May 2008 Volume 6 Number 10 Media Matters A newsletter for people who care about Library Media Centers Manning Oaks Elementary in Alpharetta (Fulton) recently played host to Georgia Read More's latest celebrity reader....Jeff Foxworthy. Jeff read his book of poetry entitled Dirt on my Shirt. Inside this issue: Grant Writing 2 workshop Retiring educators 3 TOTY 4 Media Specialists of 4 the Year Media Specialists as 5 TOTY Kennedy Elementary 5 GOLD/GALILEO 6 Conference T3 Grant and 7 Recipients COMO 9 Website and a 10 children's book store Calendar 11 The entire school came out to welcome Mr. Foxworthy and these darling little ones let Jeff know that they also have dirt on their shirts. Claudia Zurbrick, Media Specialist at Manning Oaks, made everyone feel welcome and the day was absolutely wonderful. Look for Jeff's reading soon on the GaDOE website. His story will appear on the Year 3 DVD. Page 2 We will lead the nation in improving student achievement. The Exemplary/Exceptional Library Media applications are in the final judging stages and the recipients will be announced in the next couple of weeks. Volume 6 Number 10 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 Please consider joining the GaDOE List Service as well as the GaMedia List. Both provide information and opportunities that you may miss out on if you don't subscribe. To join the GaDOE List Service send a blank email to: join-doemedia@list.doe.k12.ga.us How to Write a Winning Proposal June 10-12, 2008 8:00 am 4:00 pm Atlanta, Georgia This is a hands-on workshop in which each participant develops a working draft of a proposal for funding. After learning about each of the sections of a proposal, you will brainstorm and write the sections of a proposal tailored to a current grant opportunity. You will be able to revise the proposal after the workshop and submit it for funding to your preferred funding source! Come with project ideas in mind! Participants should expect homework each night. Example project ideas include, 1) linking middle school students with high school technology mentors; 2) developing and finding international collaborators to enhance your social studies programs 3) creating a focused professional development program for selected teachers; or 4) updating technology resources for learning. At the workshop, each participant will write a draft proposal based on his or her idea. Participants may bring their own laptops. Participants are requested to review open grant opportunities in the Foundations for the Future's Funding Forecast prior to attending the workshop at www.f3program.org/funding/funding.pdf The workshop fee of $100 includes grant writing workbook, grant-writing resources on CD, handson Internet sessions, two PLU credits, certificate of completion, refreshments, and lunch on Thursday. Lunch is on your own Tuesday and Wednesday. NOTE: This workshop is for K-12 teachers and administrators only. Participation is limited, so call early! Reservations will be held on a first come-first served basis. For more information, please contact Karen at (404) 407-6838 or karen.boyle@gtri.gatech.edu. The workshop will be held at the GTRI Conference Center (formerly the GCATT building), 250 14th Street, Atlanta 30318, just west of I-75 and I-85. For directions, please visit: www.f3program.org/explorers_guild/directions.html Page 3 Congratulations Retiring Educators! Media Matters Rita Shockley Diane King Karen Holley South Hall Middle School (Gainesville) Savannah-Chatham Euchee Creek Elementary (Columbia) Alma Walker Pine Ridge Elementary (Harris ) Nina Popham Worth County Ellen Freedman Cross Keys High School (DeKalb) Susan Carter Camden County High School Pam Russell East Central Elementary (Rome City) Minnie Witherspoon Sharon Self Clinch County Primary Hardaway High School (Muscogee) Fran Jones Ginny Harrell Southwestern Elementary (Crisp) Jackson Elementary (Clayton) Libby Skorupan Pam Russell Sherri Johnson Gesta Riggs Jean Sprague Gladden Middle (Murray) East Central Elementary (Rome City) Main Elementary (Rome City) West End Elementary (Rome City) Scott Elementary (Thomasville City) Brenda Steadman Langston Chapel Middle (Bulloch) Margaret Watson Jasper County Primary Carol Flowers Elizabeth Ristroph Sheron Long Mary Carter Joyce Thompkins Mary Surber Hilda Stuckey Blue Ridge Elementary (Columbia) Grovetown Middle (Columbia) Scott Elementary (Atlanta City) Brandon Elementary (Atlanta City) Miles Elementary (Atlanta City) Inman Middle (Atlanta City) Northeast High School (Bibb) Janice Peck Gadsden Elementary School (Savannah-Chatham) Did you get left out of this list? Several email requests were sent out over the last few months, but if you missed the notice please let me know and we will include you in the next issue. Thank you for all of your years of service . I wish we had totaled up the combined years of service and experience that we will lose when you all retire....but if I know educators.....you won't be idle for long. Best wishes. Page 4 Volume 6 Number 10 These outstanding educators were named TOTY at their school, School Professional of the Year, or in some cases Teacher of the Year for their entire system. Library Media Specialists are educators and are eligible for the State TOTY. (See next page for details.) Linda Williams Keisha Robinson Jean Shearer Angeli Norris Carol Gaddis Kathy Hanson Holly Canup Lydia Brantley Lynn Dye Valli Robinson Tracy Schroeder Lisa Campbell Tracey Kell Berrien County Teacher of the Year Harper Archer Middle (Atlanta) West Chatham Elementary McClarin High School (Fulton) School Professional of the Year Love T. Nolan Elementary (Fulton) School Professional of the Year Conley Hills Elementary (Fulton) East Jackson Middle Sterling Elementary (Glynn) Keheley Elementary (Cobb) Alexander High School (Douglas) Glenwood Primary (Floyd) Lilburn Elementary (Gwinnett) Chestatee Middle (Hall) Media Specialist of the Year Anna Olliff Julie Hatcher Kim Jenkins Ardith Sweatt Evans Middle (Columbia County) Mill Creek High (Gwinnett) Griffin High (Griffin-Spalding) Mary Lee Clark Elementary(Camden) Most of you will soon be closing up your school year with post planning and all that it entails. I wish everyone a healthy, happy, and restful summer. In the August issue of our newsletter I would like to include some "Best Practices" ideas. What was your biggest success this year? What worked well with students/ teachers/parents/administrators? If you have time, please send me your comments. I will be here all summer so if you can't stop inventory, graduation rehearsals, cleaning, and laminating right now, you can email me in July! jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us Page 5 Media Matters Question: Can a Library Media Specialist be Teacher of the Year? 2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year Program Georgia's Teacher of the Year Program (GTOTY) annually spotlights the teaching profession and recognizes outstanding public school teachers at the local and state levels. The program is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education. It is a prestigious awards program to focus attention on excellence in teaching. The first Georgia Teacher of the Year was selected in 1971. Qualifications The candidate for Teacher of the Year should be: A certified classroom teacher 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. Selection Process for GTOTY A notice is sent in July from the TOTY state coordinator to local school system superintendents inviting them to nominate a local teacher of the year to the state program. Each system nominee submits an application packet that is based on the National Teacher of the Year Program application. Applications are judged on all items on the entry form, and ten finalists are selected. Site visits to each of the ten finalists' classrooms and follow-up interviews are conducted by the judges. Additional judging occurs following a luncheon held to honor the finalists. The 2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year will be announced at the state banquet in the spring of 2008. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/tss_learning.aspx?PageReq=TSSLearningTOTY Answer: Most definitely ! Congratulations to Kennedy Elementary (Barrow County) and Nada Aswad for their First Place win in the SIRS Podcast contest. Check out their winning entry at: http://www.proquestk12.com/access/custom/sirspodcon_finals/ sirspodcon_finalists.shtml Page 6 Volume 6 Number 10 Gold/GALILEO Conference The GOLD/GALILEO Users Group Advisory Committee is pleased to suggest that Georgia library staff clear their agendas and mark their calendars "NOW" for Friday, August 1, 2008 to attend our 19th Annual Conference. Plan for August's first Friday to join your colleagues at the UGA Center for Continuing Education Conference Center & Hotel located in Athens, Georgia. Library collaboration novices, veterans, and aficionados will all benefit from connecting to the 2008 theme: "One World One Library: Working Together To Put the User First." This one day conference (9:00 AM-3:30 PM)---at less than $36 per participant--draws over 300 librarians, paraprofessionals, and technical staff from academic libraries, public libraries, schools, and special libraries throughout Georgia and the Southeast. The goal of the conference is to provide a forum for continuing education and professional development activities related to using Georgia's interlibrary lending and resource sharing network, GOLD ,and the statewide virtual library, GALILEO. We hope to have registration and agenda materials to you by the first week in June. Please watch future GOLD and GALILEO listservs, newsletters, correspondence and websites for more information. According to Alice Harvard, the 2008 Chair of the GOLD/GALILEO Advisory Committee and Information Services Librarian at Americus-Sumter County High School: "Attending this conference reminds me that regardless of the size or type of library employing us, the goals and challenges that information specialists face are very similar. The technology tips, best library practices, new lingo, and increased resource offerings I learn here reenergize, redirect and recommit my resolve to better serve my patrons". Toni Zimmerman Director, Resource Sharing & Interlibrary Cooperation Georgia Public Library Service A Unit of the University System of Georgia 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345-4304 Phone: (404) 235-7129 (Effective Monday, 3/6/06) Fax: (404) 235-7201 (Effective Monday, 3/6/06) tzimmerman@georgialibraries.org www.georgialibraries.org Title IID FY08 - Teachers, Teamwork and Technology (T3) Competitive Grant Award Announcement On April 3, 2008, the State Board of Education announced the FY08 Title IID Competitive grant awards to 80 schools across Georgia. The grant, titled Teachers, Teamwork and Technology (T3), will specifically address a statewide need to improve instruction to meet the needs of the 21st Century learner and impact overall student achievement. With the June 2007 refresh of the ISTE "National Educational Technology Standards for Students: The Next Generation" (NETS-S), as well as the launch in October 2007 of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) " 21st Century Library Learning Standards," it is imperative that our students are given educational opportunities to meet these 21st Century expectations. In addition, we recognize that the continuing implementation of the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) across content area and grade level results in a need to utilize project-based learning methodologies in the classroom. The T3 grant will: build on the collaborative and professional learning community aspects of the FY07 ITEE grant by enabling a Library Media Specialist and a team of four teachers to embark on a journey towards standardsbased teaching with engaged learners in a technology-enabled classroom. provide 21st Century instructional technology tools and equipment and extensive professional development for the leadership team over a two year period. The professional learning will be specifically tailored to ensure a successful implementation at the school. The thirteen Educational Technology Training Centers (ETTCs) will play a vital role in the Professional Learning design and implementation at the schools, and will provide the instructional and technical support for the grantees, Library Media Centers, and classrooms. require the team demonstrate a connection point between the Library Media Specialist and the four teachers. focus on intensive student instruction in electronic resources such as GALILEO, and digital era tools of podcasting, blogging, and multimedia production. recognize that our students live in a global society and one way to expand their world is to collaborate outside the boundaries of their own building. Eligibility for this grant was determined by the NCLB definition for a high-need LEA as determined for Title II-D competitive grants and outlined in the Section 2403 of NCLB. Recipients of the T 3 Grant! Congratulations! Harper-Archer Middle School Turner Middle School Baldwin High School Ben Hill Middle School Berrien Elementary School Howard Middle School Westside High School Brantley County High School Glynn Academy Whigham Elementary School Haralson County High School Jeff Davis Middle School Jenkins County High School Johnson County Middle School Lamar County Primary Liberty County High School Page 8 Grant recipients (continued) Mattie Lively Elementary School Sallie Zetterower Elementary School Burke County High School Calhoun Middle School Calhoun County Middle/High School Metter High School Charlton County High School Coastal Middle School West Chatham Elementary School Windsor Forest High School Clinch County Elementary School Colquitt County High School Commerce City Primary Cook High School Crisp County Middle School Dalton City Middle School Clarkston High School Crosskeys High School Freedom Middle School Sequoya Middle School Woodward Elementary School Dodge County Middle School Dooly County High School Monroe Comprehensive High School Dublin Middle School Early County High School Beaverdam Elementary Elbert County Middle School Swainsboro High School Claxton High School Fannin County High School Franklin County Middle School New Holland Elementary School Volume 6 Number 10 Colquitt County High School Long County High School Macon County Middle School Marietta 6th Grade Academy McIntosh County Academy Manchester High School Miller County Elementary School Mitchell County High School Fort Middle School Jordan High School Key Elementary School Hunt Primary School Pulaski Elementary School Putnam County High School Randolph-Clay High School Hephzibah High School Sego Middle School Schley County Elementary School Seminole County Middle/High School Cowan Road Elementary School Crescent Road Elementary School Toccoa Elementary School Central Elementary/High School Tattnall County High School Telfair County Middle School MacIntyre Park Middle School Valdosta High School Sallie D. Meadows Elementary School Waycross Middle School Martha R. Smith Elementary School Webster County Elementary School Worth County High School Page 9 Media Matters Please consider presenting at the COMO Conference: 2008 COMO Proposals Now Being Accepted We need your presentations! Have you created an innovative, exciting, or unique program in your library or media center? Have you discovered a new tool, product, or other resource that will improve library or media center programs? Please consider presenting at the GA COMO this year and share your experience with other librarians and media professionals. COMO Presentation Proposal Information: The 2008 COMO will be in Athens, GA October 15 - 17, 2008. To propose a presentation for the 2008 GaCOMO convention, please go to http://www.georgiacomo.org/Proposals.htm. Proposals received by May 31, 2008 will receive full consideration. Acceptance letters will be mailed by June 30, 2007. L. Michelle Lenderman mlenderman.central@bibb.k12.ga.us Library Media Specialist Central High School 2155 Napier Ave. Macon, GA 31204 Page 10 Check out this website. http://www.missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com This is a blog of a teacher educator discussing poetry, children's literature, and issues related to teaching children. Volume 6 Number 10 Additional Retired Educators! Jacque Hornsby Priscilla Sparks Margaret Staley Anne Powell Sally Lee Owen Ditchfield West Side Magnet (Troup) Callaway Middle (Troup) East Coweta Middle Smokey Road Middle (Coweta) Western Elementary (Coweta) Ft. Benning Schools 133 East Court Square Decatur GA 30030 404.373.6300 www.littleshopofstories.com We have many authors and illustrators coming to visit us during IRA in May. They include: MAY 5TH AT 4PM- Michael Buckley, author of the red hot series The Sisters Grimm. MAY 7TH AT 4:30PM- Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series, will be on hand to help us celebrate the release of the newest book in the series, The Battle of the Labyrinth. MAY 7TH AT 5PM- Award winning author Jerry Spinelli will be here to present "A Conversation with Jerry Spinelli". This is a special event for teachers and media specialists and Jerry will be reading from his newest book Smiles to Go as well as talking about his volume of work. We are asking teachers to RSVP for this event since we will also be serving light appetizers and drinks, as well as giving away goodies to all teachers attending. May 2008 Georgia Department of Education Su nday Mond ay April S M TW T F S 12345 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Tuesday Wed nesday Ju ne 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 Thu rsday Fr iday Satu rd ay 1 2 3 Birthday of Craters of the Bobbie Ann Moon National Mason: 1940- Monument Empire State estab lis hed : Buil di ng 1924 dedi cated: 1931 Birthday of Yehuda Amicha: 1924-2000 4 5 Horace Mann Birthday ofLeo born: 1796-1859 Lionni: 19101999 Carnegi e Hall opened: 1891 6 7 Birthday ofWillie Nonny Mays: 1931- Hogrogrian born: 1932- 11 Who is Irving Berlin? 12 Edward Lear born: 1812-1888 13 14 Norma Klein born: Set tlement of 1938-1989 Jamestown: 1607 8 9 DeSoto Birthday of d is co v ered Wi lliamPene Mississippi : D u Bo is : 1541 1916-1993 What does t he What did James "S" stand for i n Barrie wri te? Harry S Truman? 10 Caroline Cooney born: 1947- 15 16 17 Norma Fox Maxer Margret Rey born: Supreme Court born: 1931 1906-1996 rules in Brown v. Who is L. Frank Brown: 1954 Baum? 18 Mt. St. Helen erupts: 1980 19 20 21 22 23 24 Lorraine Hans- Birthday ofCarol American Red berry born: 1930- Carrick: 1935- Cross founded: 1965 1881 Is t here a book in Birthday ofScott Brooklyn Bri dge your library by O'Dell: 1898-1989opens: 1883 Arnold Lobel? Margaret Wise Brown born: 1910-1952 25 Ralph Waldo Emerson born: 1803-1882 26 Memorial Day 27 M.E. Kerr born: 1927- 28 Why is this day import ant to James Bond? 29 30 31 Mt. Everest summit reached: 1953 Wi llow Davi s Roberts born: 1928- 1st automobile accident: 1896 (Wear your seat bel t!) Bri thday ofWalt Whi tman: 18191892 Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you. Walt Whitman