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My High School Granddaugher Thought Alaksa was an Island.

LadyMoonlight said:
Is the curriculum not set by the state government? We have to follow syllabus points for every subject taught in every school and have a register to prove what we taught each year.
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For everything except Social Studies, yes.
 
Bodhisattva said:
I have had students not know which ocean was the Pacific. When teaching in a beach city in CA.

Students who thought places like Texas were in Europe, etc.
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I pointed out India a few weeks ago (teaching Christmas Around the World) and one of the kids yelled out "Texas!" I was pleased by that since he had in his head the shape of Texas which is similar to India.
 
Bodhisattva said:
I have had students not know which ocean was the Pacific. When teaching in a beach city in CA.

Students who thought places like Texas were in Europe, etc.
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Look on the bright side! At least they had heard of Europe.
 
Josie said:
I pointed out India a few weeks ago (teaching Christmas Around the World) and one of the kids yelled out "Texas!" I was pleased by that since he had in his head the shape of Texas which is similar to India.
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Shhhh, Josie. Don't tell any Texans that! ;)
 
Just because American kids are the only ones tested on their geographical knowledge, doesn't mean they are the only ones who don't know.

As a foreigner in America, there is a distinct lack of geographical knowledge by American people in general. I don't know if it arises from American exceptionalism or what, but it's there. I've been told by quite a few different adults that my 'English is good for a foreigner', even though they knew I was from England.
 
Josie said:
Most kids think Alaska and Hawaii are south of the US.....because....

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It's really sad that she's in high school and still doesn't have an accurate picture of the world or US map in her head.
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Actually, Alaska and Hawaii are part of the US.
 
Nilly said:
Just because American kids are the only ones tested on their geographical knowledge, doesn't mean they are the only ones who don't know.

As a foreigner in America, there is a distinct lack of geographical knowledge by American people in general. I don't know if it arises from American exceptionalism or what, but it's there. I've been told by quite a few different adults that my 'English is good for a foreigner', even though they knew I was from England.
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Well, if you'd quit calling chips "crisps" and trucks "lorries" you might not get as much of that;)
 
Lutherf said:
Well, if you'd quit calling chips "crisps" and trucks "lorries" you might not get as much of that;)
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Brits speak better English than Kiwi's do though.
 
The idea that Americans have a poor understanding of geography of course is not new. It goes back at least 15 years. Probably much longer.

I am surprised they do not know the states however, and the capitals of each. I had thought that would have been something to learn around grade 4-6
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
The idea that Americans have a poor understanding of geography of course is not new. It goes back at least 15 years. Probably much longer.

I am surprised they do not know the states however, and the capitals of each. I had thought that would have been something to learn around grade 4-6
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Used to be, mostly got tossed for other things....the Three R's, liberal indoctrination, mandatory mass testing...
 
Μολὼν λαβέ;1066770155 said:
Actually, Alaska and Hawaii are part of the US.
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?? I know.
 
On another note, my students are finally answering a question like "Name a country other than America" with answers like China, India, Russia (hm...never talked about Russia as far as I know...wonder where he heard that one :p ), Mexico instead of California, Texas and New York. I still have a few who don't know the difference, but I'm working on it.
 
Josie said:
On another note, my students are finally answering a question like "Name a country other than America" with answers like China, India, Russia (hm...never talked about Russia as far as I know...wonder where he heard that one :p ), Mexico instead of California, Texas and New York. I still have a few who don't know the difference, but I'm working on it.
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When I was younger than your students I had picture puzzles of US and world maps. Come to think of it, I also had parents who would show me maps of places in stories they read me. For example, I could pick out France because that's where Anatole the Mouse lived.
 
Lutherf said:
When I was younger than your students I had picture puzzles of US and world maps. Come to think of it, I also had parents who would show me maps of places in stories they read me. For example, I could pick out France because that's where Anatole the Mouse lived.
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My kids know that when they ask a question about where a place is etc i immediately grab the globe and start teaching. They love it and hate it.
 
Bodhisattva said:
My kids know that when they ask a question about where a place is etc i immediately grab the globe and start teaching. They love it and hate it.
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I do that too. :)
 
Josie said:
I do that too. :)
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They love it. They learn about the seasons and the tides and our planetery magnetic fields/northen lights... fun.
 
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