Are you a future K12 teacher or teacher educator who is interested in advancing the teaching of geography? If so, this GeoCircles conversation is for you! We will discuss the significance of geographic thinking in the social studies, the importance of place connection, active involvement in stewardship, and the role geography can play in students’ understanding of, and action in, their local communities. Resources for improving your knowledge of geography and ideas for geographic-oriented projects at all grade levels will be showcased, so come prepared to share your favorites.
Kelly León is an Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). Prior to moving to UWGB, she worked for nineteen years as a social studies teacher in a large urban school district in southern California. She led efforts to reconceptualize and update her district’s required 9th grade human geography course and also taught human geography for many years. Kelly completed her undergraduate degree, bilingual teaching credential, and M.E.d in Policy Studies in Language & Cross-Cultural Education at San Diego State University and is finishing her PhD in Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego. Kelly is passionate about the role geography can play in a young person’s education and issues related to educational justice.
Thomas Herman is a Research Fellow in the Geography Department at San Diego State University, Director of the California Geographic Alliance, and Program Director for the California Global Education Project. In addition to 16 years of teaching at the University level, he has experience designing and leading teacher professional learning programs, developing curriculum resources, and advocating for geography education in K12 at local, state, and federal levels.
