GeoMath Articulating Geography to Tested Mathematics Skills in Elementary Schools: The Arizona...
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Transcript of GeoMath Articulating Geography to Tested Mathematics Skills in Elementary Schools: The Arizona...
GeoMath
Articulating Geography to Tested Mathematics Skills in Elementary Schools:
The Arizona Experience
What is GeoMath?
• designed for the K-8 classroom
• 85 “stand alone” lessons that enhance geography learning and practice math skills in contextual situations
Why GeoMath?No Child Left Behind (NCLB) means geography is
NOT being taught in most K-6 classrooms
• Teachers are spending most of the school day teaching reading, writing, and math
• Teacher pay is tied to student performance• Schools are labeled as to “performing” or
“underperforming” with rewards and punishments forthcoming
• Our survey shows that K-6 teachers are spending less than 30 minutes per week on geography in most Arizona classrooms
Why GeoMath?
• Integration of geography and mathematics means that students will still be learning geography
• Using geography content can improve student performance on math skills
What are some of the features of GeoMath?
• “Stand Alone” lessons• Hands-On activities• Real life applications• Teacher inspired• Everything you need
to teach the lessons
What are features unique to GeoMath?• Student worksheets• Answer keys• Student samples• Animations• Copyright free
images• Extension ideas
• Maps and more maps
• Content rich reading (National Geographic Society books and current children’s literature)
• Assessments
More Specialized Maps Created by the Cartography Department at Arizona State University
• Primary Level Road Map
• Bird’s Eye View• World Time Zones• U.S. Natural Disasters• Physical Regions of the
U.S.• Explorers’ Trails
Through AZ
Which AZ school districts piloted the lessons?
Bisbee Blue Cartwright Catholic Diocese Chandler Cottonwood Deer Valley Flagstaff Gilbert Glendale Homeschoolers Kingman
Kyrene Madison Mesa Payson Peoria Private Schools Round Valley Sacaton Scottsdale Sierra Vista Sunnyside Tucson Washington
What kind of students were in the piloting program?
• 2,671 Students with a Diverse Background (see below)
• 10% were English Language Learners
• 31% were from low income families
Student Ethnicity
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
White Black Asian NativeAmerican
Hispanic
K,34,56,8State
Does GeoMath teach math?
And teachers reported that they felt more comfortable teaching these math skills after the GeoMath lesson.
What kinds of math are being taught?
Analyzing geographical information using charts and graphs
Measuring using map scale Using stem-and-leaf, box-and-
whiskers, and scatter plots to analyze climate information
Learning about positive and negative numbers using elevation
Learning shapes and making maps
Finding tessellations in Moroccan mosaics
Determining percentages of foreign born Americans and religions in Jerusalem
Finding measures of central tendency using elevation of the Grand Canyon
Using ZIP codes to learn about mathematical codes
Sorting and classifying using U.S. postcards
Does GeoMath teach geography?
Over half of students scored 80% or higher level on the assessments provided in the lesson
What sort of technology is needed?• Any computer that
has a web browser• Internet is only
needed to access websites which can be additional resources
• CD is for instructor’s use
How can I get more information?
Contact: Gale Olp Ekiss([email protected])
or go to http://alliance.la.asu.edu/azga/