Social Studies Insider
August 2019
Welcome Back!
Updated Pacing Guides for 2019-2020
Join Your Google Classroom for Collaboration & More
Grades:
K-2: zkoyjo2
3-5: hr1cnm
6-8: ledrsh5
9-12: hrahoi
Collaborate with Twitter: Developing a PLN
Expanding our Digital Resource Tools
Gallopade Adoption for Grades 3-8
Teaching with Gallopade? Here's a Valuable Suggestion:
Bidging Social Studies and English Language Arts
S.S. Benchmarks for Grades 3-8 are Now Available in GCA
This summer, teachers in grades 3-8 worked with me to develop Social Studies Benchmarks (formerly called "Social Studies Not SGMs") to be used periodically throughout the school year. It is my hope that these assessments provide teachers an opportunity to collect social studies data in an accurate and efficient manner. These assessments have been significantly improved in comparison to the "Social Studies Not SGMs" given last year. Teachers worked to ensure that standards are assessed multiple times and DOK levels are appropriately proportioned. Additionally, these assessments follow the pacing guides previously developed by our district's teachers.
I strongly encourage you to use these assessments to gather vital information in regards to your students' progress in social studies this year. I sought input from Dr. Raschen when creating the performance scale and believe that it will provide valuable information regarding where students "might" stand if this were a Milestones assessment.
Based on the schedule below, teachers in grades 4-8 will only need to assess their students three times over the school year. By design, it is not intended for teachers in grades 4-8 to assess students using the Spring assessment version in January. However, some teachers may decide to assess their students at some point before the April 27 window opens. If that is the case, please email me and I will push the respective assessment to you for use.
In order to keep test length appropriate for Grade 3, teachers created shorter assessments that will need to be given 4 times over the year.
If you have any further questions please email or call me. I will be happy to help!
Develop Student Confidence with GCA
Utilize the bank of questions to spiral information from your previous lessons and/or units of study. Select five questions per week and conduct a brief warm-up/concluding review with a daily assigned question. Take time to allow students to review their notes, discuss their understanding with a partner, and document their thoughts. Encourage them to mark out, highlight, underline segments of the question and option choices. Before reviewing the correct answer as a class, demonstrate how students should get to the correct answer by identifying what students know about the various distractors. Model for your students as you highlight key points, jot down reminders, and eliminate any incorrect options choices to solidify the correct answer.
If interested in more information about this strategy, reach out to Nessa McClure, Jeff Welch or Phil Sykes. The examples pictured below were created by Nessa McClure and cover the 5th-Grade Social Studies Georgia Standards of Excellence.
Organized Questions
Daily Questions
Weekly Worksheet
Looking to Spice Up the Engagement within Your Classroom?
Looking for a way to bring a piece of the past into your classroom lessons? Want your students experiencing history in a hands-on manner? Check out the following resources:
Bring history to life in your classroom with one of five Characters in the Classroom outreach presentations based on Georgia History. Each 45 minute presentation includes a historical character that encourages student participation, and hands-on activities that include reproduction artifacts, photographs, and period clothing. These programs are geared for students in grades K–12, and have incorporated some of the Georgia Standards of Excellence.
Single classroom visits are $100 with a maximum of 50 students per presentation. Each additional presentation is $50 on the same day and must be the same topic. Title I schools receive a 50% discount during the 2018–2019 school years. Please request presentations at least 3 weeks in advance.
Travel trunks are available for monthly rental ($100/month), and are designed to assist teachers in highlighting various chapters in our nation’s history. Each trunk includes a teacher’s guide and a selection of hands-on materials. Title I schools receive a 50% discount on traveling trunks during the 2018–2019 school year. Please request traveling trunks at least 3 weeks in advance of pick-up date.
For more information, please email outreach@atlantahistorycenter.com.
Bright Ideas Grant Application Deadline Approaching
Purpose:
Many teachers develop innovative classroom projects, but lack the funds to implement the projects. Our Bright Ideas grants funds these projects for teachers.
Eligibility:
- School teachers in the area Coweta-Fayette EMC serves.
- Projects must benefit students in grades Pre K-12.
- Teachers may only be an applicant of one project per school year.
- Instructions must be followed completely.
Subjects:
Grants are open to all subjects.Grant Limit:
Projects can be funded up to $1,500 or they may be partially funded. The maximum grant amount is $1,500.Selection Criteria:
- Uses innovative, creative learning experiences for students (25%)
- Clearly defines goals and learning objectives (25%)
- Provides implementation through instructional experiences that directly involve students otherwise unavailable (25%)
- Provides immediate and/or ongoing benefits to students (15%)
- Provides an adequate budget summary (10%)
If grant is awarded:
- Grant must be used within 18 months.
- Applicant will submit a report about the grant.
- Applicant grants sponsors the right to use their name, photo and information about grant in publicity.
Deadline:
All applications must be completed online and received at Coweta-Fayette EMC by the deadline: August 13, 2019. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
GA DOE Social Studies Instagram Teacher Take Over
Click here to visit the gadoesocialstudies Instagram page.
Click here to apply to takeover our account during 2019-2020.
Attention Elementary School Teachers:
Grade Level/Course Specific Professional Learning with Virtual Specialists
Introducing a new FREE online professional learning community exclusively for Georgia educators. The Georgia DOE has created course and grade level specific Professional Learning Communities, led by Virtual Specialists, where educators from across the State can connect with each other to share experiences, resources, lesson plans, and instructional activities.
Schedule for Monthly Webinars
Integrating Social Studies into your ELA/Reading Lessons Made Easy
Located within the GA DOE Teacher Notes, teachers can find a list of standards connected books that can easily be integrated into your ELA/Reading lessons.
For Kindergarten access, Click Here.
For 1st Grade access, Click Here.
For 2nd Grade access, Click Here.
For 3rd Grade access, Click Here.
For 4th Grade access, Click Here.
For 5th Grade access, Click Here.
FieldTrip Zoom
FieldTrip Zoom provides you with an online catalog that allows you to search, order, schedule, and connect to hundreds of live interactive programs from around the world. These STEAM focused programs provide your students with unique and engaging learning experiences that can be customized to supplement your in-class curriculum. To view available programs, Click Here. Contact our representative for more information: Click Here. Yearly subscription cost per year, per teacher- $50.
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Click Here to access various social studies resources provided by Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Additional professional development opportunities are located within the section titled Professional Development for All.
Attention Middle School Teachers:
Grade Level/Course Specific Professional Learning with Virtual Specialists
Introducing a new FREE online professional learning community exclusively for Georgia educators. The Georgia DOE has created course and grade level specific Professional Learning Communities, led by Virtual Specialists, where educators from across the State can connect with each other to share experiences, resources, lesson plans, and instructional activities.
Schedule for Monthly Webinars
Please look at your calendars and plan to join fellow district middle school social studies teachers each month for "middle grades tailored" professional learning. This is a great opportunity to communicate, collaborate, and create consistency across the district. Meeting locations will be held at WERZ, Central Office and begin around 4 pm. Our first meeting will be held September 25th, see you then!
Attention High School Social Studies Teachers:
Regular meetings are in the works for High School Social Studies Departments. More information will be posted in the High School Google Classroom. Please be on the lookout for that information.
Additional professional development opportunities are located within the section titled Professional Development for All.
Grade Level/Course Specific Professional Learning with Virtual Specialists
Introducing a new FREE online professional learning community exclusively for Georgia educators. The Georgia DOE has created course and grade level specific Professional Learning Communities, led by Virtual Specialists, where educators from across the State can connect with each other to share experiences, resources, lesson plans, and instructional activities.
Schedule for Monthly Webinars
Civic Engagement Diploma Seal Program
Please begin advertising this program to students. Last year, East Coweta High School honored several seniors who accomplished the criteria required in order to gain diploma endorsement. I would love to see more Coweta students gain this recognition.
Criteria and Application Information
Districtwide Application Due September 16th
End of Year Request for Diploma Seals
Click the Photo Below for Access to Textbook Supplements- These textbooks are peer-reviewed and 100% free. They can be copied and mass produced, as well as posted in your Google Classrooms. Select AP resources are available.
Network Connectors
Connect with Georgia's virtual learning community for Social Studies
Georgia Council for the Social Studies
Georgia Council on Economic Education
Professional Learning for All
Gallopade Clickbook Training Grades 3-8
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2019, 08:30 AM
Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA, USA
GCEE High School 2020 Workshop (Grades 9-12)
FYI: Substitute Costs will be reimbursed and lunch will be provided.
Want to register? Click Here
Friday, Sep 13, 2019, 08:30 AM
Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA, USA
Historical Thinking + Literacy = K-5 Social Studies Labs
Want to register? Click Here
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2019, 09:00 AM
West GA RESA, Brown School Drive, Grantville, GA, USA
Georgia Council for the Social Studies Conference
You may register online by visiting www.gcss.net.
Thursday, Oct 10, 2019, 08:00 AM
The Classic Center, North Thomas Street, Athens, GA, USA
Bringing Excitement Back to Your Middle and High School Social Studies Classes (Grades 6-12)
Join teachers from our region at West Georgia RESA for an exciting workshop that will leave you energized and ready to teach social studies. In this interactive session, teachers will work with Joy Hatcher, GaDOE Social Studies Program Manager, to meet your daily required dose of inquiry and keep students on their mental toes. Ideas and resources for infusing inquiry and banishing apathy in grades 6-12 will be shared; bring your own and take home some new ones.
Want to Register? Click Here
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2019, 09:00 AM
West GA RESA, Brown School Drive, Grantville, GA, USA
GCEE Financial Literacy for Middle Grades
FYI: Substitute Costs will be reimbursed and lunch will be provided.
Want to register? Click Here
Thursday, Nov 7, 2019, 08:30 AM
Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA, USA
GCEE Decostar Factory Tour and Workshop (Grades 6-12)
FYI: Substitute Costs will be reimbursed and lunch will be provided.
Want to register? Click Here