Mind Maps

Ms. Leom's class is studying their Northeast States and Capitals. Mr. Greninger's class will have their opportunity in a couple of weeks. Ms. Leom had her students take the practice test earlier this week. Then we went over the answers. She sent home a second copy for students to continue to practice at home.

It has been two days, so we extended our states and capitals learning today. Ms. Leom showed the students several links on this blog that has states and capitals songs and videos. Some of our students are very musical and visual, and the videos might be helpful to their learning. Videos are not the only strategy students should be using.

Next, Ms. Leom invited the students to create a "Mind Map" of the Northeastern States. It was a baffling direction for the majority of the class. Ms. Leom drew an example of the Midwestern States, and then students jumped in and started drawing the Midwestern states they knew, and sharing all about their travels to Florida, Wisconsin ... It was ok for students to draw and not be on track. Sometimes we learn best when we stumble along. Ms. Leom only gave five minutes to get started. She was monitoring student progress, and she waited for everyone to "start something", before she pulled the class together and modeled the expectation.

A "Mind Map" is a visual of an area. It may not be drawn to scale or even the exact shape of the actual image. It is the basic visual you see in your head when you picture the Northeastern United States. Ms. Leom pulled down her big map. She demonstrated "thinking aloud" about starting in one area of the map. She chose Maine. Then she drew a rough map of the area.

Our learning includes the capitals. Next, she invited students to share states and capitals that they knew, and the memory tricks they use to remember.

For example, "Heart" (Hartford), Connecticut or "two Ds" for Dover, Delaware. One student said his Grandma's name was Mary, so he imagined Grandma Mary (Maryland) visiting Anapolis.

Student's mind maps were not collected. Sometimes the best learning isn't what is graded along the way. It is the attempts and effort. We'll create a mind map again in the next couple of days. Our goal, students will have a better visual picture of the Northeast section of the United States.

We are building our connections, one visual step at a time. Mind Maps are a learning tool that can help.