1. GeoLiteracy Using Geography to Practice Content-Rich Reading and Writing Skills

2. Why GeoLiteracy? 4To increase student achievement on state- mandated tests 4To promote geographic education 4To practice reading and writing skills 4To maximize classroom instruction time 4Compliant with No Child Left Behind l Research based (Whitehurst, 2003) - with controlled randomized studies in mixed socioeconomic schools (Hinde et al., 2005) l Based on standards

3. Why GeoLiteracy? Ü To assist in meeting NCLB and Accreditation goals Ü To help students with limited English language skills Ü To create a link between tested language arts skills and geography content

4. What are GeoLiteracy lessons? K-8 lessons that: HIntegrate geography content with reading and writing skills HImprove student skills HMotivate student learning HAssess student achievement HWinner of the NCSS/Cram Grant Award

5. How do GeoLiteracy Lessons Motivate? GeoLiteracy lessons motivate students through: HOral histories HHands-on activities HMap making activities HDiverse writing projects such as public service announcements and newspaper articles

6. How do GeoLiteracy Lessons Assess Student Achievement? GeoLiteracy lessons assess achievement in reading, writing, and geography by using: HThe 6 Trait Writing Rubric HThe format of standardized achievement tests HObservation assessments HMultiple choice tests

7. Who created the lessons? - Teacher Consultants from the Arizona Geographic Alliance - National Board Certified Teachers - An Assessment Specialist from Mesa Public Schools - Department of Geography personnel from Arizona State University

8. Who funded the development of the GeoLiteracy Project?

9. What are some of the 23 lessons for grades K-3? FIf These Walls Could Talk: Learning about human features of a community FA Walk Around School: Mapping how to get from one place to another FCatch Me If You Can: Recognizing relative location terms FMe on a Map: Comprehending that homes make neighborhoods and neighborhoods make a community FRecycle, Reduce, Reuse, and Save Trees: Conserving natural resources FSticks, Stones, Sinews and Stuff: Using the environment to meet basic needs FNina Bonita: Mapping Nina’s world and understanding tolerance FI Am a Rock. I Am an Island: Identifying landforms and water bodies

10. What are some of the 25 lessons for grades 4-5? sWestward Ho: Reading fictional diaries and mapping a journey on the Oregon Trail sBirth of a Rocky Mountain Town: Learning how humans respond to natural features sLet’s Travel: Creating a travel brochure of state landmarks explaining why tourists should visit them sTake Me to The River: Recognizing how a dam has affected the humans living in the area sThe Mountain Community: Understanding how physical landscapes and economic conditions influence the settlement of people sMaize to Maquiladoras: Tracking the historical movement of people, ideas, and goods from Mexico to the U.S. sBut We Need More: Examining pollution and water conservation issues

11. What are some of the 33 lessons for grades 6-8? nOver and Through: Categorizing physical geography terms nIs There a Map in That Story? Drawing a map from a written description nName that Place: Discovering the word origins of place names in the U.S. nLetter from a Leader: Writing a letter as if students lived in an ancient civilization nWho’s a Noodlehead? Examining cultures to find commonalities nWelcome to My World: Learning how being born male or female in some countries can influence a person’s future nDesertification: Determining the causes and effects of desertification nThree Gorges Dam: Analyzing the pros and cons of building a controversial dam

12. Wow! 4A total of over 80 lessons 4Each is classroom ready 4Available on CD ROM

13. And Wow!! Student samples for many of the lessons!

14. How do I know the lessons work? DPiloted with over 5,300 AZ students DPiloted by 100+ AZ teachers, in more than 20 AZ school districts DNow used in more than 50 school districts in AZ, MI, North Carolina, NY, South Carolina and more DRigorous randomized control testing shows statistically significant improvement in non-fiction reading skills in grades 3-7 DFor example:

15. How do I know the lessons work? Piloted and Control Tested With Diverse Populations

16. How do I know the lessons work? Piloted and Control-Tested with diverse populations

17. How successful were the lessons? Arizona data showed: 85% s 85% of students scored 80% or higher on geography the geography assessment 84% s 84% of students scored 80% or higher on reading the reading assessment 78% s 78% of students scored 80% or higher on writing the writing assessment

18. NCLB Requires Strong Evidence: Randomized controlled study (Hinde et al. (2005) reveals GeoLiteracy Intervention:  The intervention, that is the teaching of 3 to 5 GeoLiteracy lessons, was conducted by teachers in grades 3 through 8 to their students in economically and ethnically diverse schools in Arizona and Michigan.  The control groups consisted of teachers of the same grade and school as the intervention groups. The control teachers did not teach any of the GeoLiteracy lessons; they merely continued teaching their regular reading program. All groups administered a pre and post-test of reading comprehension at the same time. s Grades 3-7 showed highly statistically significant improvement in non-fiction reading (8th grade showed improvement, but sample was too small for statistical testing)

19. What materials are needed? High quality children’s books  National Geographic series: Windows on Literacy Reading Expeditions  Familiar children’s literature

20. What are examples of the children’s literature used? MANY library MANY of the GeoLiteracy materials are in your library:  River Ran Wild  Ramona Quimby books  Gingerbread Man  Red Riding Hood  The Lorax  The Cherokee  Nina Bonita  Year of the Ranch  Noodlehead Stories  Edward and the Pirates  Talking Walls  Alejandro’s Gift  Me on the Map  The Desert is Theirs  Rosie’s Walk  Roxaboxen  This is the Tree

21. Why should you consider creating a GeoLiteracy program for your school and district? HInnovative approach to integrating geography and language arts HBased on your state and national standards HBased on your state-mandated tests HControlled randomized testing shows it increases performance in non-fiction reading HAnd the copyright-free maps you can put on your district’s server! Wow! The CD you are given is filled with them.

22. So what can you include in your GeoLiteracy Program? ð Lesson plans in easy format ð On-line reviews and editing ð Contemporary literature ð Assessments based on your state’s mandated tests ð Student samples ð Customized maps ð Rubrics for grading ð Updates ð Links to other subjects (math)

23. Parallel Program: 85 more lessons to illustrate the integration of geography and math  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 geometric shapes and making maps

24. Questions????? Gale Olp Ekiss, AzGA co-coordinator GBEkiss@aol.com Jeannine Kuropatkin, AzGA Teacher Consultant jkuropatkin@cox.net Ronald I. Dorn, AzGA co-coordinator ronald.dorn@asu.edu Department of Geography Arizona State University PO Box 870104 Tempe, AZ 85287-0104