As we get started this school year, I just wanted to say thanks to all the educators out there who are sharing their positive comments through email! I appreciate it and hope your year goes smoothly. Some of you have requested access to specific files and unfortunately I am unable to do that. BUT - I have a solution for you all...

I have an "APP RESOURCES" button in each standard section on each individual page. This button allows access to ALL of the "stuff" that my team will be using. Feel free to either "Download All" or "Add To Google Drive." This will allow you to manipulate our stuff to make it your stuff, if you really want to take the time to do that- OR - just use it as is.

​Also - the TOP of this page, with the yellow banner, has a link to our school app's Google Drive parent folder which you can access ALL of our "stuff" from within. Hopefully, this makes it easy to get what you need to help you out in your educational exploration with your students

Each Georgia Studies Standard page has EVERYTHING that we will be using this year on it. Personally, my favorite part are the "Test Answers" links ... check those out if you haven't already!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time from my contact page (or click the little dude guy at the bottom right of the webpage. Google Drive will NOT let me reply back to your Request for Access to anything, which is a problem I am trying to resolve but probably won't be able to due to Google and permissions and whatever else!

Have a great school year - and don't start at the sun without proper eye protection!

I was able to present some Google knowledge to the fine educators (K-12) of Madison County, GA. #mysdistrict During our time together, we learned mostly about Google Drive, Google Classroom, Google Voice, and a TON TON TON of Chrome extensions that may be extremely useful in the classroom setting for any educator at any level. I also want to share something that I also believe is important to understand - don't try to do everything techyish all at once - or even all of it ever. Find what is interesting to YOU. Find what YOU believe YOU may have success with, and then move forward from there. I see so many wonderful tech solutions out there when it comes to the "I CAN FIX EDUCATION" technology. Be careful out there, and don't just know and stay in your comfort zone ... push through it. We expect our students to challenge themselves through difficult standards and elements - the same should hold true for ourselves. 

Know this, all the help you will probably ever need is online, so go out there, find something, and have a great time!

As the summer continues, it is important to go to your happy place. Sometimes my happy place is in front of a piece of bacon #searchmysiteforbacon or even just outside on the back deck. Regardless of your happy place, below is something I believe we can all relax with. Even if you just clicked it and walked away from your computer, you'll still have the lovely sounds of paradise. Enough talky talk. Enjoy...

Last summer (2016) I was invited to visit the fine educators in Echols County, GA, to provide training on the SMART Board, educational web 2.0 sites, and a few other Google solutions. We spent the day learning together, laughing together, and leaving just a bit smarter (I hope) after our session. They decided to bring me back on June 6th and 7th to deliver two specific professional learning opportunities:

1. Writing Across The Curriculum
2. Educational Websites & Learning Centers
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If you are wondering what this is all about, check out the links under "Educators" on the left. By exploring around, you too, wherever you are, can get a glimpse into what went on with the fine educators in Echols County!

-CJD-

The 2015-2016 year is basically over. With that, so are the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for our Georgia Studies class. Over the summer, I will be updating this site with ALL of the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). It will be amazing. It will be awesome. It will be "Excellent."

It is my intention to make it possible to teach from this website for the entire year, when it comes to Georgia Studies. Yes, the entire year! If you are a Georgia Studies teacher, and want to help out and share your "stuff" - please let me know. I'd be more than happy to give you the credit you deserve! This is a NEW Standards year and as we make our resources, it would make sense, to me, to share!

As I also teach English, my other major focus will be creating learning opportunities for my 8th grade English students. The same here if you want to share!

​Have an enjoyable and relaxing summer break!

-CJD-