Schema Theory

A schema is "an underlying organizational pattern or structure." (Schema, n.d.) In other words, it's how one conceives anything. For example, if you don't know what a book is, how would you know what its use is with no background knowledge of that particular item. On the other hand, if a resident of Planet X, who knows what a blassgort is, gives it to an Earthling, how would the human know what it is or how to use it (if it's even usable)?

Schema theory is how background knowledge, or schemata, is a determiner of comprehension. If your students don't have the necessary background knowledge they won't be able to understand what they are reading.

Transactive Theory of Reading

Every reading of a document is a transactive process. In other words, there is a give and take of information between the writer and the reader, and the product of each reading is different. The students' background knowledge (schemata) increases through discussion of the topic, reviewing other sources of information, and rereading the text.

For example, before going on a field trip to the zoo, a second grade class reads about all the animals they'll see. As a result of the trip, their background information on those creatures has changed. The next reading will be a new transaction.