Below please find the links that will redirect you to the official Georgia Standards and Common Core Standards which are an essential element of teaching. According to June Chapin there are three reasons why standards are helpful: “1. Can act as a guide for curriculum planning to improve student learning 2. Drive assessments of student achievement 3. Can inform selection and use of instructional resources” (Chapin, p.6) Chapin, J. (2011). A Practical Guide to Middle and Secondary Social Studies. Emeritus, Notre Dame de Namur University.