Geography...where are we?

When I was in high school, I took a geography course that consisted of memorizing the countries and their capitals.  We did about 10-20 countries a week.  Then, after we had completed that with a quiz everyday, adding 3-4 countries a day, we watched movies such as Remember the Titans about 3 times, Vertical Limit, and Shang Hi Noon (sp?).  Great movies for geography...however, all we did was watch them.  No discussion, no assignment, no activity...nothing.  This class was a complete example of how I will not be as a teacher. 

Geography isn't the most exciting of topics in Social Studies..but it can be exciting!  It is all in how you, as the teacher, make it!  Like we are doing class, the box city.  That is perfect for younger students to realize some of the components in geography that they can relate to.  So much more can be incorporated into studying geography such as different area's cultures, what the area looks like, feels like, and even smells like.  There are so many places in this world, and yes, knowing where they are located is important, but knowing more about the place and the components that make up that place, how to classify the place, what to look for and what to feel for is more important.  

In my class in high school, we went by continents when we studied the countries and their capitals, never their location in relation to the rest of the world.  I really couldn't tell you after that class where the Middle East was located or where exactly the countries were in relationship to the United States.  I do NOT want and will NOT let my students leave my classroom with the misconceptions or the importance about geography.

Videos!

To Be or Not to Be...Is that the question?

In our class on Monday, 10/04/2010, I enjoyed the plays we put on! Now, I am not good when it comes to getting up in front of classes...in front of children, not a problem...in front of peers, STAGE FRIGHT! I think there are few that can testify to this that were my storytelling class..mmhmm.  However, I think this is a great way for students to make History come to life and they will learn so much more than from reading the same story in a History book.  They will think, "Ok, Kathryn played Lord Greneville in the play..what did she do again?..Oh yeah! That was the character that..." That will help them on testing and other projects they would do.  I've got some videos of the other group doing the play on my phone that I will try to get up so we can have little snippets to remember. 

As Mrs. Meier and others said in class, definitely classes that we will be teaching will need more time to prepare for their performances.  Also, definitely give students that might not read as well or maybe shy (not that I know of anybody who is shy...) some parts with several reading lines so that they can practice and get more comfortable at being in front of their peers.

Woo! Great week in Social Studies..(That is what we want all OUR students to say, too!)

Speaking in a Critical Voice

When I think about Social Studies in my elementary school, middle school, and even in my AP U.S. History in high school, all I remember was worksheets.  I could count on every Monday in AP U.S. History we would have a study guide for a chapter, then Tuesday, he would go over the answers, Wednesday we had another study guide for the next chapter, then Thursday he would go over the answers, and then Friday would be a test.  Then, the pattern kept going. 

This article describes teachers with a lack of understanding, development, and/or use of critical voice.  "They did what they were told, what they had been taught, or what they themselves had experienced in their schooling."  I'm not saying worksheets and note taking aren't effective strategies, and is typically what has been done in the past, but not everyone learns that way.  In this article, none of the teachers spoke up to administrators, state officials, or school boards.  They wanted to play it safe and not cause a stir with new methods of teaching, thinking critically, or thinking outside the box. 

What better way of teaching Social Studies...interactive learning, analyzing different perspectives, or doing something fun, yet entertaining.  "Every teacher has to have a solid grasp of his assumptions about how people learn and how that translates into the kind of environment the teacher will provide."  "...if he [a teacher] doesn't know what his own beliefs are about teaching and learning, he shouldn't be teaching at all." 

Critical voice- taking the time to analyze directives, mandates, and messages from whatever the sources and then use that analysis to speak up about issues willingly and strongly to the power sources.  Don't have a critical voice? Learn to get one.