Are teachers properly trained to teach geography? If not, encourage the school administration to send the to workshops or short courses on geography teaching (each state and Canadian province has a geography alliance that conducts summer institutes on geography teaching. Information may be obtained through the National Council for Geographic Education or the National Geographic Society).
If the school does not already participate in the National Geography Bee, the American Express Geography Conpetition, or other such contests, suggest their participation. Ask the school to plan special events for Geography Awareness Week, which occurs every November.
See that students have meaningful homework assignments and make sure they are completed. Be positive about your children's school work (not just geography, but all of it). Congratulate your children for success; be helpful (not critical) with mistakes. Work with your children to correct problems; don't just say, "You have to do better."
Ask if geography is brought into the teaching of other subjects (for example, science, literature, history, and social studies). It is fairly simple to point out elements of geography that are important to the study of other school subjects.
Suggest that the schools develop student geography projects. Students may draw maps of places in the news or of the area aroung the school, make posters, displays, or models on geographical themes, or collect materials from different countries or states. For example, help your children write letters to embassies and tourist bureaus requesting brochures and posters (addresses may be obtained from phone directories, maps, and tour guides).
Work through your Parent Teacher Association and school board to make geography a high priority. Learn about geography yourself and become familiar with how students learn geography. Encourage features about geographic information in the school newspaper, local newspaper, and TV stations.
See that the school's geography students have an oppurtunity to compete for prizes in such contests as the National Geography Bee, the American Express Geography Competition, and the National Geography Olympiad. Let everyone know that geography is important to you.