Geography

Okay here is a confession. I don't know my geography. I don't know what happened, I really honestly don't remember there being a big emphasis on geography when I was in school. I was a good student, not the best, but good and I am sure that if I had a problem with it I would have remembered. I am sure we did have to learn where things were in the world, and I just learned it for the test. All I know is that it is not one of my strengths.

My curriculum puts a huge emphasis on it. And I want my kids to really learn it. It is so important. I don't want them to learn it for the test or to please me, I want them to know how important it is to know the world around you and to be informed.

I think this rant all came about when I was listening to a mom help her kid the other night with his geography. We were at basketball practice and he was supposed to know all his Midwestern states and their capitals by the end of the week for the test. The mom was putting such an emphasis on learning it for the test that I knew that even if he did learn it in time for the test he was not going to retain it. He as much as told his mom this. How sad. It is such an important thing. I love that we can immerse ourselves in the area and really learn it and not have the pressure that you have to pass the test.

So I urge parents who have their kids in school to encourage creativity in their kids learning and to help them learn it for real and not just to pass a test. I am living proof that that system doesn't work!!

Kristen