Thursday, April 2, 2015
Regions of the world
One of the great things about Geo-Centric Learning is that daily worksheets and explorations take place in the context of regions of the world. Students learn about current events, ecosystems, types of government, and arts while discovering countries of the world.
When students look at math or science or social studies within a region of the world, it brings learning to life!
Friday, March 6, 2015
What about national and state standards and the common core?
Geo-Centric Learning is correlated to national standards, not state standards. Those standards are noted at the top of each worksheet. And a correlation exists to show the spread and coverage of national standards throughout each grade.
National standards for learning are nothing new. Each subject area has national standards, generally developed by groups of teachers such as The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Lately, national standards have received much press with the implementation of The Common Core for Math and English/Language Arts. And more recently the controversial Parcc and Smarter Balanced Testing initiatives have made headlines.
This curriculum does include The Common Core standards for math and English, however, this curriculum does not endorse their implementation or the testing initiatives. The mathematics presented in this curriculum, in particular, is taught in such a way as to cover The Common Core, but is also taught in a traditional algorithmic manner. My career as a writer and editor for math and science curriculum has given me a unique perspective into these trends.
If you have a question about how the standards are used in this curriculum, please ask. There is a contact box on the front page of the blog. I would be glad to answer any questions!
Links to standards:
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Finding a curriculum for your child
It's challenging to find a curriculum to meet all of the needs of your particular child. Most children have areas of strength and areas of weakness. Most educational curriculum is designed to hit that middle ground. Admittedly, there are children in the middle, but most are not in the middle of one grade level for all subjects. This curriculum is not the answer to this dilemma. There will always be a need for modifications, but the design of Geo-Centric Learning is such that students have easy entry and "go-beyond" capability in one location.
Another advantage of Geo-Centric Learning is that it's engaging. To learn math within the context of learning about Uganda or learn economics while learning about French Polynesia is something that will keep students interested and curious. Geography and countries of the world are the contextual backdrop for learning music, art, and technology in addition to core subjects.
When a child figures out that he can direct his learning and that he can keep going down a path, initiative turns into a lifelong-learning habit. When a child can choose to go deeper, the door opens to authentic learning. Encourage your child today!
Another advantage of Geo-Centric Learning is that it's engaging. To learn math within the context of learning about Uganda or learn economics while learning about French Polynesia is something that will keep students interested and curious. Geography and countries of the world are the contextual backdrop for learning music, art, and technology in addition to core subjects.
When a child figures out that he can direct his learning and that he can keep going down a path, initiative turns into a lifelong-learning habit. When a child can choose to go deeper, the door opens to authentic learning. Encourage your child today!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Guide your child on a learning adventure...
About 15 years ago, I decided to pull my children from Christian school and home school them for two years. It's a long story with many mitigating factors. But the paramount reason for home schooling my children was that their unique needs were not being met. All three children had deficits and gifts, and the school was "teaching to the middle" and not really challenging them.
As a mom, I found myself looking for a curriculum to use with my children. What I have developed is a curriculum that met the needs of my children, but it might meet the needs of yours as well.
Geo-Centric Learning Curriculum is designed for Grades 6, 7, and 8. The
curriculum is designed to teach each major subject area within a context of a
region of the world. Regions are divided into macro geographical (continental)
regions and sub-regions. The curriculum is designed for easy entry for
students of all levels. And the curriculum is open-ended for students of all
levels to excel beyond grade level. The goal is to build curiosity and extend
learning beyond a typical worksheet or set of questions.
15 regions are covered each year. Approximately 2 ½
weeks are spent per region including lessons, explorations, and assessments.
As a mom, I found myself looking for a curriculum to use with my children. What I have developed is a curriculum that met the needs of my children, but it might meet the needs of yours as well.
Geo-Centric Learning Curriculum is designed for Grades 6, 7, and 8. The
curriculum is designed to teach each major subject area within a context of a
region of the world. Regions are divided into macro geographical (continental)
regions and sub-regions. The curriculum is designed for easy entry for
students of all levels. And the curriculum is open-ended for students of all
levels to excel beyond grade level. The goal is to build curiosity and extend
learning beyond a typical worksheet or set of questions.15 regions are covered each year. Approximately 2 ½
weeks are spent per region including lessons, explorations, and assessments.
The textbooks for this curriculum are simple. All you need is an atlas and an almanac.
Subject Areas: Core
English/Language
Arts
Math
Social
Studies/History
Science
Subject Areas: Other Areas Integrated
Music
Health
Geography
Technology
Arts
World
Languages
World
Religions
Spelling/Vocabulary
How Students Learn
Geo-centric learning meets multiple learning styles- auditory,
visual, and kinesthetic. The curriculum encourages exploration and builds cross-curricular connections. This curriculum is uniquely designed to meet the deficits and strengths of
students. Students are exposed to other cultures. And this curriculum gives students multiple ways to connect
what they learn to prior knowledge.
Important Key Components
- integrate national standards, including but not limited to Common Core and Next Generation State Science Standards
- link to technology and efficient ways to find and evaluate sources of information
- determine safe internet searching
- find multiple ways to gather information, choose a strategy, and solve problems
- build in reversibility-flexibility-generalization to allow for analytical problem solving
- integrate algebra skills (algebra is a limiting reagent)
- easy entry for all students
- sufficiently difficult and open-ended to provide challenge
What is not taught?
Foreign language and religion is not taught in this curriculum.
Stay tuned for more information on this exciting upcoming curriculum release...
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
About Kelli
Biography
Kelli Bergheimer is a writer and editor for k-12 math and science educational products- both print and digital. She is a former teacher and homeschool mom. She is a small business owner of a genealogical organization company called Mess on the Desk, and she is a nature photographer.
Education
Kelli holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, a Master’s in Management, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
For information about this curriculum:
kelli.geocentriclearning@gmail.com
For information about this curriculum:
kelli.geocentriclearning@gmail.com
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