8 July 2025
Reading isn’t just about sounding out words or passing your eyes over a page. It’s about making sense of what you’re reading. But have you ever paused mid-paragraph and thought, “Wait, what did I just read?” Chances are, the problem wasn’t just complex vocabulary or a confusing sentence—it may have been because you lacked the background knowledge to relate the information to. That’s where prior knowledge jumps in as the unsung hero of reading comprehension.
Let’s dig a little deeper and talk about why prior knowledge is such a game-changer when it comes to truly understanding what we read.
Prior knowledge refers to the information, experiences, beliefs, and even assumptions you already have stored in your brain before you read something new. Think of it like your mental toolbox. When you read, your brain naturally tries to connect the words you're seeing to what it already knows. If there’s more in your toolbox, you’ll likely build understanding quicker and better.
Imagine trying to read a book about quantum physics with zero understanding of basic science—it’s like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing. You might get a rough idea, but the big picture? It’s blurry at best.
Reading comprehension demands more than vocabulary. It requires context, mental models, and that “Oh! I get it!” moment that only comes when your brain links new info with something it already knows.
Let’s break this down with a simple analogy.
Think of reading as baking a cake. The recipe (words on the page) tells you what to do, but prior knowledge is your experience in the kitchen. Without it, you might follow the instructions but have no idea why baking powder is needed or what “fold in the eggs” even means. The result? A half-baked mess.
When you already know a bit about a subject, you can connect the dots faster. You understand cues, catch references, and read between the lines.
Let’s say you’re reading a news article about inflation and interest rates. If you’ve taken a basic economics class or have followed financial news, everything makes more sense. You recognize patterns, trends, and implications. Without that background? You’re probably lost in a sea of unfamiliar terms.
Prior knowledge acts like mental glue. It helps new details stick around longer because your brain doesn’t treat them as random data—it sees them as part of a larger puzzle you’ve already partly solved.
So, when you read about something you’re vaguely familiar with, you’re actually feeding your brain something it can organize and tuck away neatly.
But when a student reads about something they know—even a little—they feel more confident. They feel smart. And guess what? That encourages them to keep reading.
It’s like being at a party where you recognize a few familiar faces. You’re more likely to stick around and socialize.
Psychologists use the term “schema” to describe mental frameworks we build from experience. Schema theory says that when we encounter new information, we interpret it through these frameworks.
So, if you already have a schema for “volcanoes,” and you read a story about an island with a rumbling mountain, your brain immediately starts interpreting the clues. You expect lava, eruptions, maybe even evacuation.
Without that schema? The same story might feel vague or confusing.
That’s why prior knowledge isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Comprehension isn’t passive; it’s a mental dance between old knowledge and new information.
You can understand the literal meaning of the words, sure. But the deeper themes, character motivations, and symbolism? They’re way easier to grasp when you have a little background in your back pocket.
A reader with background knowledge can skim through and say, “Aha, this is similar to what happened in 2022,” or “Oh, I remember reading about that law.”
Ever wonder why students who keep up with lectures find reading easier? It’s not just repetition. It’s because their brains already have a framework to absorb and pin the new info onto.
Here’s how:
- Pre-teach vocabulary and concepts before diving into a new topic.
- Use visuals and real-world examples to make abstract ideas relatable.
- Encourage curiosity by letting students explore topics they’re passionate about.
- Create connections between old lessons and new material. “Remember when we talked about weather last month? Well, tornadoes are just one extreme form of weather…”
Prior knowledge acts like a guide, a translator, and even a detective, helping us uncover the full story hidden within the words. Without it, reading can feel like trying to find your way in the dark. With it? You’ve got a flashlight, a map, and a pretty solid sense of direction.
So whether you’re a student, a teacher, a parent, or just someone looking to make better sense of what you read—remember this: the more you bring to the table, the more you take away.
all images in this post were generated using AI tools
Category:
Reading ComprehensionAuthor:
Monica O`Neal