Guilford Press

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• Paperback: 278 pages
• Published: June 2005
• ISBN: 978-1-59385-154-5
• Publisher: Guilford Press

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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.

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.

Reviews

With humor, wit, and a unique perspective, Gersmehl blends content and pedagogy in an intriguing yet practical manner. Both experienced educators and first-year teachers will find this book useful and inspiring. Especially valuable is Gersmehl's concrete contribution to the emerging yet elusive and abstract area of spatial thinking. Teaching Geography communicates the research, experiences, and insights of a master geography educator. -Sarah Witham Bednarz, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University; Project Coordinator, Geography Education National Implementation Project

A 'must' for all courses on geographical pedagogy, whether they be for pre-service or in-service geography and social studies teachers… This is one of those rare textbooks that contains so many 'thinking gems' that you can pick any random spot and, in just five minutes, give yourself a mental lift that banishes the teaching doldrums. In these dark days of teaching to the high-stakes test, it is incredibly refreshing to find an antidote that focuses on teaching to enrich students' lives. -Ron Dorn, Department of Geography, Arizona State University; Co-Coordinator, Arizona Geographic Alliance

This book should be required reading for students in pre-service programs, and will be kept at hand for reference as these future teachers learn how to plan their classes. Gersmehl offers a broad range of approaches to illustrate concepts, whether topical or regional, local or global, allowing for flexibility to suit a particular teaching style or classroom setting. Suggestions for more effective use of media and the discussion of the 'geography of the classroom' are also valuable. This book has much to offer teachers of geography at all levels. - Gail Hobbs, Department of Geography, Pierce College; Past President, National Council for Geographic Education; Former Coordinator, Southern California Geographic Alliance