Please continue to use the google classroom to seek answers to various content-based questions/concerns, gather and share content based resources, and receive updated news on various social studies initiatives. If you haven't joined your respective social studies Google Classroom, what are you waiting for? Join today!

In an effort to better support you, I'd love the opportunity to join you in your classroom and/or during your planning. Please feel free to request a classroom visit. I am here to help in any way possible. If interested, please complete the form below by clicking on the button or emailing me directly at phillip.sykes@cowetaschools.net.

On Friday, May 29, Coweta County School System will host a Classroom Innovation Summit. The summit is designed to showcase innovative classroom practices and resources that any teacher could use to enhance their classroom. Session range from Google Classroom hacks to becoming a Gmail ninja to PBIS best practices to classroom data hacks and many more! If you have an idea for a presentation please submit a proposal here! Session are 50 minutes long. Presenters get free admission, lunch, and extra door prize tickets. Know someone who should present? Share this with them!

Please continue to share digital resources you are using within your class lessons. If you click on the button below, you will be directed to the growing list of digital resources I have put together to help make lesson planning a little easier. Anytime you use one of the resources, please feel free to send me feedback! To assist with navigating the resources, recent additions will be listed at the end of the list. As a suggestion, always start at the bottom of this list and scroll to the top.

New to the List this Month: Smithsonian Learning Lab

Support deep, meaningful learning with an online universe of authentic resources and tools for making them your own. Smithsonian Learning Lab will allow you to teach effectively by creating your own interactive learning experiences or adopt exemplars made by teachers and Smithsonian experts. Click on the image below to explore and start your 100% FREE account.

Thank you, Dr. Steffani Parker, for sharing this interactive map documenting the spread of the Coronavirus. This resource can be used in a wide range of discussions with students as the impacts of the Coronavirus plague the economy and societies in which it encounters. Click on the image below to access the website. In addition, click on this is a link with some lesson ideas that could help you incorporate the growing crisis into your classroom.

Teachers in grades 2-8, check out the Digital Library of Georgia's updated resources aligned with the Georgia Standards of Excellence. Each grade level will consist of several links that will provide a wide range of primary resources and lesson plans to help teach content-specific standards. These resources can be printed or used electronically within your classroom and they are 100% FREE. Click on the image below to explore these outstanding resources.

Please take a moment to provide information on your inquiry practices beliefs in social studies by March 13, 2020. Your responses will be used to shape support offered by the social studies department at the DOE. Click on the button below.

The Coweta Industrial Fellowships for Teachers (CIFT) is an opportunity for Coweta teachers to see firsthand the skills and knowledge that their students will need to gain employment in Coweta County. It is also an opportunity for teachers to explore the types of industry in our area to help make connections and provide valuable career insight for students in their classrooms. The program is open to any CCSS educator who works directly with students. All grade levels and subject areas are eligible including counselors. Previous CIFT participants are not eligible for this year's cycle.

The program runs June 1-5. Participants will work at local businesses during regular working hours as set by the business. Participants will be compensated $1000 for their time on site, their time for presentations locally, and for the development of lesson plans and related materials.

Applicants may be interviewed at the request of the business or selected from their application and resume.

To apply click here. As part of the application, you'll need to upload a 1 page resume.

Applications are due April 3.

See one teacher's CIFT experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7U1CzhIcXQ

Cecile Kuehl, Elm Street Elementary, 5th Grade

Mrs. Kuehl has been teaching fifth grade at Elm Street for five years. In addition to her time in Georgia, she’s also taught in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Alaska, with experience teaching in all grades K-2 and 4-6. When you talk with Mrs. Kuehl about her goals for Social Studies, you will hear that she wants every student to be an informed voter as an adult. She believes social studies is important for all students because it shapes our lives to learn from past mistakes.

Two highlights from her classes involve students in experiencing elements of the content. For example, she and her students go outside and pretend to be cowboys on the cattle trail, herding stubborn cattle from Texas to the train stations, followed by returning to the classroom to write about sleeping under the stars on the trail, while listening to recorded cattle sounds! As another example, she and her students build Lego cars to see firsthand how Henry Ford's assembly line and specialization work so well for mass production. She gives groups a small car to put together and they practice together for a few minutes building the car as a group as fast as they can, then she times them. After the group build, the class makes an assembly line, each student putting one piece on the car. They practice twice before being timed. Students can't believe how much faster it is, and they love competing for bragging rights for which class has the fastest time! She knows how to build on student interest, hands-on experiences, and competition.

Mrs. Kuehl also recognizes that Social Studies is a great subject to integrate valuable literature and enhance writing skills. She takes advantage of opportunities to practice great sentence writing using pictures of historical figures, primary source pictures, or propaganda posters, practicing different sentence skills such as adding appositives or creating compound or complex sentences. She believes students need to know that ELA skills are valuable in all subjects.

Students know Mrs. Kuehl’s passion does not end in the classroom as she loves to learn about history when she goes on vacation! For example, when she was able to visit the USS Missouri over winter break, students knew she was intense about standing on the deck where Japan signed the surrender papers ending WWII. As with so many great teachers, this willingness to share and connect enhances her teaching.

In addition to her work as a Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Kuehl teaches ELA. She is committed to teamwork and she can be counted on to go the extra mile! She worked to coordinate this year’s Mardi Gras Math Night, helps coach Science Olympiad, served as a reader when we hosted Academic Team finals last week, and plays a key role on our PBIS team - all with a willing spirit!

It is an honor to spotlight Mrs. Kuehl.

Whitney Williams, Northgate High School, Government/Civics

Whitney Williams is a student favorite for his engaging lessons and real-life connections. He works tirelessly to bridge concepts to relatable experiences that help students gather deeper understandings of the content presented. One student commented “he makes us feel the things we are learning are important to our lives. We don’t just sit... we learn together.” Mr. Williams is passionate about learning and helps out whenever he can. We are lucky to have Mr. Williams at Northgate!

March Benchmark:

The 5th-grade Benchmark will be open beginning March 10th. The data received from this assessment should provide teachers with essential information as remediation and reteaching is planned in the upcoming weeks. Keep in mind that this assessment covers the entire year; therefore, there will be some standards not covered.

Update: Achievement Level Descriptors

The Georgia Department of Education has released the GSE updated ALDs for social studies teachers grades 5, 8, 11, 12. ALDs show a progression of knowledge and skills for which students must demonstrate competency across the achievement levels. It is important to understand that a student should demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills within his/her achievement level as well as all content and skills in any achievement levels that precede his/her own, if any. For example, a Proficient Learner should also possess the knowledge and skills of a Developing Learner and a Beginning Learner. Utilize the ALD's during your common planning sessions and help ensure your students' ability to succeed. Please click on the links below to access the newly updated ALD's.

5th Grade Social Studies

8th Grade Georgia Studies

11th Grade US History

12th Grade Economics

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.

Teacher Created Materials

As you begin to create a wish list for next year, check out the level readers offered through this company. Kits and individual sets can be purchased. Click Here.

March Benchmark:

The 8th-grade Benchmark will be open beginning March 10th. The data received from this assessment should provide teachers with essential information as remediation and reteaching is planned in the upcoming weeks. Keep in mind that this assessment covers the entire year; therefore, there will be some standards not covered.

Update: Achievement Level Descriptors

The Georgia Department of Education has released the GSE updated ALDs for social studies teachers grades 5, 8, 11, 12. ALDs show a progression of knowledge and skills for which students must demonstrate competency across the achievement levels. It is important to understand that a student should demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills within his/her achievement level as well as all content and skills in any achievement levels that precede his/her own, if any. For example, a Proficient Learner should also possess the knowledge and skills of a Developing Learner and a Beginning Learner. Utilize the ALD's during your common planning sessions and help ensure your students' ability to succeed. Please click on the links below to access the newly updated ALD's.

5th Grade Social Studies

8th Grade Georgia Studies

11th Grade US History

12th Grade Economics

Monthly Social Studies Meeting:

This month's meeting will be held on March 25, 2020, at Werz. We will spend time to comb through our Benchmark data.

GCSS Reading List:

Click on the following link to access a reading list connected to various social studies themes and topics. Click Here

SGM Revisions:

If you are aware of an issue with your course's SGM, please contact your testing coordinator. We are in the process of establishing revision dates. Your testing coordinator will need to share your request with Dr. Jackson in order for the SGM to be added to our revision list.

Update: Achievement Level Descriptors

The Georgia Department of Education has released the GSE updated ALDs for social studies teachers grades 5, 8, 11, 12. ALDs show a progression of knowledge and skills for which students must demonstrate competency across the achievement levels. It is important to understand that a student should demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills within his/her achievement level as well as all content and skills in any achievement levels that precede his/her own, if any. For example, a Proficient Learner should also possess the knowledge and skills of a Developing Learner and a Beginning Learner. Utilize the ALD's during your common planning sessions and help ensure your students' ability to succeed. Please click on the links below to access the newly updated ALD's.

5th Grade Social Studies

8th Grade Georgia Studies

11th Grade US History

12th Grade Economics

Social Studies Civic Engagement Diploma Seal

Continue to advertise this opportunity to your students. As you finalize your review of capstone projects. Please keep me posted with the expected number of graduates receiving the diploma seal.

Looking to connect with others in the Social Studies field? Utilize the links below to connect with various organizations that may provide expertise and resources to better your professional networks.

Connect with Georgia's virtual learning community for Social Studies

Georgia Council for the Social Studies

Georgia Council on Economic Education

Georgia Historical Society

Georgia WWI Commission

National Council for History Education

Newnan-Coweta Historical Society

Looking to connect with others in the Social Studies field? Utilize the links below to connect with various organizations that may provide expertise and resources to better your professional networks.

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