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Learning Geography

We frequently see "man on the street" segments on various channels of how ignorant Americans are about geography.  We're not discussing where Burkina Faso is on the map but where the heck is Iowa? Many, too many Americans just don't know.  The why is simple; it is simply not taught well in the schools. 

Here's how I taught my kids the states and the world years ago.  I posted a map of the USA on the wall near the breakfast table.  This map contained only the states without names.  Every morning while the kids were scarfing up their corn flakes, I would point to various states and ask what state it was.  By and by, they knew every state, including the little ones. This took years.  So, repetition over  years does work.  Indeed, this is the way for example that math is taught, though in a more formalized way.

So, let me make a suggestion to teachers for grades K-8.  Every morning, show the map of the USA without names.  Point to states and ask the class which it is.  Begin with the local state, move to its neighbors and then beyond. Some kid will always know, but which kid it is may vary.  In a single school year, a teacher can cover this map at least four times.  The process takes two minutes - max. Now multiply this effect over eight years.  The good students will learn them all, and these mini-lessons will last a lifetime.  Even the dullest student will pick up a lot, and know something important, namely the lay of our Land.

This is "reinforced learning."   It is the way the coach teaches the team.

Speaking of two minute lessons, the teacher can also stage a "word of the day" event.  Give a word, give the definition.  Repeat two or three times a day.  Reinforce throughout the week. This does work.  At this age student brains are sponges and they learn despite their best efforts not to. 
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