Why Don’t Kids Like School? Ch. 2

“We dredge up memories when we think of things that are related to what we’re trying to remember” (34). This quote explains that we don’t just pull information out of our brains randomly instead, we remember things by making connections to skills/facts already learned. When you think about a certain topic, our brains try to find related ideas, experiences, or knowledge, and those connections help us recall the memory. Overall, our learning is built on connections.

“Similarly, you may know all of the vocabulary words but lack the conceptual knowledge to knit the words together into something comprehensible.” (21) This quote emphasizes the importance that knowing individual facts or words is not enough for students to truly understand them. A student might recognize every word in a sentence, but if they don’t understand the actual concept, they won’t actually be able to fully learn and hold on to it. While vocabulary can be helpful, being able to fully understand the concepts is what makes learning possible.

“Background knowledge helps you understand what someone is talking about or writing.” This quote shows that comprehension depends on what we already know. When we read or listen to something, our brains use knowledge that we already have to understand and interpret the content. If you lack background knowledge on a topic, even something simple can feel confusing. If you already know something about the subject, understanding it becomes easier and faster.