I am not Geography minded? Help!

[momcoleman]

Ok, so I have really found the place in teaching where I fail beyond failing...geography! I was given one set of books a couple of years ago and hated them, to childish, and now I can not remember their name (I gave them forward for someone else to use). This past year I purchased the Trail Guide to World Geography. I really really disliked it. It is probably a great program but for me it was just so open ended and I felt like I spent much more time researching things to teach the kids than they were really learning, if that makes sense. I really have a hard time getting my head around how to teach it, what should be taught and I feel like I am so far behind. Give me english, math, or science any day! We are following the 4 year rotating SOTW History plan, though playing a bit of catch up since my younger son was a bit behind but is now caught up where he should be so I put him and my older son on the same history schedule for my sanity. Sorry for straying, what I really need is a good, well laid out, here it is and here is how to teach it kind of geography. Any suggestions? All thoughts are appreciated.

 

Guess I should add my Sons are 11 and 8, our school year starts in the begining of the year so we are in our opening week of 6th and 4th grade.

 

Jenn

Edited January 5, 2011 by momcoleman

[MeganW]

This might be helpful:

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227503&highlight=placemat+map&page=2

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233325&highlight=africa+middle

[HeidiKC]

Well, yikes, I'm no help... but am a bit worried because I'm planning on using Trail Guide to World Geography next year!!! I didn't see from the samples that the parent will need to research things to teach the student. Can you tell me about this?