#worldgeochat is a weekly chat focused on teaching geography and global studies. Chats vary between geography specific topics as well as general teaching and education topics. ALL are welcome in worldgeochat!
Welcome to the final #worldgeochat of the 2017/18 school year! We're so excited to have all of you here tonight. Please take a moment to introduce yourself, where you're tweeting from and what you teach!
Ed, 7th grade geography teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. I can't wait to hear about everyones school year in review and plans for the future! #worldgeochat
HI HI HI HI HI!!! Sam here from MA, 7th grade world geo teacher! Still in school until June 20. So excited to see everyone's summer plans tonight #worldgeochat
Welcome to the final #worldgeochat of the 2017/18 school year! We're so excited to have all of you here tonight. Please take a moment to introduce yourself, where you're tweeting from and what you teach!
Hi C/S! Thank you for joining us each week and making us aware of all the incredible resources @NatGeoEducation has for teachers and students! #worldgeochat
Next year I'm moving to 7th grade geography for the Eastern Hemisphere with smatterings of Western and Ancient Civ #worldgeochat. So any resources your students love would be appreciated.
Ken from Western Oregon University & Center for Geography Education in Oregon. Technically, we aren't done yet as in Oregon we go until mid-June #worldgeochat
I want to report that my 6th grade ELA class finished "Number the Stars", and I included a map of Europe during WW2 as part of the lesson - had the kids color the occupied, ally and neutral countries so they can visually see what was going on there. #worldgeochat
A1: Last year, I attempted a (Semi) Amazing Race (https://t.co/5Fc0A9ndDT). This year, I'll be attempting it again! Also, my final mini-project is for students to created a segment of EPCOT at Disney World! #worldgeochat
A1: all three of my AP classes are doing the Tournament of Leaders! It is a speech competition over who is the greatest leader of all time based on the presentations in class. Augustus Caesar won APHG, Julius Caesar and Da Vinci square off in APUSH tomorrow. #worldgeochat
A1: I spend the last 3 days with a BreakoutEDU. Last year I had to force the last group out of the room because they wanted 5 more minutes #worldgeochat
This was one of my favorite books to teach when I taught 7th grade SS/ELA many, many years ago. So glad to see kids are still reading it. #worldgeochat
A1.1: No year is complete without my Zombie apocalypse lesson: Can you find the safest place on earth? I also like to do a Google Earth Scavenger hunt of neat places around the world. #worldgeochat
When the triumvirate is formed (the class champions) I post their speeches on YouTube and embed in a google form for public voting. I’ll have all that on Friday! #worldgeochat
A1 Well, I give my univ Ss projects &/or final exams, but I am taking the Giant Floor Map of Oregon (18x22ft) to a couple elementary schools over next couple weeks & do geo activities w/ kids to wrap up there year. Here's info on our maps https://t.co/Dllog4HXHL#worldgeochat
Some years I do student requests for Kahoots and Quizizz from earlier in the year. It is interesting to see what they request and what they remember. #worldgeochat
A1:2: I also like to end my class like a movie by showing "Where the heck is Matt videos" and say "I have shown you the world, now it's up to you to go see it!" Roll credits: End class! Begin summer! #worldgeochathttps://t.co/rPyRT6dnxe
A1 #worldgeochat we circle back to our first day of school to reflect on the reality that this collection of students has only existed once in the history of the universe and will never exist again. That’s pretty special. Quote Bill Bryson’s A Short History Of Nearly Everything
To review for finals, we have Ss create a poster size one page review over the 3 units from this semester. If you haven't tried one pagers, check them out - a great AVID strategy -- here's the basics https://t.co/T9fhob3jbG#worldgeochat
A2
Best successes were the ACTION pieces my Ss took. Ss wrote letters to Apple & Samsung about children mining cobalt &got responses.
One wrote to @SenatorDurbin about raising the fuel tax and got a great response back. It gave Ss encouragement to take action! #worldgeochat
A2 Seeing my pre-service graduate in a couple weeks & some already get jobs!! Geography successes included getting to be a volunteer in elem school & work w/ 3rd & 5th graders on geography skills #worldgeochat
A2: we did an Zombie Escape Room & a BreakoutEDU box for World War Z ... also the Ss examining the impact of social media on protest movements #worldgeochat
A2: One of my biggest successes this year was playing around with gamification and seeing the pros and cons of it. I learned a lot with it, students were more engaged, but now I just need to solidify management and such #worldgeochat
A2: biggest successes in my class this year = improving document analysis skills and connecting all units to the 4 big themes: politics, economics, geography, and social/culture; also did a better job including current events thanks to this chat! 😁🙌#worldgeochat
Well thank you! It has been great to see Ss truly CARE about the rest of the world & realize that they are privileged to live where they do! #worldgeochat
A2: Our PLC tried differentiating in a different way for research and writing projects, and it went better than anticipated. The students appreciated the attention #worldgeochat
A2: the biggest success though was watching my Ss discuss topics that many adults have difficulty discussing w/o getting upset - bias, racism, economic disparity, etc... #worldgeochat
A2: biggest successes in my class this year = improving document analysis skills and connecting all units to the 4 big themes: politics, economics, geography, and social/culture; also did a better job including current events thanks to this chat! 😁🙌#worldgeochat
A2- biggest success was the food festival my students held where they had booths about agriculture and the food industry during lunches. Ss said it was their favorite activity all year #worldgeochat
That is the goal! You and @ParkersGeocats are the reasons this whole reason this class took flight! It would be so awesome to hangout with you all. Are you guys coming to NCSS? We are trying hard to get there. #worldgeochat
A2 We started reaching out to different disciplines, including English teachers. Looking at the whitewashing of Charlie Bucket bridged ELA and cultural geo. #worldgeochathttps://t.co/Jjvc3NdhoO
I like that it really gets kids to look at the CDC website to learn more about how to plan for real life emergencies. Having a family plan is key! #worldgeochat
A2: biggest successes in my class this year = improving document analysis skills and connecting all units to the 4 big themes: politics, economics, geography, and social/culture; also did a better job including current events thanks to this chat! 😁🙌#worldgeochat
A2 Focusing more on essential questions and reflection. Goal setting was big too. After reading @cheffernan75 's blog about accountability buddies, I tried that. Helped a lot - except for 2nd hour. But then not much did. #worldgeochat
Ss picked their protest movements - from Black Lives Matter to Me Too to Ss protests around the world ... there were issues like immigration, LGBT rights, environmental policy (they were all so awesome!) #worldgeochat
many Ss were surprised how some protests shift bc of the influence of social media or how messages are muddled so individuals can't tell what the key issues are for a movement #worldgeochat
John Honish late to the party, I’ll try to play catch-up. A1: epic 2-day long basketball review game that ultimately determines #classcomp champion and a Kendrick Lamar parody video to be played at The talent show Friday. #worldgeochat
Since it was a common project, I took all the 6th graders who needed more scaffolding and chunked projects, the other two teachers took the on level learners, and the gifted teacher had an extension to the project #worldgeochat
A3: I actually allow myself just about a full day (plus more) of going through all my weekly summaries, and highlighting what worked and what didn't. It allows me the opportunity to see where students shined and where I need to be more on top of my game #worldgeochat
Fantastic, but I’m intrigued by what didn’t work. I’d love to devote a future #worldgeochat to noble efforts that didn’t work out the way we thought they would.
A3 Here is my end of the year survey. I also give one before winter break using Google Forms too. Yet, I need to have more frequent reflection https://t.co/XMD8ttHJ0e#worldgeochat
A2 map skills Was my SLO goal (is that just a WI thing or all over?) and they’re dominating. Identifying patterns of population and resource from satellite images. Doing great applying skills to multiple scenarios #worldgeochat
And I would love to host this chat. There are definitely things like too competitive, loss of objective, and other points that kind of flopped. But lesson learned! #worldgeochat
I journal, with lots of notes throughout the week. I have students reflect weekly in their notebooks, and meetings. I should try accountability buddies! #worldgeochat
A3 #worldgeochat I had been in the habit of writing for 5 minutes in a google doc at the end of every single day before I went home. Even when I didn’t feel like it.
1 thing I did well
1 thing I didn’t like
1 student that said something interesting.
A3
Don't know if I have a strategy necessarily, but brutal honesty is important. If something I did failed, I HAVE TO OWN IT! I won't get better if I make excuses for my mistakes. Own it. Fix it. Make it better. #worldgeochat
Looking at your questions, do you provide a list for students to recall? Or are you hoping things that stand out the most will come to light for them? #justcurious#worldgeochat
A3 - I keep notes each week of what worked/what didn't. I just reviewed those today and made a list of what to tweek/change/eliminate for next year. #worldgeochat
A3 I’m giving a survey mostly about gamification elements and FANschool, this year trying hard to tweak things before moving to a new school next year.#worldgeochat
A3: weekly discussion posts helped tie all the topics we discussed together with a current event ... also having Ss complete exit tickets that range from answer Qs or sharing w/ team/partner #worldgeochat
A2: I found #worldgeochat and learned how to share with people outside my district (Thank you #worldgeochat peeps). I feel like I have connected better with this group of students than I have in years past. I have loved this year, and it is bitter sweet ending.
A3- I need to use this practice more often. I have Ss reflect via google docs and forms, but not consistently enough. I need to reflect more myslef #worldgeochat
A3 #worldgeochat
I would always break for the last five minutes of every class to reflect and ask for feedback from students about the day
1 question they have
1 trick they learned
1 thing for Mr Spiegel to think about for tomorrow
A3: we discuss what worked and what didn’t and why; I love using google forms for feedback! We also discuss what to change for the future #worldgeochat
A3 For myself, I like to use chats, such as #worldgeochat as great ways to inspire reflection in my teaching! Also, came across this awhile back for some good ideas for teacher reflection https://t.co/zgDrHtMhto
A3 on a personal side, yearbooks are kind of a reflection tool. I let them look at mine from middle school for a long term reflection, write personalized messages in all of theirs, let them know about more “human” stuff than report cards #worldgeochat
Start journaling over the summer to build confidence and consistency. By the time the school year comes around again you will have built up the stamina and capacity to journal on a regular basis #worldgeochat
If our school keeps the same schedule next year, I have to crack down on accountability with students. That's where I lost a lot of time and sanity this year #worldgeochat
A3: I use the Nike Method: Just do it!
In reality, I reflect constantly. At UNC, our grad program trained us to be "reflective decision makers." So I am always reading the crowd, thinking about what is working and what needs to be fixed, and I fix it. #worldgeochat
I tried journaling before classes but found that the “good stuff” was always to be found after the sh*t hit the fan during the day and I’d could write about it later #worldgeochat
National Boards is on my to do list! I can't wait to go through that process. Everyone at my school that did it said they grew so much from the process. #worldgeochat
A3: for my students we hold open discussions and I swear by @Flipgrid. For myself I like to participate in chats like #worldgeochat and discuss on my Facebook PLNs.
I know I want to revamp the start of year for US History, and focus more on SDG for Geography, World History - bigger picture, with @OutofEdenLearn and more themes vs. just civilizations... so lots #worldgeochat
A3 Raw analytics (how many people engaged with our content, and how they engaged), email feedback, adaptations of our resources, use by professional organizations. #worldgeochat
A4: I'm going to work on how I implement Classcraft in my classes ... now that I'm familiar with program, I want to really get into using the features with my Ss on a more frequent basis #worldgeochat
A4: the incorporation of more writing and hands-on activities (SSLs - Social Studies Labs) I had some awesome labs in APHUGE, but need to find more for APUSH and WHAP. #worldgeochat
A4
I think @ecasey77 & I need to make sure that GEOGRAPHY is in our Global Studies class. We got too far away from our #worldgeochat base.
More skills.
More reading maps.
More annotating maps.
More comparing countries.
More human-environment interaction.
#worldgeochat
A4: This year, I actually spent way too much time on the SDGs. Students were losing engagement as well as focus. New schedule didn't help all that much. BUT I want to revamp @Classcraft, now that I have an idea of how to use the program! #worldgeochat
A4 I know I need to slow down. With the 1st year for our new curriculum under our belt I will know when I can ease back and let students explore more of their own questions. #worldgeochat
Thank you! I have learned so much from you and everyone at #worldgeochat! I can't wait to hit the archives this summer and see what I missed and want to try next! #
I need to learn how to manage and engage student-directed exploration. I feel students are still in the "teachers tell me what to do" mindset that they don't want to learn on their own #worldgeochat
I love it, but I feel that I didn't use it to its full capacity. My Ss said that they wished we could have used it more in the day-to-day activities. I'm going to take that & build on it! #worldgeochat
A4 Since our state is revamping its social studies standards & including an ethnic studies strands, we (C-GEO) are going to be running an Ethnic Studies through a geography lens institute for Oregon teachers next year #worldgeochat
Agreed! I think I feel more comfortable now with "punishments/reprimands" by taking away HP and stuff. But I definitely want to integrate it more on a day-to-day basis #worldgeochat
I helped me focus on the role geography plays in history. I teach 7th grade world but my BA is in Geography. And it forced me to long-term plan. #worldgeochat
In reply to
@mrterborg, @NatGeoEducation, @Flipgrid
That’s one of the hardest things to build a class culture around. Letting go to a point of pure chaos is sooooo unnerving and terrifying (especially if admin walks in). That culture has to start on Day 1. #worldgeochat
Not explicitly, but I feel that because my reflection is constant students and colleagues pick it up or they can't help it because I ask what went well, or what S's liked, what could be improved? How can we make this better? #worldgeochat
A5: I want to try more routine activities, meaning "Monday Vocab," "Tuesday Explorations," things like that. With the schedule we have, Idk how that'll work. But I also want to try more vocabulary work as well as more @Flipgrid work #worldgeochat
I put in a grant for an augmented sandbox.. Otherwise, I want to try more virtual tours, augmented reality, including using my merge cubes to upload items from our local museum. #worldgeochat
A4 - I want to find an effective way to help students keep their notebooks organized in a way that helps them USE their notebook as an effective study tool. #worldgeochat
A5 My 2 biggest goals is to have my students collaborate with experts and students at other schools as well as getting them to take action on their projects. #worldgeochat
A5: cross-curricular lessons and distance collaboration, with you all possibly! I am also interested in the AP and Me setup for APHUGE, but I want to get another year under my belt first. #worldgeochat
I love being part of a PLC with shared resources/assessments. Even disagreements can be good; it leads to discussions and reflections that get at the "why" of teaching something #worldgeochat
A4: A few weeks at the beach for perspective, and then I need to look at my running list of things to fix for next year. I already have quite the summer reading list from @cheffernan75 and #worldgeochat. I also need to really explore the geography alive to see if I can use it.
A5 - we tried group FRQs to review for the AP exam based on different case studies. I think I want to incorporate this into all units next year. #worldgeochat
A5
I want to TRY to do some sort of points based system that has nothing to do with grades to get more Ss doing skills-based things. Maps, current events, geography skill challenges.
It's all in my head right now.
#worldgeochat
I used to do this Greg with students filling out weekly target reflections. I was just thinking today I learned so much from these I should bring them back for next school year. #worldgeochat
I think there could be some current event type stories. Some "Weird But True" type stories, and science (though that's not my wheelhouse).
#worldgeochat
Also, if this is a thing, I'd love to help any way I can!
I had students form each section into their own fictional “country” and try to create a history of their people. It had to incorporate everything we learned in a binder.
It had nothing to do with their grades but they always remembered it years later... #worldgeochat
I did Interactive notebooks for YEARS and loved them. Switched to 3-ring b/c of all the articles we give Ss to supplement old textbooks. We can't grade notebooks anymore (long story...) so they have not been as effective. Looking for any suggestions #worldgeochat
A5: trying full gamification in my WH class but want to add elements in my APHG course #worldgeochat (just getting in from outside, glad I’m catching the end)
Tackling current global and environmental issues along with highlighting resources on your site to address those topics. That would be amazing! #worldgeochat
A5: More Mystery Skype, more google maps projects. I did not use Google Maps/Earth enough this year. I need to play with the pacing of my Units to accommodate my novel unit! I also want to try some sort of geo-portfolio, where students create something to keep. #worldgeochat
A6: I'm hitting my 21st and 22nd countries this summer! Presenting mini-presentations at #BLC18 and seeing Moulin Rouge on stage. Excited to revamp my curriculum, create projects, and finally read Persepolis and Amal Unbound! #worldgeochat
A6 I'm looking forward to going to Quebec City for NCGE in August & taking Oregon teachers for an extended institute trip throughout Quebec #worldgeochat!!
Did you do this in a paper binder or digital? How detailed were the directions you provided the students? This was something another teacher mentioned as an idea for next year, but I hadn't started to think out the details #worldgeochat
A6
Getting back to my Presidential Biography phase
@GeoSpiegs says I have to read A Short History of Everything & Prisoners of Geography
@jmgarner2003 suggested Just Mercy by Philip Bryson that I need to finish.
Probably a bunch of YA so I can chat w/ Ss.
#worldgeochat
A6 Personally I'm looking forward to my family's trip to Yellowstone, loads of time up at Paw Paw Lake with my family, a baseball trip with my friends to check out the White Sox 3 minor league teams in North Carolina, longer runs, and more reading time! #worldgeochat
A6: I finally own "Play like a pirate" #PLAP, so I am starting there. Last week, I saved several screen shots of books but I cannot find them to save my life. I will be checking the #worldgeochat archives.
Yes, each class had a binder for final publication. There was VERY little direction (on purpose, because I wanted it to be student led and either succeed or fail on their own so we could gain perspective on how difficult creating a society could be) #worldgeochat
Some of the work could be collaborated on digitally but everything had to be put into the Book Of ________ for final historical presentations at the end of the year. Some years it worked. Some years it failed miserably #worldgeochat
A6
And as far as what else I'm looking forward to... Road Trip to National Parks in ND, Montana, Wyoming, & SD! Lots of miles on the van!
#worldgeochat
A6: adventuring, concerts, and playing my guitar are what I’m looking forward to this summer; books = The New Odyssey by Patrick Kingsley, Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker, and The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe #worldgeochat
Big plans for summer (in addition to the book tweet):
-Disney World and Daytona Beach in June
-Detroit Zoo for Bubby’s birthday
-Minor League baseball games
-working in the garden
-5k here and there!
#worldgeochat
I don't use textbooks, so I have my students make a packet with a manila folder and all the papers they would need for the unit. They create it using an assembly line, and they just have to keep up with it for that unit. Once it's graded, they keep it or recycle. #worldgeochat
In reply to
@MsIppolito, @jmgarner2003, @Ms_Mielke
A7 Chats devoted to teaching each of the National Geography 6 Essential Elements. 1) The world in Spatial Terms; 2) Places and Regions; 3) Physical Systems; 4) Human Systems; 5) Environment and Society; and 6) The Uses of Geography. #worldgeochat
If you have an idea for #worldgeochat over the summer, don't hesitate to reach out to any of the moderators over the summer! We're looking forward to another great year starting in August!
Thanks for letting me lurk around on these this year. I have learned a ton from all of you, I hope to contribute more next year. Thank you! Enjoy summer! #worldgeochat
A7: regarding getting Ss involved in real world solutions and making positive change, methods for helping with current geography issues that societies are facing 🙌#worldgeochat
A7: This is hard. . . education around the world is a tough standard to tackle, a post on teaching about the United Nations, or UNESCO world heritage sites. You guys do a great job finding relevant topics. I have been happy so far #worldgeochat
