Geography with Parents
10/13/2017
According to National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools, when parents are involved in their children's education, children succeed at higher rates. Students perform better and are more likely to graduate and continue onto college. At PNA, parent involvement is encouraged, valued, and appreciated. The school would not be where it is now without the support of PNA parents. One of the opportunities for parents to be involved is through Parent Lunch. It is a time when parents or guardians join the class and experience their child's learning environment. In third grade, parents and guardians joined the class launch of their Geography unit, having Parent Snack as an entry event. PNA does not have a set textbook for social studies so teachers use a variety of resources. A teaching kit was borrowed from Public Lands to teach the kids about Alaska. The kit was opened in class, and we discovered that it is somewhat outdated and missing some things. This is a real world problem that calls for a PBL project with the driving question: "What can we, as geographers, add to Public Land's Great Alaskan kit to teach other classrooms about Alaskan regions?" In order to answer the driving question, what are the things students need to learn? One of the students answered, "Maps!" So the third graders together with their parents or guardians used their map skills for an "Alaskan Map Quest". They answered questions together that helped the students explore the Alaskan map. After the class activity, parents, guardians, and students enjoyed a scrumptious snack together. Parent Snack provides parents an opportunity to experience how it is to be a third grader and at the same time it gives students a sense of security to know that their parents and the school are a team working together to support them all the way. Parent Feedback:"Instead of the kids preparing a presentation for us, we joined them in class as they started their geography unit. We worked on a collaborative assignment using maps and printed materials about Alaska to answer questions about the state. It was fun to see all our kids engaged and confidently hunting for information, problem-solving with parents and peers, and thinking about geography in a very hands-on, real-world way. Also, there were cookies. :-)" - Cheryl M.
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Jessica GrahamMs. Graham graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, and is currently working on her master's in reading. She enjoys hiking, traveling, arts & crafts, and playing the ukulele. Archives
April 2021
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