Summary
In the early 2000s, integrating geography and literacy at the elementary level garnered attention (Gandy, 2006; Holloway, 2015) in the wake of NCLB and the College and Career Readiness Standards. The need for such calls further intensified in the wake of recent nationwide science of reading initiatives and persistent standardized testing. Consequently, elementary teachers’ time constraints further marginalize elementary-level geography. As a result, a stealth approach that integrates Geography with literacy is required to provide meaningful geography instruction in elementary grades (Sekeres & Gregg, 2008). As noted in the Road Map for 21st Century Geography Education, “Geography should be taught wherever it is found – whether in math, science, social studies, literature, technology, or the arts” (Bednarz et al. 2013, p. 10)
This presentation will provide a threefold approach to address marginalization in elementary-level geography. First, reviewing previous scholarly advances in integrating geography and children’s literature offers a clear way forward. Second, examples of effective integration of literature with the Geography for Life Six Essential Elements will be demonstrated. Third, participants will receive an introductory list of elementary geography children’s books and additional resources to empower teachers and teacher educators to integrate elementary geography into quality children’s literature.
Session Focus
Early Childhood/Elementary | Geography for Life | Literacy
Conference Room
Byrd
Meet the Presenter
Jayson Evaniuck is currently Associate Professor of Social Studies and Chair of Educational Specialties at Anderson University in South Carolina. He holds degrees in geography education from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Oregon,and a terminal degree in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership. Prior to his work in higher education, Jayson has 16 years’ experience teaching high school World Geography and History, AP Human Geography, and AP World History in Tennessee. J
Jayson Evaniuck’s research interests are three-fold: educational history , teacher education, and social studies education. At the educational foundations level, he is interested in Harry S. Broudy’s educational thought, Michael Polanyi, and American curriculum history. Within teacher education, he is currently interested in arts and literature integration within social studies teaching and normative and value-infused teaching.
