May 7, 2014

Promoting Geo-Literacy Across Texas

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

The Texas Alliance thanks all of you for your dedication to the children of Texas and to geography education. You are an inspiration to others, and we truly appreciate your hardwork and committment to making the world a better place.

-- Texas Alliance for Geographic Education

Elementary Geography Challenge

National Geographic is conducting the Elementary Geography Challenge The Texas Alliance is looking for elementary teachers to participate in the challenge to identify Texas' Landscapes and Landmarks using GeoTours.

If you are interested or have any questions, please email Maggie at mhutchins@txstate.edu. There will be a webinar on May 15 at 6:00 pm EDT to show us all how to create a geotour, how to work with copyright issues, and deadlines involved with the Landscapes and Landmarks challenge.

Please share this opportunity with your fellow teachers.

How Do You Use the MapMaker Interactive?

National Geographic needs your help to find great examples of how educators are using the MapMaker Interactive in their teaching and learning environments. Please fill out this survey to share with us your great ideas and experiences teaching and engaging students with the MapMaker Interactive tool.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B9VT3BW

Texas Tabletop Map

National Geographic has a new FREE resource for educators: free tabletop-sized state maps.

The maps were designed to reflect spatial thinking research at the elementary level. All maps are the appropriate size and visually represent the appropriate amount of information for K-5 students. However, they can be used by any grade level.

Click below for the Texas Tabletop Map
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/maps/texas-tabletop-map/?ar_a=1

Accepting TCSS GeoStrand Proposals

TAGE is proud to partner with TCSS in organizing a geography strand for social studies educators at the 62nd Annual TCSS Fall Conference. All presentations are 1 hour and 15 minutes. TAGE is unable to pay the registration fee for presenters this year, but we are still sponsoring the strand and hope you will consider submitting a proposal. Presenters will need to register for the conference directly through TCSS.

Proposal deadline is June 30
Submit your GeoStrand Proposal

Food!
Geography Awareness Week 2014

This year's GeoWeek theme is Food! Look for more information in our next newsletter, but in the meantime visit natgeofood.com to learn more about the geography of food.

TEA Releases FAQs on Foundation HS Program Requirements

Foundation High School Program FAQs--March 2014 (PDF, 549KB)

We recommend reading the entire document. It's a quick six pages and very informative. The document addresses social studies specifically on page 5:

Social Studies
1. Do districts have the discretion to require both World Geography and World History for all students?
Yes. School districts have the authority to establish requirements in addition to what the state requires of students for graduation. This is a local decision.

2. Can districts place students in a semester of World Geography and a semester of World History to satisfy the combined World History/World Geography requirement?
No. The SBOE must adopt Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for a combined World History/World Geography course before this will be an option available to students.

The Texas Alliance recommends that districts require both World Geography and World History for all students. Read our statement.

We are also surveying campuses on plans to implement education reforms outlined in House Bill 5. Please complete the brief survey at http://bit.ly/1cpYHSv.

A World Transformed: The Geography of SE Asia

Visit TAGE's free online learning unit developed to assist teachers in providing a rigorous level of instruction on geographic concepts to high school students. Although this unit is focused regionally on Southeast Asia, content is provided within six geographic modules - physical geography, culture and religion, economic geography, environmental degradation, climate change and impact, and globalization. Learn more

Texas Alliance for Geographic Education

512.245.3827

tagemetexas@gmail.com

www.geo.txstate.edu/tage

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