Episode 173: Quick Q&A: What Are Funds of Knowledge and How Are They Related to Background Knowledge?

Funds of Knowledge are the skills and knowledge gained by daily routines and practices, as well as cultural and historical interactions. It’s the social and cultural “stuff” that students know through personal experiences.  Background knowledge is the amount of information or knowledge someone has on a topic. Both funds of knowledge and background knowledge give us connection points for learning, and they’re both considered types of prior knowledge. So what does this mean for instruction? We should leverage our students' - and families’ - funds of knowledge when possible. We can use students' funds of knowledge and continue to build background knowledge on topics of study. ResourcesEpisode 170: All About Read-Alouds with Molly Ness  Funds of Knowledge Toolkit from Washington state Funds of Knowledge for TeachingLooking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com.Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at [email protected].