planting A RainbowBook by Ehlert, Lois to your for later shelfAdd Planting A RainbowBook by Ehlert, Lois to a different shelf
Lola planta un jardín Lola planta un jardín
McQuinn, AnnaMcQuinn, AnnaSpanish
Book, 2017Available View detailsView details for Lola planta un jardín, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Lola planta un jardínBook by McQuinn, Anna to your for later shelfAdd Lola planta un jardínBook by McQuinn, Anna to a different shelf
Lola Plants a Garden Lola Plants a Garden
Book, 2014Available View detailsView details for Lola Plants A Garden, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Lola Plants A GardenBook by McQuinn, Anna to your for later shelfAdd Lola Plants A GardenBook by McQuinn, Anna to a different shelf
Feathers and Hair Feathers and Hair
What Animals WearWard, Jennifer, 1963-Ward, Jennifer, 1963-
Book, 2017Available View detailsView details for Feathers and Hair, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Feathers and HairBook by Ward, Jennifer to your for later shelfAdd Feathers and HairBook by Ward, Jennifer to a different shelf
Baby Animals Playing Baby Animals Playing
Book, 2017Available View detailsView details for Baby Animals Playing, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Baby Animals PlayingBook by Eszterhas, Suzi to your for later shelfAdd Baby Animals PlayingBook by Eszterhas, Suzi to a different shelf
What Do Grown-ups Do All Day? What Do Grown-ups Do All Day?
Morgand, VirginieMorgand, Virginie
Book, 2016Available View detailsView details for What Do Grown-ups Do All Day?, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd What Do Grown-ups Do All Day?Book by Morgand, Virginie to your for later shelfAdd What Do Grown-ups Do All Day?Book by Morgand, Virginie to a different shelf
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do
Heling, KathrynHeling, Kathryn
Book, 2012Available View detailsView details for Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Clothesline Clues to Jobs People DoBook by Heling, Kathryn to your for later shelfAdd Clothesline Clues to Jobs People DoBook by Heling, Kathryn to a different shelf
-Davida, Children's Librarian, Joel D. Valdez Main Library
Sources
- Building Children's Background Knowledge and Thinking Skills
- Building Background Knowledge
- The Role of Background Knowledge
Read, Write, Talk, Sing, Play!
Reading helps children understand how text works and positions them to increase their language and literacy skills throughout their lives.
Read more about early literacy and how you can make a difference in your child's life.
This press release was produced by the Pima County Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
