Monday, March 26, 2012

Gifted Gab and the Classroom Corner-Fun at GAGC!

Last week my colleague and I were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to present at the GAGC conference held at Callaway Gardens.  Not only were we able to present, but we also got to hear outstanding presentations from educators all around the state of GA! 
It was exhausting and energizing all at the same time!

The title of our presentation was "Let's Go:  Creatively Transforming Your Students into Global Thinkers!"  We invited educators to come aboard for a travel transformation!  Tina and I shared how we have begun to weave geography throughout our units of study and how we now make a conscious effort to implement a geography strand for all of our students in grades K-5th.  It is unbelievable to think about just how connected the world now is...our students will contend with global political issues, global economic issues, and global communications!  In the last 2 years, Tina and I really began to recognize our tremendous responsibility to educate our students about geography and global issues! 

We had an absolutely wonderful time at the conference and were thrilled to meet so many talented and energetic teachers.  Below are a few pictures taken before our presentation, as well as photos of the Exploration Stations that we shared...
Some of you have asked about the materials we presented.  Below are just a few examples of how we have heightened global awareness in our own classrooms--both by teaching geography in isolation and by adding a geography thread to existing units.  Feel free to view any of these related resources by clicking the links below.  I would also love to hear how you are incorporating global studies into your own classrooms. 

Just one more note...we have also loved using the text pictured below, Around the World in 80 Tales, with our students as an additional literacy connection.   
Around the World in 80 Tales
Hope you are inspired to think globally in your own classroom!  Shannon :-)









2 comments:

  1. Hello!
    My name is Mandy Gregory! I am a third grade teacher in GA. I was contacted by a fellow blogger, Abby at the Third Grade Bookworm, and she hatched the idea for a Georgia blogger/ blog follower meet up! I wanted to reach out and personally invite you. We will be meeting on Wednesday, April 4th (I think this is many metro counties' Spring Break) at the California Pizza Kitchen by Perimeter mall. We thought this might be a somewhat central location. We would love to have you join us!
    Please respond back as soon as possible so we can get a head count and contact the restaurant if needed!
    I hope we get a chance to meet and chat soon!
    Mandy
    http://mandys-tips-4-teachers.blogspot.com/

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  2. Mandy, thank you so much for the invitation! It is our spring break, but because of scheduled plans, I won't be able to make it :-( I hope you all have a great meeting!!! Can't wait to hear how it goes, and I am heading over right now to check out your blog as well! Shannon :-)

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