Media matters, Vol. 6, Issue 5 (Dec. 2007)

December 2007

Volume 6 Number 5
Media Matters
A newsletter for people who care about Library Media Programs

Fred Newman reads Railroad John and the Red Rock Run

Inside this issue: 2008 Exemplary 2

What an Honor! 3

Don't Miss This! 4

NoveList

5

Melissa Johnston 6

Archives Award 7

WebPages

7

Meet Fred Danes 8

Open House

9

On November 19th, actor and author Fred Newman became our latest celebrity guest in the Georgia Read More program. Fred is the sound effects person for Prairie Home Companion and is the host of PBS's Between the Lions. Fred read Railroad John and the Red Rock Run by Tony Crunk to a group of students from West Side Magnet School in Troup County. The third grade students helped with the sound effects during the story. Author Tony Crunk was in the audience and we will hopefully add Tony to our "Meet the Author" series.
Library Media Moves to Curriculum

Barrow County 9

List Service

10

Information

AASL

11

Georgia

11

Authors

Trunk and

12

Alpharetta

Calendar

13

Effective immediately, the Library Media Unit of the Georgia Department of Education has moved to the Department of Standards, Instruction, and Assessment (SIA) and will be a part of the Curriculum and Instructional Services Division.
Thirteen years ago (before the lottery), Library Media was a part of the Curriculum Division and we are now back in that unit..
Although I have moved, my telephone is not connected at this point. That should change within the next week or two. I should keep my same telephone number. I will keep you posted. Until my telephone is connected, please email me at: jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us
Judy

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Media Matters

2008 Exemplary/Exceptional Library Media Program!
The 7th Annual Exemplary/Exceptional Library Media Program information is now on the GaDOE website. Please consider either applying for this recognition program or reading and scoring the applications. Our narrative readers often realize their own library media program meets or exceeds the criteria and apply the following year.
The rubric has been updated. The directions and application have been modified. The deadline has been changed and the honorees will attend the June 2008 State Board Meeting.
Information will be sent to principals, media coordinators, the GaMedia List Service, and the GaDOE Media List Service.
Check out the details at: http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/pandp/media/exemplary.htm
Nomination form is available at : http://admin.doe.k12.ga.us/gadoe/ots/empnom.nsf/Nomination?OpenForm

Kindness is the highest
form of intelligence.
Wayne Teasdale

Correction
Dr. Beheruz Sethna was incorrectly identified in the November Media Matters. Dr. Sethna's title was not Chancellor, but Executive Vice Chancellor, and Chief Academic Officer (Interim) of the University System of Georgia. He is currently President of the University of West Georgia.

Page 3
The 39th Annual Conference on Children's Literature
This wonderful conference hosted by UGA in Athens begins on Friday, February 29, 2008 .
Special guests include: Ian Ogilvy
Cynthia Kadohata Brian Pinkney David Wiesner Mo Willems
More information: http://www.coe.uga.edu/gcba/
What an Honor!

Media Matters
When I hear music, I fear no danger. Henry David Thoreau

Jacque Hornsby, Library Media Specialist at West Side Magnet School in LaGrange, was recently honored by her faculty and staff with the naming of the Media Center in her honor. Jacque was also one of the finalists for state teacher of the year (TOTY) a couple of years ago. I noticed this plaque when we filmed our latest program for Georgia Read More at West Side. Congratulations Jacque!

Georgia Department of Education Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

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Media Matters

Title IID FY08 Teachers, Teamwork and Technology T3 Grant!
On November 16, at the GaETC Conference, the Instructional Technology Division of the Georgia Department of Education announced the FY08 Title IID competitive grant.
The FY08 Title IID Competitive 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 standards-based 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 13 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.
For more information and to see if your school is eligible go to: http://www.gadoe.org/it.aspx?PageReq=ITTTTGrant

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Media Matters

2007 Nobel Prize in Literature
"Doris Lessing, the Persian-born, Rhodesian-raised and London-residing novelist whose deeply autobiographical writing has swept across continents and reflects her engagement with the social and political issues of her time, won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature. "Announcing the award in Stockholm, the Swedish Academy described her as "that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny." The award comes with a 10 million Swedish crown honorarium, about $1.6 million. "Ms. Lessing, who turns 88 later this month, never finished high school and largely educated herself through voracious reading. She has written dozens of books of fiction, as well as plays, nonfiction and two volumes of autobiography. She is the 11th woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature."
You can read the entire NYTimes article by Motoko Rich and Sarah Lyall at: http:// www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/world/11cnd-nobel.html
Explore 44 of her novels in GALILEO's NoveList! NoveList has a book discussion guide for her 2003 book The Grandmothers: Four Short Novels. You can also read the first chapter of many of her novels, including The Story of General Dann and Mara's Daughter, Griot and the Snow Dog: A Novel (2006).
Rebecca Amerson, Media Specialist National Board Certified Library Teacher Woodstock High School
Georgia Department of Education Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

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Media Matters

2007 Winner of the AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE EDUCATIONAL USE OF HISTORICAL RECORDS
Presented by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board
Melissa P. Johnston
Melissa P. Johnston ,Library Media Specialist at Silver City Elementary School in Forsyth County, has made teaching history using primary sources a focus of her instruction. By using primary sources, she puts real faces and emotions on events to make history come alive and create an engaging way for students to learn about the past. Johnston has developed lessons based on the Georgia curriculum that integrate primary sources beginning with kindergarten through 5th grade. This is an on-going project for Johnston as she plans to develop more lessons in the future to connect primary sources to the Georgia Performance Standards.
http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/130820720125047293/site/default.asp

Melissa is shown receiving her award from Secretary of State Karen Handel and Chairman of the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board Ross King at the awards ceremony held at the Georgia Archives in October.

Page 7

Outstanding Archives Awards Program

Media Matters

The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB) established the Outstanding Archives Awards Program in 2003 to recognize outstanding efforts in archives and records work in Georgia. By publicly recognizing excellent achievements, the Board strives to inspire others.
The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board has two student award categories, grades 6-8 and 9-12. There is also an award for educators and educational programs. You can obtain instructions and forms as well as view previous awards at http://www.georgiaarchives.org/ who_are_we/ghrab/awards_program.htm.
If you or one of your students has done something special using primary sources, don't hesitate to submit an application! Keep this in mind for student projects, Social Studies Fair, or History Day projects.

Check out these Georgia Library Media Center WebPages!
Want to add pizzazz and information to your current webpage? Check out these outstanding pages.

Ann Evett and Barbara Heller of Henderson Middle in DeKalb County invite you to visit their webpage at: http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~henderson/Media_Center/Library_site/index.htm
Outstanding! Linda Sears at Harris County Carver Middle School also has a wonderful webpage. Look at Linda's hard work at: http://harriscounty.ga.schoolwebpages.com/education/staff/staff.php? sectiondetailid=657&sc_id=1196177370
Awesome! Check out Fred Danes and Velveeta Tanksley's Media Center website for Hephzibah High School in Richmond County http://heph-high.rcboe.org/site_res_view_folder.aspx?id=3813633b-3c45-4772-aca7-7777b46f5084
Magnificent!

Georgia Department of Education Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

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Media Matters

Meet Fred Danes.... Media Specialist at Hephzibah High School in Richmond County

I began my teaching career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs at Cove Day School on the Navajo Indian Reservation in the late `60's. We had four classrooms, and were 30 miles of dirt road from anywhere. After two years I transferred to Sanostee Boarding School, with grades K-8, three dormitories, dining hall, three classroom buildings, and a separate library. We were only nine miles of dirt road from 666, which runs between Shiprock and Gallup, New Mexico. I lived at the school compound at both locations. After another year of teaching and several years as the Student Activities Director, I went to the University of Denver and received my MLS, and returned to Sanostee as the Education Specialist (Librarian). As the librarian my greatest technological challenges were showing the teachers how to operate the 16mm movie projector and keeping the duplicators running without turning purple. Otherwise we had the normal storytimes, library skills lessons, and fixed schedules. We also had a photographic darkroom that we used for the yearbook and school publicity.
I began my time with the Peace Corps in 1981 when I went to the Fiji Islands to be the Town Librarian at Nadi. My mission was to work myself out of a job by training a local counterpart. I also would travel to Sigatoka every Friday to provide training to their local librarian. We had an active readership, especially among the young people. But some of the adults, including the prime minister's brother-in-law, were regular users. Even though English is the national language, we had materials in Fijian and Hindustani, as Fiji is very definitely a trilingual nation. Everything was by manual operation, as we had no computers available. Each year the national library association would sponsor a National Library Week, and we would have several local activities during the week, culminating in a parade down main street, in this case the Queen's Highway. Towards the end of my second year the islands experienced cyclone Oscar, which devastated the western part of the island. In Nadi we lost the three largest library collections in town, our own library as well as those of the two largest high schools. I was able to extend for a third year, and had the opportunity to be a part of a Ministry of Education inspection team visiting several of the islands in the Lau island group in the Eastern Division. We spent two weeks looking at the community schools, and I was responsible for reporting on the available library facilities. A couple of the larger schools had libraries, but most had little more than a storeroom, if any thing at all.
The three years I spent in Fiji were some of greatest times of my life. I even met and married my wife and we had our first daughter while there
It was truly the hardest job I would ever love.
Do you have an interesting story like Fred?
Please share.

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Media Matters

Open House at East Jackson Middle

Holly Canup had a great crowd at her recent Open House.
Fun in Barrow County!
I just wanted to share with you what we have going on here in Barrow County.
Our gifted 8th grade reading students are reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. The teacher and I created a wiki space (wikispaces.com) where the students are able to discuss the book. Students will not be discussing in class at all until everyone is finished. Their grade is based on their participation in the wiki discussion. Several of our faculty members have read the book and wanted to participate as well. As word has gotten out, a large number of teachers have joined in the fun. The students are enjoying posting their thoughts and interacting with faculty members they might not otherwise converse with.
Now--here's the coolest part: I went to the author's website and sent his agent an email sharing our wiki address and inviting him to join our discussion. He actually emailed me back and asked how to get a wikispaces account! He said he is ready to read the students' thoughts and join the discussion! We are so excited!
Jennie Persinger Media Specialist Westside Middle School

Page 10

Film Clips Volumes 4, 5, and 6 will be mailed to all K-12 schools beginning in December. MARC record information will also be included with the DVDs.
These Character Education DVDs should be housed in the Media Center for use for the entire school.

We will lead the nation in improving student achievement.
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

DON'T GET LEFT OUT!

Do you subscribe to the GaDOE Library Media List Service? No?

You may be missing out on notifications about conferences, special events, grant opportunities, newsletters, and much more. Join over 1,000 of your colleagues by subscribing.

Send a blank email to: Join-doemedia@list.doe.k12.ga.us
You will receive a confirmation email to which you will need to respond. The confirmation email will include directions on how to unsubscribe.

Media Coordinators now have their own list service to network, discuss, problem solve with one another.
For details on how to subscribe, email Judy at jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us

Georgia Department of Education Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

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Media Matters

AASL has released the new Standards for the 21st century learner. Check it out and share it with your staff.
"Standards for the 21st-Century Learner" offers vision for teaching and learning to guide our profession as education leaders. The standards will both shape the library media program and serve as a tool for media specialists to use to shape the learning of students in the school.
You can download the standards and eight page brochure at: http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/standards.cfm

Looking for Georgia authors? Try this site:
http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/GeorgiaReferenceShelf/ GeorgiaAuthors2002.html?Welcome

Georgia Department of Education Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

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Media Matters

The wonderful archaeology trunk from the Department of Transportation is currently residing in Augusta at the National Science Center ETTC. Please contact Jimmy Bostock if you would like to check out the trunk and use it at your school.
The trunk will be traveling to the 13 ETTCs and will be available in your area in the near future.
Jimmy's email is : <bostockj@ETTCNSC.org>
Main phone number: 706-821-0630

Jill Rose of Alpharetta High School had a wonderful group of people visit her beautiful facility and learn about her outstanding Library Media program!

Sunday

December 2007

GaDOE Library Media Services

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday
1
Birthday ofJan Brett: 1949-

2

3

David Macaulay's Birthday of birthday: 1946 Joseph Conrad: 1857-1924

9
Birthday ofJohn Milton: 16081874

10
MLK received Nobel Peace Prize: 1964

4

5

Chanukah Birthday ofWalt begins at Disney: 1901sundown. 1966

11
Who is Alexander Solzh enits yn ?

12
Barbara Emberley born: 1932

6

7

8

Washington

Pearl Harbor

Monument

bombed: 1941

completed:1884

Birthday ofDiego Rivera: 18861957
Birthday ofEli Whitney: 1765-1825

13 14 15

1642: Tasman discovers New Zealand

DNA created in a Bill ofRights test tube: 1967 become law:
South Pole reach- 1791 ed by Roald Amundsen: 1911

16 17 18

Boston Tea Party: 1st powered flight Nutcracker Suite

1773

by Wright

first performed:

Brothers: 1903 1892

19 20 21 22

Eve Bunting born: 1860: South

Pilgrims landed at Birthday ofJames

1928

Carolina secedes Plymouth: 1620 Edward

fromthe Union Sherman captured Oglethorpe:

Savannah: 1864 1696-1785

23 24

Clement Moore's Christmas poem published: 1823

Mary Higgins Clark is born: 1931

25
Christmas !

26
Kwanzaa

27 28
1968: Apollo 8 Chewing gun returns to Earth patented: 1869

29
1916: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is pub lis hed

30 31

Birthday ofRudy- Ellis Island

ard Kipling:

opened for immi-

1865-1936

grants: 1892

November 07 S M TW T F S
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January 08 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 31

Three things in human li fe are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. Henry James to his nephew Will iam James.