Knowledge, Comprehension and Motivation- thoughts to start the year!

The brilliant Nathan Burns ?came onto our pod this year, and I was listening to our chat the other day- it got me thinking about the intersection between knowledge and comprehension and the role of motivation within this. The more I read, research and listen, the connection between knowledge and comprehension is critical.

Nathan makes a particularly brilliant point here:

Five key thoughts to begin the year:

1. Knowledge is the foundation of comprehension; therefore, comprehension is an "END GOAL" not something practised in isolation.

Understanding any text relies heavily on the background knowledge you possess. The more you know, the easier it is to grasp new concepts. This means building a solid knowledge base is essential for effective reading comprehension.

2. Literacy is not just reading; it includes writing and oracy, and the three are deeply interconnected.

Writing reinforces knowledge and aids in deeper understanding. When students write, they retrieve and elaborate on what they know, enhancing their overall learning experience. This has to be about what Timothy Shanahan refers to as apprenticing our learners into our disciplines: in other words, ways of thinking, reading, writing and speaking to be successful in our domains. This should be a movement to empower colleagues to reclaim the mantle of the expert. Do follow The Oracy Shift. - it is OUTSTANDING!

3. Cognitive science principles are crucial for effective teaching.

Retrieval practice, interleaving, and spacing are all important concepts, but why? Because they facilitate one of Rosenshine's key principles: OBTAIN A HIGH SUCCESS RATE. Human nature teaches us that positivity breeds positivity, which are all methods of cognitively holding our learners' hands as they navigate our subjects.

I'm reminded of a BF Skinner quote here:

4. Avoid separating skills from knowledge.

Skills cannot stand alone; they require a rich knowledge base to be effective. Teaching comprehension strategies without simultaneously building knowledge can hinder students’ learning. Knowledge and skills must be taught in tandem.

5. Common content is vital for equitable learning.

To provide meaningful education, students should engage with shared content. This ensures that all students have access to the same foundational knowledge, which is crucial for their academic success. This requires careful planning about what we want our learners to know and comprehend.