When beginning a lesson, which strategy should a teacher use if unsure about students' prior knowledge?

Building students' background knowledge is the most effective strategy when a teacher is unsure about their students' prior knowledge. This approach allows the teacher to assess and enhance students’ understanding of key concepts necessary for grasping new content. By explicitly addressing and activating prior knowledge, the teacher can identify any gaps in understanding and provide necessary scaffolding to support learning.

This strategy is essential because it fosters connections between what students already know and what they are about to learn, making the new material more accessible and engaging. It also sets the stage for deeper learning by encouraging students to relate new information to their existing knowledge, thereby increasing retention and comprehension.

In contrast, introducing advanced topics could overwhelm students who lack foundational understanding, skipping the introduction entirely may lead to confusion and disengagement, while relying solely on lecture-based teaching does not actively engage students in the learning process. Therefore, building background knowledge is crucial for creating a solid foundation for student learning and ensuring that every learner is equipped to succeed.