Categories for Home School Geography

Video Transcript

"In response to the poor American performance, internationally and geographical literacy, 18 geography standards were developed. In an attempt to define at four different grade level benchmarks, what students should know in terms of their geographical education? These 18 standards were further divided into the following six categories: The World in Spatial Terms Places and Regions Physical Systems Human Systems Environment and Society The Uses of Geography These are designed in order to help teachers know what to teach and when to teach it. Standards are one thing, academic performance are another. In a 1998 evaluation of how states were measuring up to these new geography standards, only three states received an 'A'. Among these were Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. There were three 'B's, nine 'C's, six states received 'D's, and 18 states received an 'F'. Another 12 were not graded at all because either they did not have any standards for geography or they were incomplete. My purpose in pointing this out is even though the standards look great on paper, most public schools are not measuring up to the national geographic standards. Home schooling is so different in philosophy and in method that much of the what and when to teach of the geography standards do not apply or will apply differently than it does in the public school. However, the geography standards do provide an excellent place to start. Especially if you are not particularly geographically literate yourself or if you are wondering what to teach your child and what geography really encompasses. If you are interested in exploring these standards further, you can do so by visiting the website of the National Council for Geographic Educators online at www.ncge.org."