Summer 2025
SUMMER READING SUGGESTION:
To Read Stuff You Have to Know Stuff: Helping Students Build and Use Prior Knowledge by Kelly Gallagher
“It is impossible NOT to apply prior knowledge while reading.” (p. 3)
It’s been proven again and again — strong readers have a robust pool of prior knowledge, including vocabulary, to rely upon when reading AND comprehending a new, unfamiliar text. In To Read Stuff You Have to Know Stuff, Gallagher, a passionate, accomplished, experienced English/Language Arts teacher, provides multiple, ready-to-implement strategies for teachers to use to build students’ prior knowledge at four levels:
- Words: How building knowledge helps students overcome word poverty
- Sentences and Passages: How building knowledge helps students comprehend shorter reading passages
- Articles: How building knowledge helps students read articles using a critical lens — an important tool in today’s digital world
- Books: How building knowledge moves students from shorter passages to reading and comprehending full-length books
This easy-to-read, enjoyable, and sometimes laugh-out-loud book is applicable for all educators regardless of the subject or students they teach — elementary, secondary, deaf education, special education, general education, ELAR, math, science, social studies, etc. I challenge you to read it and NOT get excited about the many ways you can build prior knowledge with students in fun, challenging, exciting ways!
Perfect for reading on the beach, in the mountains, on a plane, in a car, or in your favorite comfortable chair. Enjoy!
What tips, tricks, news, and resources would be helpful to YOU?
Please reach out and let me know!
Anne Darr, TAPED Director of Educators
adarr@esc11.net
817-740-3698