To expose a child to information is very different than expecting the child to learn the information. Exposure to information grows the child’s background knowledge. The more background knowledge a child has - the more knowledge he can draw upon in learning new concepts.
Sequenced curriculums lay a lot of background knowledge in the primary grades. This knowledge enables students to quickly grasp newer and more complex concepts in the higher grades.
Because Background Knowledge is stored information it makes remembering and learning easier to recall. Comprehension, problem solving abilities and accurate inference are aided by the treasure of background knowledge that can be drawn upon. An example of background knowledge might be the early exposure to simple diagramming or Latin root words. Using the Latin root words as a game, instead of tested material, will allow the memory to retain and categorize this knowledge. This is because positive emotion (a fun game) sends information directly to the limbic area (center of memory), whereas negative emotion shuts it down. Remember, learning and meaning are driven by emotions.
Building of background knowledge is very important to keep in mind when teaching children. When teaching materials, it might be worthwhile to ask;
* Is this material worth being familiar with? or
* Is this material important to know & do? or
* Is this material important for enduring understanding?
