States & Capitals

This week, we started ours states and capitals learning. A letter was sent home to all families, along with an answer key, in student writing, and a practice page. There are fifty states and capitals. We study the five major regions of the United States. In this way, we break down the states and capitals into smaller groupings to study and learn. The final test will be at the end of the school year.

Part of our learning is to experience some time where we struggle. This is not to the point of frustration or tears. It is the part where you realize what you don't know, what you want to know, and what details you need to pay attention to, to be successful. Sometimes learning what you don't know, is a great lesson!

We talked about strategies to remember certain states and capitals ... like Vermont (#9) has a "V" shape, and the capital is "MONTpelier" and ends with VerMONT ... or "my heart is in HARTford, Connecticut". Another favorite, "Anna and Mary went to ANNApolis, MARYLAND".