Why Read Maps?

Tuesday - March 30, 2010

As promised, we are going to write a short story about our teaching careers. There are times when I wish I had kept a journal during my 34 and 1/2 years of teaching. Oh the stories I could write now! :)

This first little excerpt is actually one I remember that happened to Bill, many many years ago. It took place during our teaching careers before the computer was even thought about to be a reality to have access of in the classroom. We were required to teach map skills to all levels in the elementary school! I use to teach my second and third graders how to read a map as part of the reading program! They were introduced to what a "legend" was and the the use of the "symbols" on the map. Needless to say, these maps were very simple. As the students moved up in grades, the maps got a little more detailed! All grades had questions on the state achievement test - so we needed to teach map skills to prepare them not only for the test, but for life as well - or so we thought!

Bill taught 8th grade for most of his 32 years of teaching. 8th graders learn all about WV. They are introduced all kinds of facts and stories about WV. They also are preparing to take a Golden Horseshoe Test in which all 8th graders in WV participate. Representatives from each county who scored they highest on the test are honored with a reception at the Capitol in Charleston and given a Golden Horseshoe. It is a great honor for these students.

One episode that has given us many laughs and shaking of our heads is centered around Bill trying to teach map skills using a map of WV. The students were trying to locate the many places around the state that have a historical value to the founding of the state. This particular lesson not only was about teaching map skills, but locating the main cities in the state as well as the county in which the city is located!

While trying to engage the students into using the legend and symbols to locate the cities, Bill had one student who was having a really hard time with the task. He got frustrated and was going to call it quits! As a teacher we can't let that happen. We try another approach to get the student involved. Bill coaxed and helped this student locate the cities. The student was frustrated and Bill tried to coax him into WHY it would be a great idea for him to learn to read a map - especially one of WV. This student was a hunter - he loved going up into the mountains of WV to hunt deer. Bill approached the student with the idea of getting him more involved with the lesson by saying to him that if he wanted to go to the mountains to hunt deer how he would need to be able to read the state map. "Kids do say the funniest thing!"

This student looked at him being dead serious and said, " I don't need to know how to read a map!"

"Why not?" asked Bill. "If you wanted to get to the cabin to go deer hunting, you will need to know what roads to take to get there."

"No I won't! I'll just get in the truck with Daddy, and he can take me to the mountains!"

Bill then knew he might as well stop the lesson with this student for the time being!!!! This student was never going to have to worry about doing things by himself - there was always going to be someone else who would take him where he needed to go! (or so he thought!)

This student did grow up and ultimately he did have to read the maps to get where he wanted to go! It was almost the "Peter Pan" syndrome - "I'm never going to grow up - Daddy will take me where I need to go! " :)

Map reading has gotten a lot easier to read today - you have a little "talking box" that tells you when to turn right, left, go straight, and stop! So maybe this student knew something about map reading all those years ago we didn't. Daddy may not be taking you, but the GPS will!!!!!