Media matters, Vol. 11, Issue 10 (May-June 2012)

May/June 2012 Media Matters

Media Matters
A newsletter for people who care about Library Media Programs

Happy Children's Book Week!
May 7-13, 2012!

Inside this issue:

GALILEO

2

Children's Book

3

Week

Retirees

4

TOTY

6

Phillips Award

7

The Library and

8

Customer Care

Media Specialists

9

of the Year

National Green

10

Ribbon Schools

Great idea Susan! 11

Summer Reading

12

Lee Street Rocks!

13

Lexile information 14

Calendar

15

Maurice Sendak
By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Maurice Sendak, the children's book author and illustrator who saw the sometimes-dark side of childhood in books like "Where the Wild Things Are" and "In the Night Kitchen," died early Tuesday (May 8, 2012). He was 83 and lived in Ridgefield, Conn.
Longtime friend and live-in caretaker Lynn Caponera said she was with Sendak when he died at about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday at Danbury Hospital. She said Sendak suffered a stroke Friday night and never regained consciousness.
"Where the Wild Things Are" earned Sendak a prestigious Caldecott Medal for the best children's book of 1964 and became a hit movie in 2009. President Bill Clinton awarded Sendak a National Medal of the Arts in 1996 for his vast portfolio of work.
Sendak didn't limit his career to a safe and successful formula of conventional children's books, though it was the pictures he did for wholesome works such as Ruth Krauss' "A Hole Is To Dig" and Else Holmelund Minarik's "Little Bear" that launched his career.
"Where the Wild Things Are," about a boy named Max who goes on a journey -- sometimes a rampage -- through his own imagination after he is sent to bed without supper, was quite controversial when it was published, and his quirky and borderline scary illustrations for E.T.A. Hoffmann's "Nutcracker" did not have the sugar coating featured in other versions.
Sendak also created costumes for ballets and staged operas, including the Czech opera "Brundibar," which he also put on paper with collaborator Pulitzerwinning playwright Tony Kushner in 2003.
He designed the Pacific Northwest Ballet's "Nutcracker" production that later became a movie shown on television, and he served as producer of various animated TV series based on his illustrations, including "Seven Little Monsters," ''George and Martha" and "Little Bear."
But despite his varied resume, Sendak accepted -- and embraced -- the label "kiddie-book author."
"By 1957 he was writing his own books."
For entire article see: http://www.accessatlanta.com/celebrities-tv/where-wild-things-are-1433415.html? cxntlid=thbz_hm

Page 2

Media Matters

1754 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Phone: 404-657-9800 Fax: 404-656-5744 E-mail: jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us

Are you on Facebook? Consider becoming a "friend" of GALILEO, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and the Georgia Department of Education.

Database of the Month

The 1936 Gainesville Tornado: Disaster and Recovery provides online access to a historical film depicting the extensive damage from the severe multi-funnel tornado strike that devastated Gainesville, Georgia, on April 6, 1936. The thirty-two-and-ahalf minute film, probably shot for insurance purposes, focuses on the devastation of the commercial and governmental center of Gainesville, but also includes footage of damage to nearby residential areas. In particular, it features the damage to the public square, the county courthouse, the Georgia Power Company, the Cooper Pants Factory, and the First Methodist Church. The 1936 Gainesville tornado (part of a massive tornado outbreak across the Deep South that also heavily damaged Tupelo, Mississippi) is generally regarded as the fifth deadliest in U.S. history. Extensive recovery efforts involving many local, regional, state, and national resources eventually rebuilt Gainesville, culminating in the 1938 dedication of the new city hall and county courthouse by President Franklin Roosevelt.
Advocacy Tip
Host an end of the year open house. Have students showcase their work.

Media Matters

Page 3
When each of us learns to appreciate the critical importance of ethics and makes inner values like compassion and patience an integral part of our basic outlook on life, the effects will be far-reaching. ~ Dalai Lama

Posters are available from the Children's Book Council at no cost beyond shipping.

To receive a free poster(s) with activity guide, please send a 9 x 12 self-addressed envelope (for 1 or 10 posters) or a 10 x 13 self-addressed envelope (for 25 posters) with appropriate postage affixed. Note that Postal regulations have changed. Please use the USPS Postage Price Calculator to determine postage cost, or ask for help at your local post office.

Weight of posters and an envelope 1 poster and envelope: 1.2oz. 10 posters and envelope: 14oz. 25 posters and envelope: 2lb 6oz.
Mail envelopes with postage affixed to: Children's Book Council ATTN: 2012 Poster Order 54 West 39th Street, 14th floor New York, NY 10018

Please note: There is a 25 poster maximum per person.
Due to the volume of poster requests, we cannot process any poster orders that do not include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Page 4
Annette Clement Barbara Bondari Becky Ward Betsy Spann Betty Beasley Betty Whatley Carol Ann Chapman Catherine Marshall Christine Willcox Donna Boling Dorothy Bland Elaine Carter Emily Herman Jane Spurlin Kathy Ray

Congratulations Retirees!

Fannin County Middle Northeast Campus, Tift County High Banks County High Hubert Middle Lithonia Middle Jackson High Britt Elementary Langford Middle Monroe High Peachtree Ridge High Heard Elementary Media Coordinator Mary Lin Elementary Yeager Middle Pebblebrook High

Fannin Tift Banks Savannah-Chatham DeKalb Butts Gwinnett Richmond Dougherty Gwinnett Savannah-Chatham Buford City Atlanta City Douglas Cobb

More retirees on next page

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go. ~ Dr. Seuss

Page 5

Janet Swanson Janice Habersham Jo Ann Jones Karen Beasley Kathy Douglas Laurie Crooks
Louise Doughty Martha Mathews Mary Beth Spivey Mary Gale Mary Lou Thornton Nita Bakay Pat Perkins

Congratulations Retirees!

Social Circle Primary

Social Circle City

Skyview Elementary

Bibb

Newbern Middle/Valdosta Middle Carnesville Elementary

Valdosta City Franklin

Weaver Middle

Bibb

Stone Mountain Elementary

DeKalb

Osborne Middle

Gwinnett

Bernd Elementary

Bibb

Riverside Middle

Columbia

Jordon Hill Elementary

Griffin Spalding

Media Coordinator

Lanier

Monroe Area High

Walton

Robert Burch Elementary Fayette

Last year one retiree said that it has been a wild and wonderful ride....I hope that sums it up for all of you. We appreciate your dedication to the students, the teachers, and our profession and wish you good health and much happiness!
Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, until nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly , purely, till the sun goes down. And this is all life really means. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson.

Page 6
Patricia Moton Rebecca Acree Roxanne Johnson Sallie Freeman Sheree Bryant Sylvia Gaillard Trish Biemiller Yvonne Stuart

Congratulations Retirees!

Collins Elementary

Richmond

Simpson Elementary

Gwinnett

Creekview High

Cherokee

Etowah High

Cherokee

Media Coordinator

Butts

Mill Creek Middle

Cherokee

Trickum Middle

Gwinnett

William Hutchings Career Bibb Center

Teacher of the Year

Jessica Holstun

Troup County TOTY *

Troup

Jim Stewart Jo Beth James Elizabeth Mason Karen Willingham Tammy Smith Kate Hoppenrath

North Gwinnett High TOTY Gwinnett *(finalist for county) Royston Elementary TOTY Franklin

Tutt Middle TOTY

Richmond

Buice School TOTY

Gwinnett

Sugar Hill Elementary TOTY Shiloh High TOTY

Gwinnett Gwinnett

Karen Gould

Hamilton Elementary TOTY

Colquitt

Library Media Specialists are Teachers Too! These educators were chosen as Teacher of the Year
at their school or in their system! Congratulations!

Media Matters

Page 7

Superintendent Barge Presents First Phillips Award
Recognition named for Condyce Phillips, a cafeteria manager who helped Superintendent Barge write a better story for himself

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org or Keisha Ford-Jenrette, GaDOE Recognitions Office, (404) 657-2949, kford@gadoe.org

April 24, 2012 -- State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge presented the first Phillips Award to Condyce Phillips this past Thursday. Mrs. Phillips was the cafeteria manager at Griffin Middle School in Cobb County when Superintendent Barge was a student. She helped Superintendent Barge and countless others write a better story for themselves.
While bringing remarks at the Georgia School Nutrition Association's 57th Annual Conference, Superintendent Barge presented Mrs. Phillips with this new award that was created to recognize school support staff who have had a tremendous impact on the lives of others.
"Condyce Phillips showed me great kindness and compassion, which helped me see that school was a safe and supportive place," said Superintendent Barge. "One of the first things I wanted to do after becoming Superintendent was to name an award for Mrs. Phillips and give others the opportunity to nominate a school staff member who helped shape their lives for the better."
Nominating a school staff member
Once each quarter, one support staff member will be selected for this award. The nomination form can be requested by emailing Keisha Ford-Jenrette at kford@gadoe.org (form is also attached and online at www.gadoe.org).

From the GaDOE website
Qualifications for the Teacher of the Year
A certified classroom teacher (clear and renewable certificate) in public prekindergarten through grade 12, including special education, physical education, art, music, and media specialists. (Counselors are not eligible.)
An exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher who is planning to continue in active teaching status.
A teacher who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. A teacher who has the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues. A teacher who plays an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school. A teacher who is poised and articulate and possesses the energy to withstand a taxing schedule.

Page 8

Rundles wrap-up: The library and customer care
By Jeff Rundles

A few weeks ago the Colorado attorney generals office released a report of consumer complaints filed with its office, and it offered few surprises. When it comes to what the AG hears about, it is allegations of fraud, potential fraud and/or questionable business practices. In 2011 state citizens filed some 7,297 complaints, up from 6,462 in 2010 and 4,723 in 2009.
And, of course, thats just the people who took the time to take such action. I think its reasonably safe to assume that thousands more just took it, as it were. It comes as no shock that the types of businesses people complain about the most are financial consultants, utility companies (especially providers of cable and satellite TV), and anything having to do with health care. In my experience you can measure the level of customer service in direct disproportion to the number of requests you get, either on the phone or the Internet, to take a survey at the end of the session on their level of customer service.
They usually ask, "Was the information we provided ,,Very Helpful, ,,Helpful, ,,Somewhat Helpful or ,,Not Helpful?" What they should be asking is, "Did our service ,,Really Suck, ,,Just Suck, or is being our customer best categorized under the heading ,,Sucks For You?"
I got thinking about all of this because directly or indirectly I have had a lot of dealings with healthinsurance companies and health-care providers in the last couple of years, and while most profess a great interest in, and pride themselves on, customer service, they are in general terrible. I must say that I know a couple of doctors and dentists I would rate very high for customer service and what I am coming to call "customer care" but the insurance companies, well ... I am pretty sure they have people with business cards that have those initials pointing out their professional certifications, and the people I have come across are listed as P.O. Professional Obfuscators. On second thought, perhaps P.O. is an indication of how they will make you feel.
I find it interesting, by the way, that Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is putting a great deal of effort and resources into revamping the Division of Motor Vehicles. Hell be the latest in a long line of mayors who have tried.
Many people me included have pointed out the disaster of customer service at every level business and government many times. It probably serves no purpose, other than the fact that venting makes you feel better. What is needed is a solution, and I think I have found one.
Everyone should hire librarians.
Continued on next page

Media Matters

Page 9

Continued from previous page

Every time you hear about budget cuts and cutbacks on hours, it seems like our libraries, and librarians, are the ones suffering. But these places, and these people, must be the most helpful, the most informed, and the most knowledgeable resources on the planet. If they hired librarians to be clerks at the DMV, everyone would get their license plates on time and walk out of the office looking forward to renewal time. If librarians ran health care, people might still get sick, but not tired.
I recently went to the Denver Public Librarys Western History Department for some research, and I couldnt believe the level of customer care. I am so used to surly and uninformed clerks and agents that I braced myself, only to discover that I was in the hands of not only an expert a person who had the answers, the ideas, and didnt need to check with anybody else but a cheerful expert at that. "Very helpful" doesnt even come close.
May I suggest that insurance companies, financial planners, cable television executives, DMV
managers and others similarly situated visit a library for a demonstration of customer care? Perhaps
the AG, when taking damages to settle complaints, could send the money over to the library.

Media Specialists of the Year!

Janice Habersham Karen Gould Linda Tiller Beth Shoemaker Montonio Reid

Bibb County Media Specialist of the Year Colquitt County Media Specialist of the Year Douglas County Media Specialist of the Year Dublin City Media Specialist of the Year Clayton County Media Specialist of the Year

Any names missing? Send GaDOE the names of any Library Media Specialists or TOTY who were not included.
Advocacy Tip
Write (or have your students' parents write) a letter to your local paper describing what the library program adds to a student's education.

Page 10
U.S. Department of Education Names Two Public Georgia Schools as National Green Ribbon Schools
May 3, 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan last week announced that Georgia has three (two public and one private) U.S. Department of Education National Green Ribbon Schools. The list includes 78 schools that span 29 states and D.C
"I congratulate Georgias three National Green Ribbon Schools," said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. "These schools have demonstrated through a very difficult application process that they are operating more efficiently and offering a healthier environment for our students."
The 78 awarded schools were named winners from among nearly 100 nominees submitted by 30 state education agencies, the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. More than 350 schools completed applications to their state education agencies. Among the list of winners are 66 public schools including 8 charters, and 12 private schools composed of 43 elementary, 31 middle and 26 high schools with around 50 percent representing high poverty schools.
Through a partnership involving the Georgia Department of Education, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, the U.S. Green Building Council of Georgia, Georgia EPD, the Clean Air Campaign, and the Turner Foundation, four schools from Georgia were nominated to compete for the newly launched U.S. Department of Educations National Green Ribbon Schools program.
The three national-winning schools will split $10,000 in prize money from the Turner Foundation for demonstrating energy efficiency efforts.
ARABIA MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL Arabia Mountain High School, a DeKalb County public school, was the first LEED Certified public school in Georgia. Each year, they purchase 60% renewable energy, divert over 72 tons of waste through a robust recycling program. They have implemented water efficient fixtures for both indoor and outdoor water use, have green procurement process for cleaning supplies, paper and furniture, and it is a Clean Air School. Arabia Mountain has implemented Environmental Integrated Curriculum and currently has 100% of their students testing proficient on the science section of the Georgia High School Graduation Test.
SPRINGDALE PARK ELEMENTARY Springdale Park Elementary School, an Atlanta public school, was certified LEED Gold and generates 18% of its energy from an onsite geothermal ground source heat pump which both heats and cools the school. The school further saves energy by using a passive solar design with daylighting, sensors, and efficient lighting fixtures. They have implemented water efficient fixtures for both indoor and outdoor water use, have green procurement process for cleaning supplies, paper, and furniture, and it is a Clean Air School. They have two onsite school gardens and 39% of the food used in the school is grown within a 200 mile radius of the campus. In every grade, the environmental science standards listed in the Georgia Performance Standards are taught applying the scientific method also known as the Characteristics of Science.

Media Matters

Great idea from Susan Grigsby!

Page 11

It's that time of year when the fines accrued on student accounts have got to be paid. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand it is teaching responsibility but on the other hand I think it teaches nothing but how to ask Mom and Dad for money and responsibility is not part of the equation. That said, I came up with an idea this year that has worked really well so far.
I have been telling students they can "pay off" their fines in creative ways: they can sing to me, play their instrument for me, draw me a picture, or create something to enhance the media center decor. They can also get a reduction of 50 cents per can for canned food they bring in to donate to our local food bank.
I am now looking at a gallery of student created art and I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to look up and see their work. I have a beautifully drawn Lamborghini and Bugatti from a boy who is a constant library visitor but from an economically disadvantaged family. I have a beautiful colored-pencil drawing of a bird-like superhero from a girl who didn't even speak until about 6 months ago (ELL and painfully shy) but came to the library often. I have been treated to a beautiful song and I've had an orchestra student bring in her violin to play for me. Slowly I'm watching my media center fill up with the creative expressions of my students and I am delighted.
If your school/administration will let you do it I can tell you the pay-off is much higher than the dollar amount I would have collected. It is paying off in loyal "customers," good will, and a sense of pride among my students for THEIR media center.

If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry. ~ Emily Dickinson

Advocacy Tip
With the end of the year approaching, take a look back at the successful projects you taught in your library. Why not share these with your peers? Submit a plan to the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner Lesson Plan Database and have it published. AASL will send a letter to your administrator letting them know about your accomplishment.

Page 12
Help with Summer Reading from GALILEO and NoveList
Research has shown that children who participate in summer reading programs in the public library avoid the summer learning slump -- that is, the loss of reading skills we see in children who don't read over the summer. Instead, children who participate in summer reading programs tend to start school a little bit ahead of where they left off in June.
And, with the end of the school year just around the corner, we know that many of you are already working on your library's summer reading programs. To help, we've put together book lists to support the 2011 Collaborative Summer Library Program. As always, there are different themes for different age levels: One World, Many Stories (children); You Are Here (teens) and Novel Destinations (adults).
In NoveList, you'll find youth-oriented Summer Reading lists centered on these themes:
Type summer reading in the Search For... box on the homepage, and click Search.
From your Result List, click the Lists & Articles tab.
From the "Narrow Results by" section to the left, expand the "Publication Type" drop-down, and then select Feature Articles.
From the "Sort by" drop-down, select Date Descending to see the most recent lists supporting the 2011 Collaborative Summer Reading Program:
For Younger Kids: Summer Reading: Around the World with Reading is a fiction list featuring outstanding picture books where kids, parents, and pets travel through multicultural neighborhoods and around the world.
For Older Kids: Summer Reading: Life Around the World includes nonfiction books which give cultural overviews of life for older children of the world. Summer Reading: Open Up Your World with Reading lists fiction titles that will open the world to older children, creating global citizens along the way.
For Teens: Summer Reading: Life Experiences Around the Globe is a list of autobiographical books about early life experiences around the world. Summer Reading: Great Big World includes fiction titles encompassing realism, humor, mystery, adventure, historical fiction, and fantasy that will help teens traverse the globe through their reading.
Find additional Best Practices information in NoveList about summer reading programs by librarians working in schools:
From home page, click on Teaching with Books hyperlink on right panel.
Under "NoveList Resources" on the right panel, click on the Best Practices link.
From here, scroll down the results for two short articles specifically about summer reading:
Best Practices: Schools and Summer Reading and Best Practices: Summer Reading Lists and More!

Page 13
Cute kids and cool cats from Lee Street Elementary.(Clayton County). James Campbell build these benches for his students to sit on during story time and other activities. Check out Lee Street Elementary information on the Georgia Children's Book Award. Amazing!
http://clayton.114.schooldesk.net/LibraryMedia/GAChildrensBookAward/ PictureBookNOMINEESfor2012/tabid/10357/Default.aspx

Media Matters

Page 14

When I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself. ~ Isaac Asimov

May 2012

Georgia Department of Education

Su nday

Mond ay

April S M TW T F S
1234567 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Tuesday
1
Empire State Buil di ng dedi cated: 1931

Wed nesday

Thu rsday

Fr iday

Satu rd ay

2

3

4

5

Who is Benjamin Who is Nellie T. Spock? Today Ross? is hi s birthday.

Columbus fi rst visited Jamaica: 1494

First Americans in space: 1961
Leo Lionni's birthday

6
What is the Hindenburg Disast er?

7
Birthday of Robert Browning: 1812

8
Harry S Truman born: 1884

9
Woodrow Wi lson proclaims 1st Mother's Day: 1914

10
First tel ephone install ed in Whi te House: 1877

11
Birthday of Peter Si s: 1949-

12
Poet and painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti born: 1828

13
Birthday of Norma Klein: 1938-1989

14
Lewis and Cl ark depart fromSt. Louis: 1804

15 16
Katherine Anne Butt on Port er born: 1890 Gwi nnett receives fatal wound in duel: 1777

17
Brown v Board ofEd is decided: 1954

18
Where i s Mt. St . Helens?

19
Astronaut Di ck Scobee born: 1939

20
Levi Strauss pat ents copperriveted jeans: 1873

21
American Red Cross founded: 1881

22 23 24

Great Emi gration Margaret Wise Birthday ofMary

departs for

Brown's

Stolz:

Oregon: 1843 birthday.

1920-2006

New York Publi c

Library

dedi cated: 1911

25 26

Birthday ofRalph BramStoker's

Waldo Emerson: Dracula goes on

1803-1882

sale: 1897

27
Golden Gate Bri dge opens: 1937

28 29

Sierra Club found- Who is Si r

ed: 1892

Edmund

Hillary?

30
Who is Countee Cull en?

31
Birthday ofWalt Whi tman: 1819

Ju ne S M TW T F S
12 3456789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

No thing will e ver be a tte m pted if a ll po ssi ble o bje ctio ns m us t first be o verco m e. S am ue l Jo hnso n