The Impact of World Knowledge

Knowledge, like Velcro, sticks best to other related knowledge.

-Natalie Wexler

What is World Knowledge?

World knowledge is the knowledge a person learns about the world around them. We gain this knowledge any time we go out into the world and explore new things and places. World knowledge, also known as background knowledge, is built any time we see something new, learn a new sport, watch a new show, or go to a new place.

Is World Knowledge Important?

Extremely. For decades, research has proven the power of background knowledge on reading comprehension. Studies show that background knowledge significantly enhances reading comprehension. The famous baseball study is well-known to many and highlights this finding. New learning needs an anchor in order to become filed in our long-term memory. These experiences and background knowledge provide that anchor, allowing students to connect new learning to old knowledge, synthesizing and solidifying the knowledge.

What Can Educators Do to Help?

Educators play a vital role in developing a child’s knowledge. We should be using our classroom time to share experiences and knowledge with students and expose them to worlds they might not be a aware of. Teachers also have the ability to explicitly teach children how to use their background knowledge to further their learning and grow their thinking. It is not enough to say, “What do you know about ______?” before reading a text. We must go deeper and apply that new knowledge to the old. Help students anchor that new learning and then help them practice going back and retrieving that information when needed. The more times a child can “pull that book off the shelf” and use it, the more solidified the learning will become.

What Can Parents Do to Help?

Parents have a unique opportunity to not only build their children’s background knowledge, but in doing so, create memorable experiences to share and bond over. These experiences do not have to be expensive, in fact there is a world of opportunities out there that are free of charge! Parents can take their children to the park, the beach, the city, the country. Take a drive and just see where it takes you. Explore your city. Go to the zoo. Find free events happening around you and make plans to attend. If you have internet access, find videos and virtual field trips to check out with your child. Talk to them about what interests them. Take them to a baseball game, hockey game, soccer game. The more we can engage with the world and share it with your child, the more they will learn and grow.

Final Thoughts

As I leave you with these final thoughts, I hope that you find joy in exploring the world around you with your child in hand.