Geography...themes and elements!

Concepts of Geography

The Concepts of geography and ideas of how to teach geography!

This week we learned about concepts of Geography and the 5 themes and 6 elements. 

5 Themes:
Theme 1: Location/ Position
- Town or a city. Urban or Rural area.
Theme 2: Region
-How the regions corm and change
- Part of the Earths Surface that has similar 
Theme 3: Interaction
-Having an impact on places, each other and the environment.
Theme 4: Movement
- Human interaction with the earth.
-The flow of information, elements of nature, people and production.
Theme 5: Environment
- How regions form and why they change or simply the physical surroundings and conditions.

The five themes of geography:
Tell what is happening, how it effects you and others throughout the world
It provides generalizations made in the geographical point of view.

There are six elements of Geography!

Element 1: The world is Spatial Terms

- Teaching students how to use maps or geographic representations, and giving students the tools and technology to report information from a spatial perspective.
- Teaching students how to use mental maps to organize information (we use physical ones for brainstorming) this will help the students be able to keep people, places and environment separated in their minds. This is a key ability.

Element 2: Places and Regions
- This part focuses on students understanding of physical and human characteristics of places. It  also focuses on the fact that people created regions to the earths complexities.
It focuses on how culture and experience influences people perceptions of places and regions.- In this picture is of pygmies who live in Africa, this is just one culture of people but this is how many people think Africa is.

Element 3: Physical System
-This focuses on the physical patterns of earths surface and the spatial distributions of ecosystems on the earths surface.
-At one time on earth there could be a rain storm, snow storm, heat wave and a tornado. When you stop to think about it it is a little intense.

Element 4: Human System
- In this element students should understand characteristics, distribution and the migration of the human population on the earths surface. (This is done within Colonies in America lessons etc.)
-This also incorporates earths mosaics of culture, patterns of interdependence on earths surface and functions of human settlement.
- As well as, the forces of cooperation or conflict and how that influences the division of people and of the earths surface.

Element 5: Environment and Society.
- This element focuses on how humans impact the physical environment and how the earths physical environment affects people. It also goes over the changes that occur in the meaning, use , distribution and importance of resources.

Element 6: The uses of geography

- This element focuses on how to apply geography to interpret the past and how to interpret the future and present.

-This can be in the cultural, Physical, Weather related areas..this can be applied in many areas of geography!

So my fellow adventures this is where my journey took me today! I hope that you have learned as much as I have. I will leave you with this to ponder: How will you include all of these elements and themes in your everyday lessons? How will you inspire the future leaders to protect the earth that we love?

Until Next Time

Cooperative Learning..What a concept!

                   Cooperative Learning Groups

                  We have been learning so much about the different types of learning in class! The last couple of classes we have taken a deeper interest in cooperative learning and why this model of learning is so important. Each group took a different component of  cooperative learning, and in this group each member was responsible for a part of the component of cooperative learning. We were using the jigsaw form of cooperative learning. We then taught out section of the puzzle to the class so the entire class was introduced to the entire concept of Cooperative Learning Groups. This type of learning is efficient in the classroom and can be beneficial to the students. Each student becomes an "expert" in a different area and then can help other students understand that area better. Cooperative learning can also be used as a form of assessment at the end of a unit. 

In cooperative learning there are five components that make it up. We use the anagram PIGS for this. 

Positive Independence- when members understand that they must learn together to accomplish the goal; they need each other for support, explanations, and guidance.

Individual Accountability- Students are responsible for their own parts and how it relates to the ultimate goal. It also is the assessing of the quality and quantity of each members contributions to the overall goal.

Group Processing- When students work together and reflect and discuses using each others ideas. The teacher monitors the students in their groups. It includes Feedback, reflection, Improvement goals and celebration groups!

Social Skills & face to face promotive Interactions- There are six social skills that students will walk away with from using Cooperative learning. Personal Identity, Life success, Quality of Life, Physical Health, Psychological health and Ability to cope with stress.

All of these make up cooperative learning but with out using all of these it is just a direct lesson.

          I will leave you with this. How do you plan on incorporating cooperative learning into your lessons to help enrich your students?

                  

Until next time

Ways to teach geography!

Ways to teach geography in the classroom.

103 creatively simple ways to teach geography

                                       

1. Mystery Box (slide 2)
    This I think would be useful in teaching the physical geography of the world (Grass, soil, water)

                                             

   
2.Go local (slide 7)
   This I think would be very interesting to see what students came up with. This shows the differences between rural and urban areas. It shows the students what areas are right outside their homes.

                                             

3.Adopt a Rock (slide 9)
     I love this idea! This can be used outside of the social studies class and utilized in a writing class for almost any age. It is a class pet that won't die. With this idea you could set up a slide show of every student that has the rock a picture of the student with the rock and what they did on their week together along with the student's identity of the rock.

                                                      

4.Send a postcard (slide 10)
      I had a teacher who did something like this, but she showed us everywhere she taught. I think it would be a great thing to do in classroom and I love that it can be extended into a lesson. It doesn't exclude any children because they are not the ones who need to travel to the areas, and it doesn't matter if they didn't travel anywhere.
    



                                        

5. draw it (slide 18)
    I like that this uses art in a geography lesson, combining the two is something a little different then what would normally be asked of students to do. I think I will utilize this idea in my classroom.


                                 

           

6.Bingo (slide 24)
    This is a classic game used by teachers to help students study or to assess their knowledge. This game can be used in different areas in geography and modified for different grade levels from pictures to definitions. I would love to make this game into a life size bingo game that could be used in groups of 4-5 (depending on how big the card is) and the students actually stand in the bingo spots. Like human bingo. 

                                   

7. Taboo (slide 29)
      I think playing games to enrich students knowledge is the best thing. Students do not always realize that they are learning, and they perform better in this type of learning environment. 

                  

8. Odd one out (slide 30)
    This would be fun to play and even better if the students came up with the odd one out questions.

                                        

9. Landscape in a box (slide 53-54)
     I like how hands on this is. I think that it can be used in any grade level and it can really put into reality what a different place looks like from a rural to urban setting to a different country. 

   

10. Adopt a webcam (slide 56)
      You can use this to show students what the other hemisphere looks like during "your" winter or "your" summer. This is a great way to show students how world looks.

Teaching geography with technology
-National Geographic has a lot of slide shows to show different things going on with geography
  they have one on seasons or one where you can travel maps
They have map puzzles online. Ones where you can quiz yourself on the world map, map of the USA just states and with the capitals.

Geography Games
-interactive maps you can use to help your students work on their geography skills

It has become that time again, and I must end this blog. I will leave you with this challenge: How will you use technology to enrich your students learning in Geography? Think beyond the book!

Until next time

Models of teaching

     There are four models of teaching

       Today in class we learned that there were four different models of teaching, and in these four models there are different strategies in each of these models and different methods within these strategies! We learned about four models of teaching: Behavioral model or Direct Instruction, Information Processing, Social Interactive model or Cooperative learning and Personal model.

Behavioral Model/Direct Instruction

This is the type that most people remember in school. This is teacher centered. The purpose of this model is to change behavior , develop basic skills and knowledge. Examples of this is when teachers lecture, model, or give homework because it is all under the teachers control. This is an important method and is used in many classrooms. This may not be the only way a teacher will teach their lesson, but it is included most of the time. This is the method that I remember my teachers using the most.

Information Processing

This method of teaching is designed to develop students critical thinking skills. As teachers we want our students to think on a higher level and this model of teaching is designed to do that. It is designed to teach students how to access information, organize information, process information and how to reflect on information.  The strategy to using this model of teaching is by inquiry. Getting the students to ask questions, and never letting the questions end. In this method students should learn by doing or constructing. The students are the center of the classroom not the teacher. Lessons would include case studies or solving problems. 

Social Interactive model/ Cooperative Learning

This is another common way for students to learn. Many teachers use this approach to teaching their classroom. The purpose of this approach to get students to work together. Students who work with each other achieve higher test scores! With this TEST HEAVY society this maybe the way you want to teach your students! Students are more likely to be engaged in their own learning. Two heads are better then one, and having students work in groups is a way to broaden their thought process. Students get other students point of view on what they are working on and this can open students up to a different way of thinking. Ways that teachers implement this type of learning by think-pair-share, debates, role play, and jigsaw. We are currently working on a jigsaw approach to learning in class right now. Jigsaw is when every person in a group gets a different task to do and the goal is to put all of the pieces together to achieve the overall goal. We are working on a jigsaw that includes the entire classroom! I feel like a lot of my professors favor this way of teaching!

Personal Model/ Individualized Model

This is when the teacher individualizes learning. The teacher is helping students develop self esteem and their identity. Teachers will often give these students individual projects. This is a successful model with students who need the individual touch. 

Method- is an approach to teaching and in this blog I have talked about FOUR approaches!

Strategy- The set of steps to apply the method of teaching. 

Method- How you teach a lesson. The way/style of teaching you use.

Well my fellow adventurers this is where my adventure took me today. A lot to think about! 

I will leave you with this: How do you plan on meeting the needs of all of your students? How are you going to ignite their thoughts and knowledge?

until next time

Assessment! Assessment! Assessment!

               Day Four of the adventure!

                             All About Assessments

Today in class we discussed types of assessments, how and when to use them in the classroom.

Before we get into that...What exactly is an assessment?

-My thoughts were that it was that an evaluation of how good or bad something was completed.

I was thinking of it in to narrow of a sense. Assessment is broader then that it is: Gathering data and information about students and their progress. It is valuable and measurable. It is giving feedback.

THE MORE YOU KNOW!

There are three types of assessment:

Diagnostic Assessment- Before the lesson. It usually is how a unit plan is began. This is important to do! You have to know your students prior knowledge to know where to start teaching for them to understand the material. I am sure we have done this in our everyday lives without realizing it.When you start to explain something to a friend..maybe about The Walking Dead, you tend to ask your friend "Have you seen this show?", "Do you know what it is about?" Remember this is important for teaching students effectively and efficiently. 

Formative Assessment- These assessments are ongoing. Using things such as Journal entries, Do now's, even asking questions during the lesson. This is to keep track of which students are understanding the content and which ones are not, and can be used to go back over an item with a different approach. 

Summative Assessment- This is your typical thought when you think of assessments. It's done at the end of the lesson, and it "SHOWS OFF" the students understanding of the knowledge. This can be done by the traditional Test, Essay or another "pencil to paper" form. OR and this is how I would like to do Summative assessments by projects or presentations. A student can SHOW OFF their knowledge by presenting a JogNog/ Kahoot/ Plickers quiz for the class, or using Prezi/ PowerPoint a presentation.

Now..you maybe asking yourself why do I need to assess my students? I know I am teaching the material they need to understand and the rest of it is their job! WRONG!!

This is what happens when teachers do not use their assessment skills to see where their students are at.

Authentic assessment is the kind of assessment you should strive to use. When students need to apply multiple skill sets they will remember it longer. You learn by doing! 

   Giving tests/quizzes as assessment should be used as a gift NOT as a punishment. The student's will walk away with nothing if they feel like they are being punished.

Using assessments that are community friendly will make parent teacher conferences much easier. The parents will see exactly what you have asked for and the students had this knowledge prior to their summative assessment in a form of a rubric. 

Using a rubric will help students know what is expected of them!

                                                                                                                     

Pre-assessments--whats are those?!?

There are three things that we can (pre) assess

1. Readiness

    a. Skills

    b. Content knowledge

    c. Concepts

2. Interest

    -interest surveys, centers, self-selections (what do you like to do)

3. Learning Profile

    a. Area of strengths/ weaknesses

    b. Work performance

    c. Self awareness

Pre-assessing students..sounds helpful! 

My fellow adventurers that is where my journey took me today, and I am learning so much! 

I leave you with this: Comprehension is not the same as learning. Just because I can multiply 2 and 3 doesn't mean I understand why the answer is 6. What kind of students do you want to inspire?

Until next time

What in the heck is Social Studies?!?

Day Three & The Adventure Continues!

                                   WHAT IS SOCIAL STUDIES?

When I was in school learning about social studies I remember learning about history. I don't remember learning about all of the wonderful things that makes up social studies. You are asking right now...what is social studies? Social studies is the body of integrative knowledge concepts, skills, generalizations and theories in the social studies field. 

I have provided the picture in the top made with tagxedo, and it shows different areas that make up social studies. Social studies is : History, Civics, Geography, Social Science, Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology. After I read about what makes up social studies it hit me! Oh yeah, I remember learning about those different areas in school, but I never associated them with social studies.

                      There are five elements that make Social studies helpful

1. Meaningful- How do we teach it to students so they can apply it to their lives or connect it to the real world.

2. Integrative- Multidisciplinary with other subjects. Making that connection to the other subjects. I now realize how my teachers did this, but at the time I didn't make that connection. It can be connected to all subjects, even math!

3. Value Based- Social values, social issues, opposing points of views to support positions. As teachers we want to encourage our students to become better citizens. We want students to know they have a social responsibility, and how they fulfill that responsibility. I recall my teacher having us elect a few students and those students made campaigns, and we voted on them. With out realizing it the teacher introduced to us our social responsibility of voting, and it's importance. 

4. Challenging- Thoughtful approach , making connections between past events and current events. Opinionated questions. We as teachers need to raise the bar on challenging our students. We need to use the zone of proximity to make the students think! THE GOAL IS TO MAKE STUDENTS THINK!!

5. Active- Real-life approaches. Hands and MINDS on! Engage students, and make room to teach beyond the test. Try to bring in actives that will encourage students to do, and not just watch. My seventh grade social studies teacher encouraged us to protest the newly enforced "Locker Times". This is still my favorite memory from middle school. 

This chart is from Will At Work Learning by Will Thalheimer, PHD.

After seeing this chart in class I just couldn't believe how low the percentages were! After thinking about it for a few minutes...it hit me: the only things I remember from middle school are the things that I did. I don't remember the reading assignments the teacher gave us, but I do remember going on strike over locker times. 

MY GOAL FOR TEACHING IS TO DO JUST THAT! I WANT TO TEACH MY STUDENTS BY DOING! PROJECTS, GAMES, ANYTHING TO GET THEIR BODIES AND MINDS INVOLVED IN THE MATERIAL!

As I end this blog I will leave you with this my adventurers:
Knowledge has two levels HIGH (concept) & LOW (facts).
--What kind of knowledge do you want  your students to have?

Until next time

The beginning of the Adventure!

                   

                      First Day of the Adventure

 The new year has begun! I am in a new and exciting technology based class with a bunch of explorers. It is always a little nerve racking to start a new adventure with a bunch of explorers that you have not met before, but this problem was solved by Dr. Smirnova. She had us jump right into introducing ourselves to each other. I am excited to meet the explorers that will be joining me on this adventure.

                          DIGITAL LEARNERS

These are the students that I will be teaching, and for me to be an effective teacher I have to know how to reach all of my students. I like that this emphasized the fact that technology is a major part of the classroom and for many students lives. I am looking forward to learning different ways of engaging students with technology in this class. I want to be that teacher that reaches her students, and enriches their lives. I want all of my students to be hands on and minds on learners. I believe that students learn best by doing, and with all of these technological advances it will be a lot of fun teaching students to learn.