USA Regions

In my quest to better understand why students don't perform well on writing tests, I found a problem that stood above the others. Teachers do not create exemplar assignments. You have to know what to ask for to get the students to create it!

That's how "The Quest for the Best" came to be. This project was planned with fourth graders in mind, as they spend the entire year studying the economic, climate, cultural, and entertainment factors of the 5 U.S. regions. In this collaborative project, students decide in which region of the United States they would like to live. Selecting a region rather than a specific city or state, causes them to think more globally. Through the use of a blog, students can ask questions of other students participating in this project as well as serve as a resource for others.


You'll find more information about this project on Using Blogs in the Classroom. If you would like to participate in this project go to Global Schoolhouse and Education Place.

For many teachers out there, using technology can be a real burden. Many feel they do not have the time to create something new. They don't have the time to fit one more thing into the curriculum. Others simply don't feel comfortable using a tool students often know more about than they do!

It is my sincere hope that using blogs will alleviate many of the concerns teachers have about using technology in their classroom. I hope to post some tried and true projects for teachers to use. After all, teachers are the best at "borrowing" good teaching ideas! So don't re-invent the wheel! Just fine tune it.