Schema (Prior Knowledge).

Schema is also called Prior Knowledge.  It's everything we know about something.  It includes all of our experiences, our knowledge, things we've seen, done and heard. It's always growing and no one can take it away.

I demonstrated how schema works/ happens with a lint roller. Just like our brain, it picks up everything which makes up our schema.

Students practiced activating their schema before reading a book. We do it daily as a class.  The students love to share their schema.  (They have lots of connections from their daily lives!) Students are practicing it independently and in partners with every book they read.  Encourage them to share their schema at home while reading as well.