What is background knowledge for ELL students?

Background knowledge for English Language Learner (ELL) students refers to the information and experiences they have accumulated over time, which can play a crucial role in their learning process. This includes everything they have learned prior to their schooling, including cultural experiences, personal history, and any relevant information from their home language or culture.

The focus of background knowledge is that it serves as a foundation upon which new knowledge can be built. When teachers provide clarifications that facilitate understanding of new material, they help ELL students to connect new concepts to their existing knowledge. This scaffolding is essential, as it enables learners to make sense of unfamiliar material through the lens of what they already know. The more teachers can tie in students’ background knowledge to lessons, the better students can comprehend and engage with new ideas.

The context surrounding this concept highlights the importance of connecting new information to what students have previously experienced, where earlier assumptions or knowledge can enrich the learning of new topics. Understanding the diverse backgrounds of ELL students also highlights the significance of differentiated instruction that caters to varied experiences and knowledge bases.