Social Studies Insider
October 2019
Don't Forget to Check Google Classroom!
Social Studies Content Specialist Request Form
Social Studies Digital Resource Tools
The Fiscal Ship challenges you to put the federal budget on a sustainable course. Measured as a share of gross domestic product, the federal debt is higher than at any time since the end of World War II and projected to climb to unprecedented levels. America is looking at a permanent, growing mismatch between revenues and spending, and policymakers are faced with difficult decisions about how to reconcile important government priorities—including retirement and health benefits promised to the growing number of old folks—with the tax revenues that the current tax code will yield. Today’s tax code won’t yield enough revenue to pay for basic services of government plus the retirement and health benefits promised to the growing number of old folks. So your mission is to pick from a menu of tax and spending options to reduce the debt from projected levels over the next 25 years. Small changes to spending and taxes won’t suffice. The choices are difficult, but the goal is achievable. But budget decisions aren’t only about fiscal sustainability. They also shape the kind of country we live in. To win the game, you need to find a combination of policies that match your values and priorities AND set the budget on a sustainable course.
Hands-On Resource: Index of Economic Freedom
GimKit 4.0 Debuting this Month
Clever Sign-In Access for Discovery Education is Coming
Scholarship Opportunity for Middle & High School Students
The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you know of a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $30,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships spark interest in your students.
Voice of Democracy
Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.
The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Want to apply? Read the rules and eligibility requirements, then download and complete the 2019-20 entry form. All student entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight, Oct. 31.
Spotlighting Excellence
Mrs. Merry has taught in Coweta since 2002. She currently serves as the science and social studies teacher for 2nd grade at Northside. She is also the 2nd grade team leader, and she led Camp Invention during the summer at Northside.Tami brings a strong passion for creating connections and relationships with her students and parents. She wants every student to succeed and to feel accomplished. She wants all of her students to believe in themselves and to know that she is an advocate for them. Tami constantly seeks to grow in her profession. She works diligently to lead her students in activities and strategies that will engage them and provide them with connections to their real life.
Ms. Houghton has served faithfully the middle school students of Coweta through the alternative school for 15 years. She has a passion for working with the students that often get overlooked or seen as problems in the traditional classroom. Her personal philosophy is that every student has the potential to find success through perseverance. She has high expectations for all of her students and refuses to let them give up themselves. Ms. Houghton works diligently to plan lessons for each student from 6th grade to 8th grade that meets each child at their own level and also challenges them to go beyond what they thought they could do. Teaching at Maggie Brown requires a bit of thinking outside the box. As technology has become more accessible across the county, Ms. Houghton has been a major player in helping the students and teachers at Maggie Brown become comfortable with the new resources available. She is a team player and is always willing to assist her fellow staff members in any way that she can. Ms. Houghton is always eager to participate in the professional learning opportunities through her school and across the county and state. She sees these opportunities as ways to enrich her lessons and improve the learning experiences of her students. Over the years, she has served on the county’s Professional Learning Advisory Committee and serves as the chair for the school’s Charitable Giving Campaign.
Mrs. Dettmering is in her second year of teaching social studies classes at Winston Dowdell Academy. At the current time, Ms. Dettmering teachers grades 9 - 12 in both the morning and afternoon sessions. She is extremely organized, prepared, and hard working. When you walk in her room it is evident that her students are being challenged on a daily basis. She has rapidly become a valuable part of the Winston Dowdell Academy family. She is an excellent teacher who goes above and beyond to serve her students and the staff at Winston Dowdell Academy.
Attention Elementary School Teachers:
Additional professional development opportunities are located within the section titled Professional Development for All.
Follow Up From First Curriculum Meeting:
If you missed the first Social Studies Curriculum Meeting and would like to view the presentation, click the following link: https://app.nearpod.com/?pin=vftyu&_branch_match_id=706150861436566085
Kindergarten Teachers:
Looking for great resources to help teach the holidays to your students? Need additional resources and teaching strategies to provide engaging social studies lessons to students? Give Georgia Public Broadcasting's & PBS Learning's educational resources a look. Click on the following link to access the "All About the Holidays"
Grades 3-5 Gallopade Translate Feature:
Do you have students who need translation assistance? Click on the following link to access specific instruction that will guide you to translating the Clickbook into various languages for students. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L2DLp5jVnCoaPNBanuMdgEw1aCgixZoJGm-KSdE4v_I/edit
Grades 3-5 Accessing Your Students' Gallopade Written Responses within Clickbook:
Looking for a refresher on how to access your students' written responses within the Clickbook platform? Click on the following link for a video tutorial: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vw8HzfWllZ5nE2GJNoA7oVhcwukVSCro/view
Elementary Curriculum Meeting Info:
Below are the current dates. I may change the grade levels based on feedback from September's Curriculum meeting. Be on the look out for the updated schedule.
Attention Middle School Teachers:
Additional professional development opportunities are located within the section titled Professional Development for All.
PBS Learning:
This free resource will allow you a treasure trove of resources. Check out the 60-Second President resource that can help provide students the background information behind the presidents who served during the various time periods being taught. Please view the other resources provided as well! For site access, click on the following link:
http://www.gpb.org/education/resources/subject/social-studies
Do you have students who need translation assistance? Click on the following link to access specific instruction that will guide you to translating the Clickbook into various languages for students. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L2DLp5jVnCoaPNBanuMdgEw1aCgixZoJGm-KSdE4v_I/edit
Accessing Your Students' Gallopade Written Responses within Clickbook:
Looking for a refresher on how to access your students' written responses within the Clickbook platform? Click on the following link for a video tutorial: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vw8HzfWllZ5nE2GJNoA7oVhcwukVSCro/view
Middle School Meetings Info:
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 next meeting will be held October 23rd, see you then!
Attention High School Teachers:
Additional professional development opportunities are located within the section titled Professional Development for All.
Active Classroom: Potential High School Digital Resource
Are you looking for predeveloped resources, activities, and assessments? If so, consider signing up for Active Classroom's FREE 30-day trial. The platform will give all social studies content areas access to predeveloped powerpoints, primary resources, images, maps, activities, and assessments that can be used to supplement your classroom instruction. If you sign up for the FREE trial, please contact me and let me know your thoughts. I am actively looking for a digital resource that can be acquired by the district to support the needs of all high school teachers and students. If interested in registering for a FREE 30-day trial, click the link below.
https://go.socialstudies.com/active-classroom-30-day-free-trial-1
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
Attention Government and Economics Teachers- Give the "Fiscal Ship" a Try:
The Fiscal Ship challenges you to put the federal budget on a sustainable course. Measured as a share of gross domestic product, the federal debt is higher than at any time since the end of World War II and projected to climb to unprecedented levels. America is looking at a permanent, growing mismatch between revenues and spending, and policymakers are faced with difficult decisions about how to reconcile important government priorities—including retirement and health benefits promised to the growing number of old folks—with the tax revenues that the current tax code will yield. Today’s tax code won’t yield enough revenue to pay for basic services of government plus the retirement and health benefits promised to the growing number of old folks. So your mission is to pick from a menu of tax and spending options to reduce the debt from projected levels over the next 25 years. Small changes to spending and taxes won’t suffice. The choices are difficult, but the goal is achievable.
But budget decisions aren’t only about fiscal sustainability. They also shape the kind of country we live in. To win the game, you need to find a combination of policies that match your values and priorities AND set the budget on a sustainable course.
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
S3Strategies Presents: Revving Review U.S. History EOCT Prep
Want to Register? Click Here
Wednesday, Oct 2, 2019, 08:30 AM
Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, 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
Historical Thinking + Literacy = K-5 Social Studies Labs
Want to register? Click Here
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2019, 09:00 AM
99 Brown School Drive, Grantville, 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
Thursday, Sep 26, 2019, 09:00 PM
99 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
Monday, Nov 18, 2019, 08:30 AM
Carrollton, GA, USA
Comments, Concerns, Questions?
Please contact Phil Sykes, Social Studies Content Specialist, with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Email: phillip.sykes@cowetaschools.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/cowetaschools.net/cowetasocialstudies/home
Location: 167 Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA, USA
Phone: 770-254-2800
Twitter: @Syked4SS