How will you and your mentor teacher establish prior knowledge?

To establish prior knowledge, my mentor teacher and I will engage in discussions with the students to gauge their understanding of the topic at hand. We may also use pre-assessments, quizzes, or informal questioning to assess what the students already know. Additionally, we may review relevant concepts or materials from previous lessons to help refresh the students' memories and build connections to the new material. By actively involving the students in the process of establishing prior knowledge, we can better tailor our instruction to meet their needs and ensure a more successful learning experience.

Establishing Prior Knowledge with a Mentor Teacher

1. Student Assessment:

- Review student records, such as standardized test scores and previous report cards, to gauge their existing knowledge and skills.
- Conduct informal assessments, such as pre-tests or class discussions, to assess students' understanding of key concepts.

2. Collaboration and Discussion:

- Engage in open communication with the mentor teacher to discuss students' learning history and any identified gaps in knowledge.
- Share observations and insights from your interactions with students to inform the mentor teacher's understanding of their prior knowledge.

3. Student Interviews:

- Conduct brief interviews with students to gain direct insights into their understanding of the topic being taught.
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences related to the subject matter.

4. Learning Contracts:

- Create personalized learning contracts for students that identify their prior knowledge and areas where they need support.
- This allows students to set goals and take ownership of their learning journey.

5. Knowledge Organizers:

- Develop graphic representations, such as mind maps or concept webs, that visually depict students' prior knowledge and connect it to new concepts.
- Display these organizers in the classroom or provide them to students for reference.

6. Prior Knowledge Activities:

- Design activities that explicitly activate students' prior knowledge. For example:
- KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learned) charts
- Think-pair-share activities
- Concept mapping
- Retrieval practice exercises

7. Continuous Monitoring:

- Regularly check for student understanding throughout lessons and provide timely feedback or additional support as needed.
- Adjust instruction based on students' demonstrated prior knowledge and progress.

8. Collaboration with Parents/Guardians:

- Engage with parents or guardians to gather information about students' home environment and support them in reinforcing prior knowledge.