Knowledge Ignites Literacy and Learning

Knowledge about the world fuels a child’s reading comprehension and critical thinking. We share stories from schools that use “knowledge-building” curricula from the earliest grades to inspiring effect.

A student gazes up with a smile
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New model legislative language from our Scientific Advisory Committee

Just in time for legislative sessions happening across the country, our Scientific Advisory Committee offers model language for the next generation of state reading legislation to ensure reading comprehension receives attention alongside foundational reading skills.

Knowledge Matters Review Tool adds Early Childhood Essentials

Recognizing that many who review curriculum for elementary classrooms are also in a position to support curricular decisions by early childhood programs, we’ve added a dimension to the Review Tool – what we’re calling “Early Childhood Essentials”- that highlights the critical connection between a child’s oral language development and their success in learning to read.

Every student deserves a knowledge-building literacy curriculum

To develop students’ reading comprehension muscles from the earliest grades, leading schools use English language arts (ELA) curricula that are carefully designed to build background knowledge in science, history, literature, and the arts, alongside sound foundational skills instruction.

Introducing all young children to rich disciplinary content and vocabulary levels the playing field for learning. Knowledge is like an interest-bearing savings account: the more you know, the faster you learn. Therefore, growing knowledge about the natural and human world in the early grades is an essential equity investment, and it sets the stage for a lifetime of critical inquiry and analysis.

Follow our School Tour into classrooms

Our Knowledge Matters School Tour has traveled the country visiting schools that use knowledge-building curricula, and we have been inspired in each district!

Hear classroom stories in our collection of School Tour videos and feature articles.

Learn more about the reasons #KnowledgeMatters

We collected helpful resources for understanding the importance of background knowledge to literacy and learning.