One thing that has happened over the last few years is an increased focus on reading a balance of informational and fictional texts. We try to work in informational reading as often as possible--both with specific units and by weaving instruction and experiences into content whenever possible. As we dig into our mapping unit, I wanted to see what kinds of experiences my students had with ... Read the Post
Maps and Globes…how I start my school year
OK...so I just got to experience that feeling where a HUGE project that was started a year ago is FINISHED! Seriously--I may have actually twirled in my office. About a year ago, I started jotting down some of the fun projects I do every year in September to kick off my mapping unit. I do not like to use a lot of fill in the blank worksheets (shocking!), and we don't have a ... Read the Post
I love pre- and post-testing!
OK . . . it's not like it's getting a 36 on the ACT or anything, but don't you love it when you see your students making progress? Remember back a few weeks when we were just starting our mapping unit and I asked my students to take 10 minutes to "draw the world". It was a great way for me to see exactly where students were--and what I saw wasn't pretty! I never posted any ... Read the Post
World Mapping–and a little art and measurement along the way!
My first "content" unit of the year every year is mapping, and every year I start with a quick review of the continents and oceans. Students are supposed to come in with this knowledge, but as you know--sometimes it takes many repetitions before some things stick! Because of this, I like to do a number of review activities with my students--but try to throw some new learning in along ... Read the Post