MayraGuerraLoopingSketchbook

When I thought Geography, I thought about places and where they are located on the map.  I think the way I was taught in elementary and middle school has a lot to do with that. After reading the TEKS, I know it is much more than just that.  When I read Walking and Talking Geography: A Small World Approach, I see the importance of familiarizing students with their immediate surroundings.  This is where they will make the connections they will need to understand these concepts.  One of the TEKS, 2.7d, is to identify the characteristics of different communities, including urban, suburban, and rural.  It is what I am currently teaching in Social Studies.  My students have had discussions and made drawings to show differences.  In our first discussion, they connected this to Houston, Humble (my placement), and then further north on 59.  These are some of their drawings.

Civil Rights Marchers - 1963 Suffragist March - 1917 I student teach in a 2 nd grade classroom.   I really loved this Black Ants and Buddhists chapter because it makes me think of my voting lesson for this past election in November.   It was my observation lesson.   In this lesson, I discussed all the elements of the election process.   I also discussed the importance of voting.   We went through the whole process, filled out registration forms, and voted as well.   After reading this chapter, I see I could have done so much more.   I think this lesson went deeper.   I wish I would have been comfortable enough to do that.   I think sometimes we tiptoe around things to avoid those deep and hard conversations.   Voting is our right and responsibility. But why? Emphasizing and really elaborating on all the things that are part of it is important.  When we talk to our students about these important things it makes them th...