#worldgeochat Archive
#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!
Tuesday March 15, 2016
Alright, enough political stuff.....for now. Ready to talk some
Hello ! Glad you're here!
Jennifer from GA. APHG and World Geo. Excited to "see" what goes on in classrooms around the globe tonight
Chris from Illinois - 7th grade World Geography. One eye on , the other on the news.
Emily from TN joining Glad to be back this week!
Thanks Christine! Glad you're with us for another round!
Where do the various presidential candidates stand on issues?
Welcome to everyone! Pete here from + one of the mods w/ + + Grow you
Matt Doran, Social Studies Coordinator, Columbus, OH
So glad you're here! How is Spring in Tennessee?
That's one heck of a rabbit hole, Bill...
Great to see you again Emily!
Joanne from Missouri. 7th world history & 11th modern global issues.
Glad you're here Matt! You are the other side of political world tonight!
Christine here, Grade 7 language/Geo/Hist/Drama from Milton, Ontario, Canada.
hi all- penny from virginia for
Hi Can't wait to hear about your awesome classrooms! Looking to + some new ideas
And another state voting tonight!
Greg, From balmy Dallas, Texas
If you have a news network on in the background, please raise your hand.
Marie Jane from Goshen, NY. AP World & Global History & Geo
Hi & Glad you could join us tonight!
We got to 60 here today - that's pretty balmy!
Good evening Stewart from Orlando. AP Human and world geo to 9th graders
Eric, 9-12th & all SS subjects fm Tennessee
So glad you're here tonight!
are in the house! Get ready to learn from these folks --
Hi Eric! Welcome to this Tuesday night!
Andy from outside Charlotte, HS world history. Hope everyone is doing well
A1: Google Classroom Questions – Let Ss see/review/evaluate/explain each other’s responses (pre-assessment)
Hi & Can't wait to hear more about your classes tonight!
ok! When you get close to 88 let me know.
Tony in Singapore. Teaching IGCSE & .
I missed you earlier! The last of tonight's primary states!
Running in late. I have then for 75 or 135 minutes, but still super-relevant!
Hi & Glad you guys could join us!
A1 bell ringer I call our "Focus" question to get started, review from yesterday, or discuss current event
Google Classroom Questions - tell me a little more!
A1: depending on the level, I have a ? posted or I just jump into the lesson
Thanks for joining tonight.
A1 I never taught a standalone geo class, but I began all SS classes I taught with things like these: https://t.co/BxuRNPJNRt
A1 usually have this day in history facts, had bell ringers or questions of the day. Sometimes just dive right into material
Thanks Chris. Been a while since I was in a chat
Absolutely - time is everything!!
ABC has declared for Kasich.
A1 Start every class with a daily warm up ? (could be a picture/chart too) and music. Music ties to the lesson of the day.
A1 often start with "News of the Day" or int. video clip/image to generate discussion or get Ss thinking/curious,
I wish. I'm still putting my daughter to bed.
Q1 this varies but spend time doing map/graph/picture analysis a lot times
First 5 mins is all about greeting learners and making them feel welcome in our learning environment
A1: We celebrate Good Things, students share positive things to set tone of class. Agenda and questions next.
Ken from Western Oregon Univ.
How so? How do you do it?
A1 depends on the day. Once per week we start with a team challenge. Prizes to think geographically over semester.
Give an example of a focus question.
A1 There's a focus activity. Writing, thinking, organizing.
A1: Bellringer or three trivia questions for that days from
A1: I have a google slide up as they enter class of materials needed/reminders. We hit the ground running. 💨
A1 sometimes use an image from National Geographic photo of the day, as a writing prompt.
Hey Ken! great to see you
Awesome Bill! Thanks so much for sharing those!
A1 I've put up a photo and students write a short creative poem/story about it. Then share.
A1 sometimes start with an activity to build knowledge around a concept/definition
A1. Hook - connect everyday lives to new content, building new ideas from existing schema..cognitive learning theory.
I saw that - makes me breath a little easier.
What are some of the prompts you've used?
Really simple. I say "hey, how're you today?" Maybe ask them a question about sport, weekend or whatever
A1 always started w/ attention-getter Qs 2 stir crit thinking discussion. Also allowed me 2 informally assess Ss understanding
A1 - APHG always starts with a map/graphic picture to analyze either reviewing content, using content or introduce a new topic
A1: music b4 class starts. Agenda, review or announcemezzzzzzzz (boring I know)
Say hit to them from all of us!
. a hook is so imp., and they need to see why the learning matters to their lives
Ask Question How do you measure LOD and let Ss respond reply to each other and wait for opportunty
What was 1 good thing that was shared today?
. I do this too! Love using National Geographic photos of the day :) Love the connection to Language here.
yep -- image analysis on interactive whiteboard and material pickup/reminders, etc on the "old" whiteboard
What is your focus of the analysis? What's your top 3 skills/factors?
Every Monday during football season we dissect the games. I'm sad when it's over
It may be spring break, but PD is on!! Follow now.
I've got to start using padlet. any suggestions for how to get started?
Russia is such a big country that it covers _____ time zones Then we map it from longitude to longitude; then discuss
We moved on to and turned it into a team competition. Find the place on earth only using geography
That is an awesome thing! Thanks for sharing that!!!
most students appreciate this structure and knowing what is coming up. so important
I've used Padlet too at the start of class this year. Has worked great as a digital KWL!
WHERE are your monuments to challenges overcome, adversity met, and alliances forged? Read -> https://t.co/pkqDgmAQP2
So many great ideas being shared in ! Q2 coming now!
when I taught MS, had a bit more freedom, did more hooks for quick writes to start the blocks, looking to plug those back in
I couldn't believe all the new maps that Geoguessr has added. Great stuff!
put up flag Ss have to find out as much about the country as possible in 10 minutes, usually more obscure countries!
Q2: I do an A - Z to see what they already know about a topic
How does that change/evolve into HS?
That's a great idea! Love it!!!
I like to use the map theme & have students pin photos & captions in the right location.
A2:Start w/ Ss making observations ex. Comp. Intermodal connection|GDP–wait for Ss to ask why->explore https://t.co/Boy5FcYO6q
They think I'm a bit weird, but they giggled when I said "hi from :)
A2: OldFashioned Anticipation guides, Preview new by connecting with old,
I jumped right into APWH at HS, did free writes, but had to be more structured to AP style of writing than creative
A2. "Ripped from the Headlines" approach. What's happening now, why, and how we got here.
A2 Photo collage, carousel brain storm, mystery, text set of curated Newsela articles this year worked well, find someone who
A2: I also connect the time & place into the big picture that is AP World
Always work for setting a purpose for reading or listening!
A2 often use images as provocations to see what they are curious about, wonder, already know. image carousel
the move back to "regular" world history was such a whirlwind, keeping things simple, to stay sane for now
A2 Pictures are worth 1000 words. No better way to start a lesson that with a picture.
A2 It comes down to telling a compelling introduction to what could be a great story.
with World Cultural Ss, we use 5 themes. APHG use SPEED (social, political, econ, enviro, demo) to analyze topics
A2 videos, drama, found poetry, blackout poetry also work nicely as provocations, like getting them emotionally invested
PICTURES! Its worth 1000 words!
. My colleague did speed dating with current events today. Can't wait to try it!
Sorry - TweetDeck just stalled on my for a minute of 2!
A2: definitional questions (what does this mean to you), what do you think, provocative images, build from basics out
A2: crash course vids, KWLs, for Ss to list what they know
A2 Depends on what it is, but pre-assess important then, so know what background needed. Sometimes do games when possible.
. YES!!! Agreed. Images are so powerful in a classroom, also items.
Maps worth a million -Harm de blij
A2 New units are introduced with images and visual thinking strategy.
Questions are great! Get Ss to ask Qs without answers!
A2: I love cartoons, maps, tables, and photos. Ss can make general observations --> make connections, build knowledge
A2: We start with world map.Ss work in pairs & talk about the landforms they see-what climate might be like-etc.
love this. Do all these, but never used the acronym. consider this stolen...
Absolutely! There are some great ways to get things started using sticky notes & pics. Thanks
Teaching kids how ask a follow/deeper question leads them down the rabbit hole :)
This is why is so important to . https://t.co/eTaJaMU17w
love this. Do all these, but never used the acronym. consider this stolen...
Sometimes the best tech is low tech
I have read so much about AR yet haven't tried it yet. Is it user friendly Emily?
I stole from another in my district so he'll be proud of that
A2 lots of great ways to begin in "Making Thinking Visible" from last week's . Chalk talk is a great one.
Love you tied in last week's topic :-)
. Loved all the ideas from Making Thinking Visible. I know & I want to do more
I'm going to buy stocks in post-it notes!
A2 by asking learners about what they know, have experienced, believe
it's so cool. I can just walk around and observe prod when needed
AR is pretty amazing and can engage so many Ss!
A3 try to spiral content when I can, see the patterns of history, changes and continuities. Big review stuff every few weeks
Love this comic! Where is it from?
A3: Constantly. It all ties together into one big story & my Ss have to hold onto to it for 2 yrs so they must apply it
A3 Constantly Content is an ever revolving door of better maps, better articles, better room layout
A3A Fairly often as I always found Ss missing new content, because they still needed foundations to build on...
I'm looking for a site that can do a week's worth in 10-15 minutes. Are you listening ?
A3: Every opportunity. Thankfully, geo concepts are interconnected. Makes my day when Ss blurt out connection in class.
Q3- Hopefully units are structured so as to build on each other. Helps if u teach WG thematically.
A3: is natural building on or connecting concepts considered review?
Awesome! We start sub Saharan Africa after spring break. Will definitely use this one
I use small whiteboards for a more environmentally friendly option. ❤️🌍.
A3B when review old content/concepts thru authentic methods, always found Ss to retain better & be prepared for future content
A3: List main ideas of notes, find 5 images that reflect main ideas, share in Drive folder, present as slideshow
A3 start w/ beach ball toss review of day before, use tech like Kahoot, Nearpod, & Socrative, quiz-quiz trade, snowball fight
Thankfully? It's sooo interconnected I feel that I have to be a renaissance man to keep up with it all
A3 geo lends itself to building on concepts so i maintain connections as much as possible
Do Kahoot quizzes, grudgeball for review, as well as did SPICE charts for APWH
A3 We review recurring themes with each unit. And stress the differences.
I know - I just don't have 10 minutes everyday. :( Need the 10 minute week in review. :)
A3 - all the time. making conn to previous content is so important and for an AP course the more you review daily, the better
A3: Never stop really in APHG; we create a matrix of where content connects; same for World Geo
A s compared Tank Man to Thic Quang Duc today. I nearly cried.
A3 I mentioned SPEED already, but a great way to bring these concepts into every unit and review previous content
. Definitely! Constantly have to be updating. Curating the good stuff & finding stuff that hooks Ss is so much fun!
A3 Look at Ohio today. Once again a region with political/historic importance - F&I War, US Rev., War 1812, every US election.
is blowing up - I can't keep up, & we're only 1/2 way home!
Need to hear more about this! :)
A3: Have Ss make YouTube playlists related to old content and journal about their choices
social, political, interaction w/environment, cultural, economic. Hit 5 APWH themes
What is this for review
you speak of?
Q4
What structures do you use to keep whole class, small group, & partner discussions going? https://t.co/xekYzUxjlH
A3 - rather than formally review previous content, I try to connect it to what we're looking at now
A3: Constantly trying to make connections. Review: GoFormative, Kahoot, Quizizz are class favorites
We've moved on to Q4- I love this chat!!!
posted link to it if you scroll back to original tweet, great game, Ss really enjoy
this is a great idea. Going 1:1 next year, so great chance for Ss to show their knowledge
A4: Give them an interesting topic to discuss/debate
A4: Old school think-pair-share. Sometimes it takes an impromptu field trip around campus to get going.
have to try this out, thanks
A4: Wanting to improve on this. Looking forward to your ideas!
Make connections - "Remember when we talked about how the British messed up ____, well, they did it here too!"
A3 finding connections in each unit to their own lives. Enables Ss to review content, find similarities in teen life.
A4 integrating backchannel like , Ss led discussion, Intersperse video clip to reinvigorate discussion
A4 debate questions for group, structured questions for small group, jigsaw activity for group changes
A4 liked doing a lot of socratives and harkness in class, all sizes for discussion too, share key points on board
A4 silent discussion, Save the last word for me, read and say something, whip around, 4 corners
A4: prompts w/ more than time for. Some choose breadth, others depth. If you're done, help. Argue the other side. How so?
A4 - Visible Thinking strategy - Chalk Talk keeps students moving and discussion going.
A4: I provided (lower) students spiral question prompts to guide their discussion & SPRITE guide for recording main points
RT
Q4
What structures do you use to keep whole class, small group, & partner discussions going? https://t.co/xRxv5GFkcQ
A4: Don't be afraid to bail on the lesson... follow the flow of the class.
"And then one day you find 10 years have got behind you." Time!!! Miss you hope ur having a good 1. https://t.co/ko1afly80y
A4A Think-pair-share, making it something relatable, teacher as facilitator, students working hands on w/ content
A4 use a lot of different ways and opportunities for Ss to share thinking
more details or links on how to please, please, please
. Shared with my department this morning. Love how user friendly it is
A4 LOVE using Knowledge Building Circles for whole group discussion
A4: If it is a sensitive discussion, I use (silent) Big Paper activity to give students opportunity to contribute and respond
yes!!! teachable moments abound!!
A4 I don't have a good structure, but we've talked about having Ss bring others Ss into discussion.
A4B Seating chart important. Like small pods of5-6 pods of4-5 chairs 2gether. Makes group& transitions easier 4 T 2move around
These are wise wise words! https://t.co/p2I3Wegk5A
A4: Don't be afraid to bail on the lesson... follow the flow of the class.
A4: First teach accountable talk, another is pre-select who is called on. X will be first, Y you will be 2nd, and Z 3rd
What is difference between Socrative discussions & Harkness Andrew?
Variety is the spice of life - mix up groups and keep kids on their feet - literally & figuratively!
Can't keep up tonight!! Archives will have to be my friend. Moving so fast.
A4 being comfortable with silence is something I've learned, giving Ss think time, and waiting instead of panicking!
A4 Keep asking questions.
What is this one Christine?
A4: I'm a huge fan of for keeping discussions alive and supporting student voice
I couldn't either. Somehow, psychologically it would make me move around more, too!
more things I don't know about. Must research this VersoApp!
Seating charts also give students confidence and structure if you use think, pair, share type activities
I mentioned last week. Switched to quads of 4 a couple years ago. I will never go back!
sit in a circle all on same level (inc T), talk about our learning, questions, A-has, encourage Ss to build on ideas
hard thing for us as teachers to master and Ss to understand they needn't answer immediately.
Ive only used this one once. Need to try it again!
. All about building knowledge together instead of "top down" from the teacher, inquiry based learning/PBL approach
Definitely interactive lessons!!! LOVE!
A5: Keep asking question until whole class, group, or individual Ss start asking "why?"…At "why?" I know I have them.
Yes! Love that. There is no front or back row! Also, don't have that pesky problem of working w/ Ss in middle rows
this is awesome. Similar to swat game techniques.
A5 When enthusiasm is lacking, thats when the stuff has to come out. Take the positive risk!
used it in our HST meeting Chris!
A5: I played devil's advocate OFTEN!
A5 I struggle w/this. suggestions?
A5 agreed, take a risk with your teaching, explore ideas in new ways, eg. through drama, art, more provocations, games,
nothing really, at least I didn't do anything really different
Is there an ed app you haven't tried? I'd love to hear about your top 3 -5 and why they work for you.
You have to! this forces them to think again and again about their ideas!
A5 Inside Outside Discussion, new partners = New ideas (Same with speed dating), talking chips
Ed is a library of Edu Apps & Edu books. He's bought nearly every title &app!
A5 this is presently tough for me, we're 1:1 now, so a lot is done online, HS apathy can be strong
A5: Loved introducing controversial topics. Keeps students engaged until the bell (and sometimes after)
A5 ask the kids, where could we go next?Abandon plans! How could this be more engaging? What should we DO with this learning?
A5 - It's all about diversity - you can't do the same lesson structure every day. Even the best lessons get stale!
Q5 Snowball-show a question.Ss answer&wad up paper&throw it in the air.Pick up a different paper&go there.
Sampling a whole bunch this year! :) So many good ones out there!
Love that! Haven't done that one in years!
I got it from Middle School Debate protocols and just absorbed it into class
YES ask them to predict or "what if" type Qs...... or even "what would happen..."
Must check it out when is done!
A5: There is plenty injustice in local, regional, national, global regions to get Ss engaged. Just have to keep trying.
a5 -- have Ss move around and ask questions & more questions & more questions. Get bodies and brains working to re-engage
A5 Change method. Bring in music, art,graphic novels, controversial issues, & debates, take them outside for hands on activity
When you can get students involved in some sort of Service Learning piece, excitement comes back. Ss want to DO!
No doubt! Mixing up the activities within the lessons are key too. Need to do more brain breaks also!
allowing them to move freely is so important.
talk about quick and low tech. Have to remember this one
Breaking News... My state sucks.
YES I am learning more about Project/Problem based learning, and find that Ss love it, just getting my feet wet!
Come back next week! is leading part 2 of our PBL chat.
A5- have Ss adopt a country & apply the big WG concepts from each unit to that country to see relevance.
A6 On good days, the last 5 minutes looked a lot like the first 5.
A6 some kind of consolidation through discussion, reflection, asking a question, exit pass, or reading aloud for a brain break
A5 A challenge for me this year. If nothing else, work on relationship. Find a personal connection to topic.
A6 Ideally, I'd have Exit Slips, but I don't do them enough...
A6: Practice with HS Ss what they are going to tell their parents when they are ask what they learned in school today.
A6 Usually we don't realize the end has come.
Me-What do you do with my chairs?
Ss-Push them in!
Me-Get out of my classroom!
One of the things I have ended with is a preview of what's next - be a tease.
A6: Wish I could say it was always review and "exit ticket" moments. Sometimes just rushing to finish. It happens.
A5: This happened last week ... I AirPlay my iPhone to the projector and explored Twitter lists for current events
I have to run. Thanks !! Wore me out trying to remotely keep up tonight!
3-2-1(3 things learned, 2 things U found interesting 1 ? U still have), 1 sentence summary, Instagram/Twitter style exit slips
A6: main points & coming up. Sometimes mini discussions or group project time.
A6: Definitely exit slips or LSAs
A6 - hopefully a couple of questions to wrap up and review what we discussed in class
A6 Exit slips, mostly. Jeff from Colorado
haha, no, maybe one of them.
A6: last 5 minutes of class is debrief on learning, what's working, what's not, where are we, where are we going
enjoying reading thru and catching up on tonight's chat🌏🌎
Definitely need to build in more Ss reflection. I'm doing that tomorrow about our most recent project
A6 Final check in
1 What's 1 thing we did well today?
2 What's 1 thing we can improve on today?
3 What's 1 question you have?
A5 wrap up with some sort of exit strategy (Q slip, Q & A, synthesis, True/False, picture, etc)
this works for an end to as well! https://t.co/h3ENxGlLjj
A6 Final check in
1 What's 1 thing we did well today?
2 What's 1 thing we can improve on today?
3 What's 1 question you have?
love the idea of a twitter style exit slip! Great for kids who struggle with writing too, only 140 characters! thnx
Kinda like the last 5 minutes of.... :)
A6: exit ticket or Marcia Tate closure strategies
A6 always a struggle to slow down which I need to, have done exit tix, 321, RSQ, tweet your takeaway
Asking Ss what Qs they have is a great way to start their personal reflection on class
Just got a doc camera that I can airplay to. Can't wait to try it out
yes, me too, reflection is hard to fit in.
A5: tough sometimes not to be eaten in the death spiral. Have Ss do flash research & present or debate. Make them teach.
A6 If I am paying attention to the clock, ideal is to revisit learning target, some formative assessment.
This is a good discussion for this time of year. Need the reminders.
Wow. So many ideas shared here tonight!
Also - we are using to archive our chats & resources! Stay tuned for a link to tonight's chat!
Such a GREAT group of Ts at GREAT IDEAS!!
A6 I've started doing a lot of digital exit slips with or or common slides
