Guilford Press

Teaching Geography

Teaching Geography

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About the Book

A light-hearted and accessible style from leading geography educator Phil Gersmehl, this volume presents a complete conceptual framework and hands-on ideas for effective geography instruction in today's middle and secondary classrooms. The focus is on the 'whats' and 'hows' of helping students develop spatial thinking skills while learning about the land, climate, economy, and culture of places around the world. Some of the areas covered in this comprehensive resource include:

* cognitive psychology and geography
* geographical skills
* understanding resistance to educational change
* a way of looking at the world.

Nearly one hundred engaging activities are provided in reproducible transparency masters that can be photocopied from the book or projected from the accompanying CD-ROM, which also contains information about national and state geography standards and animations that model the skills discussed. Featuring standards-based curriculum materials and assessments, this is an ideal pre-service or in-service text as well as a practical resource that teachers will want to bring back to their classrooms.

Reviews

"Gersmehl’s book intertwines geographic content, classroom practice, and theory. Engaging narratives and rich examples bring geographic content and spatial-thinking skills to life. The author makes classroom practices accessible through instructional suggestions that will resonate with both new and experienced teachers. Theory is creatively used to focus content and practice on the learner. This book is an essential resource for present and future teachers of geography and social studies." - Joseph P. Stoltman, Department of Geography and Science Education, Western Michigan University, USA

"Teaching Geography offers a vast range of approaches to illustrate spatial concepts-whether topical or regional, local or global-allowing for flexibility to suit a particular teaching style, classroom setting, or discipline. The second edition includes findings from recent brain research indicating that students who have acquired spatial skills do better in other subjects as well. Gersmehl counters the question: 'Why teach geography?' with the more important question, 'Why not teach geography?' This book should be required reading for teachers at all grade levels, from preservice to beginner to veteran, and will be a valuable resource for administrators and others making decisions about curriculum." - Gail L. Hobbs, Department of Geography, Pierce College, Woodland Hills, California; past president, National Council for Geographic Education, USA

"A giant in geographic education, Gersmehl writes in elegant prose. This book is an eminently useful resource for new teachers of geography, university teachers, and even for old pros in the classroom." - Kathy Sundstedt, social studies teacher, grades 7-12, New Hartford-Dike Junior High, New Hartford, Iowa, USA

Table of Contents

Introduction: Before We Start. One Perspective: A Way of Looking at the World. Two Blades of a Scissors: Logical Cooperation. Three Strands of Meaning: Cognitive Psychology and Geography. Four Cornerstones: Foundation Ideas of Geography. Five Themes: Meeting the Standards. Spatial Thinking: Geographical Skills. Three Kinds of Tests for Three Kinds of Meaning. A Multiwheeled Cart: Understanding Resistance to Educational Change. Pairs of Tools, Working in Cooperation. A Window on the World.

About the Author(s)

Phil Gersmehl, New York Center for Geographic Learning, Hunter College, City University of New York, USA