Media matters, Vol. 7, Issue 1 (Aug. 2008)

Media Matters

Inside this issue:

Top 10

2

TOTYs and 4 Retirees

From Parapro 5 to LMS

Websites to 6 check out

Lois Lenski 7 Grant

Exemplary 8 pictures

No Principal 10 Left Behind

Book Review 10 ISTE Award 11

Valdosta

12

Rocks!

Wordle

12

Teacher Gift 13 Cards... including you!

Strategic Plan 14 and other info

Calendar

15

Volume 7 Number 1

August 2008

Exemplary Library Media Programs!

Congratulations to the following Library Media Programs and the Media Specialists who make success happen! This was a fantastic year with a huge number of applications. The EXEMPLARY Library Media Programs include: Elementary Meadowcreek (Gwinnett): Kim Thames
New Hope (Whitfield) Kristi Crumpton Middle School :Hahira (Lowndes): Heather Morin and Debra Martin High School : Mill Creek (Gwinnett): Julie Hatcher, Mary Donovan, and
Cheryl Spotts North Gwinnett (Gwinnett): Jim Stewart and Carla Youmans

Our EXCEPTIONAL Library Media Programs include:

Elementary: South Effingham (Effingham): Peggy Helmly

Crabapple (Fayette): Peggy James

Middle: Long Cane (Troup) Pam Murphy

High:

Perry (Houston) : Sue Lay and Rhonda Walters

Also, several schools were awarded Honorable Mention for their outstanding library media programs. These schools are Osborne High (Cobb), Clubview Elementary (Muscogee), Lake Park Elementary (Lowndes), Islands Elementary (Chatham), Pleasant Grove Elementary (Whitfield) and Tucker Elementary (Houston).

The State Board of Education also honored Linda Martin, Georgia's Media Specialist of the Year and Luella Elementary and Anne Wallace for being chosen as the AASL Library Media Program of the Year.

(Pictures on page 8 and 9)

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Media Matters

This article was reprinted with permission of the author, Doug Johnson, Director of Media and technology at I.S.D. 77 Mankato (Minnesota) Public Schools and with permission of Marlene Woo-Lun, Publisher and President of Linworth Publishing, Inc.
Top 10 things first year teachers should know about librarians

Dear First Year Teacher,
Welcome to school. It's ever so nice to see your fresh, smiling face. I hope some of your eagerness and enthusiasm rub off on the rest of us, who've been here awhile. (a couple of us still yearn for the days of the one-room school.)
I'm the school media specialist. Or librarian, if you prefer. I answer to both. I recognize that your teacher preparation may not have given you much information about, or experience with, working with me or effectively using a library's resources. There's also a pretty good chance that the school library you used during your own school days was different from the program here.
To help us begin with a positive spin, here are a few things I'd like you to know about the library, our program, and me that can help us form a great partnership.
The librarian doesn't own the library. You and your students do. You can recommend materials and have a voice in library policy making. Volunteer to become a member of our school's library advisory committee.
The library should be considered an "intellectual gymnasium." It is not a student lounge, study hall, or babysitting service. The students in the library, including the ones you send, should have a reason for being there. Whether for academic purposes or personal use, students should be in the library because they need the library's resources, not just because they need to be somewhere.
The best resource in the library is the librarian. I can help you plan a project, solve a technology problem, find professional research, give insight into an ethical problem, or answer a reference question. And if I can't do it, I'll help you find someone who can. I can help find inter-library loan materials that aren't in the school library itself. Helping others gives me a huge sense of satisfaction, so please never hesitate to ask me for assistance.
Planning is a good thing. Advanced planning with me will greatly increase your and your students' chances for success with projects that require information resources. A well-planned research unit or technology project will greatly decrease frustrations for everyone involved. With my experience, I can let you know what strategies work and don't work.
Recognize that the library provides access to both print and electronic information. I can determine which one best suits your and your students' needs. Students don't always realize that print resources are best for many purposes. It breaks my heart to watch a student spend a frustrating hour trying to find the answer to a question on the Internet that could have been answered by a print resource in minutes.
The librarian can be helpful in evaluating information found on the Internet. One of the greatest challenges of using the Internet is determining whether the facts and opinions found there are credible. I have the training and tools to do just that. And it's my mission to teach students effective evaluation skills.
(continued on next page)

Volume 7 Number 1 (continued from page 2)

Page 3

The librarian can help create assessments for your students' projects. The findings of research projects presented in electronic form, conclusions drawn from primary resources, and research that calls for higher-level thinking to be demonstrated, all call for good, authentic assessment tools rather than a simple gut-reaction comment or an objective test. I can help you find examples of, or create, these sorts of tools, as well as help you and administer them. Let's work together to make your students' learning experiences as meaningful as possible.

The librarian can be your technology support center. I can help you and your students with technology applications. Need to use a scanner or a digital camera? I can show you how. Need to create a multimedia presentation? Let me give you a quick lesson. Looking for effective ways to search the Web? Ask me. And even though I'm not a technician, I can sometimes help you locate that kind of help, as well.

The library can help improve your students' performance on standardized reading tests. Research has proven that children become more adept at reading by extensively practicing reading. The library contains a wide range of material in print format that students can use to improve their reading skills. And I can help match just the right book or magazine with each reader. If you need a book talk for your class or if a student needs help to find something of interest, just say so.

The librarian will be your partner when trying new things. It's been said that during some teachers' careers, they teach one year, 30 times. Can you imagine how long those 30 years must have seemed? If you need someone to share the glory or the shame of a new unit, activity, or methodology, I'm the one. I hope your next 30 years will be exciting and gratifying. They should be, because you'll be influencing the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of kids in incredibility positive ways.

I'm here to help you and your students do things you can't do alone. Again, welcome,

Your library media specialist

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Media Matters

These outstanding educators did not have their names submitted before the May issue of Media Matters was published. We salute them now!

Additional TOTYs
Kimberly Ramsey Oak Hill Elementary
Newton County Cindy Taylor Pine Grove Elementary Lowndes County Tracey Kell Chestatee Middle School Hall County
Media Specialist of the Year for Coweta County
Anne Powell

More Retirees!
Ann Grantham Library Media Coordinator
Bibb County
Pam Swift Griffin High School
Spalding County
Sally Lee Western Elementary
Coweta County
Juanita Warren Buddy Coordinator
DeKalb County Public Schools
Jacque Hornsby West Side Magnet School
Troup County
Priscilla Sparks Callaway High School
Troup County.
Margaret Staley: East Coweta Middle School
Coweta County
Anne Powell: Smokey Road Middle School
Coweta County
Sally Lee Western Elementary School
Coweta County

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Media Matters

From ParaPro to Media Specialist: True Stories from the Library Media Centers of Georgia

I have always loved reading, good books, and children. When the last of my five children (twins) started kindergarten, I was in the library getting my tote bag full of books to take home for story time. The media specialist came over and asked me if all my children were in school now. When I replied that they were, she asked me if I had considered working. That conversation ended in my applying for the job being vacated by the retirement of the parapro she had worked with for 15 years and the beginning of my journey.

Soon after I started the job I knew that I loved the work and would like to have a home of my own in a school media center. The media specialist I was working with and I developed a plan. I applied to Piedmont College to complete work on the B.A. that I had abandoned for a Mrs. degree (ha) in 1972. Going back to school at the age of 43 after attending only the school of life and family for over twenty years was not an easy thing to think about, much less do, but I was accepted and graduated with that B.A. in Early Childhood Education in December, 2000.

Even though the media specialist program at UGA (M Ed. in Instructional Technology with concentration in School Library Media) did not at the time require that you have classroom experience, I felt that It was an important part of the knowledge I could gain about how to do my job. So I taught 3rd grade for five years and put off applying to UGA because I would have to take the GRE and my high school and college math were relics of a far distant past (I was terrified!!). But then I bit the bullet, applied, completed, and graduated with that degree in 2005. I immediately went into the Ed.S. program at UGA and graduated in December 2007.

It has been a hard, fulfilling, challenging, rewarding, strengthening and growing journey. I have laughed, cried, and screamed in frustration and jubilation. I would encourage anyone who truly has a love of reading, books, and children (and no small amount of grit!) to embark on the same journey.

Have a story you want to share? Please send it to Judy Serritella at jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us

Elizabeth Foster Media Specialist Central Franklin Elementary 706.384.7326 x6308 efoster@franklin.k12.ga.us

Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open.
Laura Bush

Page 6

Websites to Peruse

Media Matters

ePals

ePals is a global community of students, teachers and academic experts in over 200 countries. It provides safe and secure connections to students, classes, school districts. There is information on this site that is appropriate to many curriculum areas. (I looked at the Science, Foreign Language, and Social Studies projects. There are more....and many National Geographic links.)
http://www.epals.com/

In2Books:

A product of ePals, In2Books fosters reading, writing and thinking skills across the curriculum. http://www.in2books.com/

iEARN
iEARN ( (International Education and Resource Network) is a non-profit organization made up of over 20,000 schools and youth organizations in more than 115 countries. iEARN empowers teachers and young people to work together online using the Internet and other new communications technologies. Over 1,000,000 students each day are engaged in collaborative project work worldwide.

http://www.iearn.org/index.html

The equator is so long it could circle the earth once.

Volume 7 Number 1

Media Matters

LIBRARY GRANT PROGRAM SPONSORED BY LOIS LENSKI COVEY FOUNDATION
Lois Lenski, the 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, had a life-long concern that all children have access to good books. In pursuit of this goal, she established a foundation to provide grants to public and school libraries serving disadvantaged populations.
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation annually awards grants to rural and urban, public and school libraries serving at-risk children. The Foundation gives priority to applications from libraries with real need and limited book budgets. Funds are earmarked for purchasing books for young people rather than administrative or operational use. Previously awarded grants have ranged from $3,500 to $32,000. Successful applicants have proposed purchases to update their collections generally or to expand their holdings in specific areas. A user-friendly, on-line application form is available at www.loislenskicovey.org. To qualify for year 2008 grants, completed application forms must be received no later than September 15, 2008.
Please direct questions to: Michael Covey, michael.covey@loislenskycovey.org

Educator Gift Cards
Again this year, the Library Media Specialist (one per school) was included in the Educator Gift Card program.

Page 8

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

Photographs from the State Board Meeting on June 12, 2008. Recipients are shown with State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox, their state board member, and in some cases the school administrator.
Congratulations Group!

Media Matters
Crabapple Elementary

Our Media Specialist of the Year!

South Effingham Elementary Long Cane Middle

Luella Elementary

Perry High School

Page 9

Photographs from the June 2008 State Board Meeting

Media Matters

Meadowcreek Elementary

New Hope Elementary

Hahira Middle

Mill Creek High School

North Gwinnett High School

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Media Matters

Thanks to Doug Johnson and Linworth Publishing for permission to reprint Doug's article "No Principal Left Behind" from his Head for the Edge column, March 2003.
Doug has 10 tips for the school Library Media Specialist to help inform and educate your school administrator about good school libraries and the positive impact they can have on students. You will find one tip each month in this newsletter.

Tip #1: Use a variety of formal reporting efforts. We should all be sending out a written (or emailed) quarterly principal's report and a monthly faculty bulletin. These should be upbeat, useful, and short. Every newsletter that goes to parent needs a library column. Think about including digital photos of happy library-using kids. If your state library association has "advocacy tools"--handouts, videos, checklists, etc.--use them whenever you get a chance. (Be sure to look at the GSO site often: www.gso.org or www.gadoe.org/sia_as_library.aspx ) Take advantage of regional events that may be planned in your area. For example, many New York BOCES agencies hold an annual breakfast for school librarians and their administrators that features an informative program. State library conferences often have special events just for administrators.
Next month: Remember that administrators HATE surprises.
Book Review Corner
Bach to Rock is a music appreciation book by Rosemary Kennedy. This book introduces the lives and music of composers from Baroque to modern times. There is also a DVD, video cassette, and CD available. Visit Rosemary's website at: www.bach-rock.com for more information.
Have a wonderful book that you want to share? Send your information to Judy at jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us

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Media Matters

Congratulations to Ann Wallace and Luella Elementary in Henry County for being selected as the 2008 winner of the American Association of School Librarian's National School Library Media Program of the Year. .The judges said that "the Luella Elementary School Library Media Program supports the many faceted curriculum with an inviting atmosphere and culture. The various centers of interest engage the students and invite them to pursue their individual interests. The library media specialist and her support staff, with strong administrative and parental support, have developed a program that invites students to explore and enjoy reading and information seeking in an open flexible environment."
Luella's application was selected as this year's winner in the Single School Category. Congratulations!

ISTE Announces Winners of Technology Innovation Award for Media Specialists
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has named the winners of its first annual SIG Media Specialist (SIGMS) Technology Innovation Award.
Sponsored by ISTE, Linworth Publishing, Inc., and Follett Software Company, the SIGMS Technology Innovation Award recognizes creative, collaborative, and technology-rich projects created by elementary and secondary school students. The award will be presented at the National Education Computing Conference (NECC), to be held June 29 to July 2 in San Antonio, Texas.
The 2008 SIGMS Media Specialty Technology Innovation Award winners included:
First place, secondary school award category: Terri Vest and Cawood Cornelius, Sonoraville High School, Calhoun, Georgia, United States, for Spanish Project.
http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm? Section=News_and_Events&Template=/CM/ ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=20698

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Media Matters

The Valdosta High School webpage is fantastic. Take a look at the work Clay Lee and Natalie Kennedy have put together. The webpage is comprehensive, helpful for students, teachers, parents, and very well done.
http://tinyurl.com/6jegyz
Or
http://valdosta.ga.schoolwebpages.com/education/dept/dept.php?sectionid=839&PHPSESSID=367d82560d82fbb035c648ab1882e01e

Check out www.Wordle.net to create "word clouds". Paste text into a box, choose your font, color scheme, and come up with something similar to the information above.

Volume 7 Number 1

Media Matters

Gift Card Information
From the official DOAS memorandum sent to school districts:
Who will get a classroom card? All full-time (.90-1.00 FTE) K thru 12 classroom teachers who are employed with the school district as of August 1, 2008 will receive a classroom gift card. This includes full-time teachers that are state, locally, and federally funded. They MUST be classroom teachers. This includes core subject areas, fine arts, physical education, and special education teachers. This does not include pre-K, media specialists, paraprofessionals, counselors, nurses, speech language pathologists, or administrators. ***Although media center specialists will not be receiving cards individually, each media center will receive one classroom gift card for that particular media center. Part-time teachers are not eligible for a classroom gift card.
Classroom cards can be used during the week beginning 12:00 a.m. Thursday July 31, 2008 and ending Sunday August 10, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. Cards will only be activated for use between these dates. If you have a problem receiving your card, please contact you school principal. Your next contact should be someone at DOAS. Alexander Uzoka at 404-656-5522/404-392-0726 or Billy Gilbert at 404-656-0985/404-247-0154.

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Media Matters

At this writing, the wonderful Georgia Media List Service is still not working. O.P. Cooper is hoping to have a new server in place soon so stay tuned.
You can always subscribe to both the GaMedia List Service AND the GaDOE Library Media List Service for twice the information. To subscribe to the GaDOE List Service, 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 in order to be completely registered. The confirmation email will contain directions on how to unsubscribe.
Media Coordinators: You have a List Service too. Email Judy at jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us for details on how to register.

While almost everyone knows that Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, few know that Gene Cernan was the last man on the moon.
Did you know? Benjamin Harrison was our last bearded president.

GaDOE Strategic Plan
Goal 1: Increase HS Graduation rate, decrease drop out rate, and increase post-secondary enrollment rate.
What can you do as a Media Specialist to help reach this goal?

Su nday

August 2008

Georgia Department of Education

Mond ay

Tuesday

Wed nesday

Thu rsday

Fr iday

Satu rd ay

1

2

H erman Mel ville Birthday ofJames born: 1819-1891 Baldwin: 19241987

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Chri stopher P ercy Shelley born:Conrad Aiken's Alfred, Lord

Who was Ral ph

Columbus 1792-1822

birthday: 1889- Tennyson born: Bunche: 1904-

sets sail:

1973

1809-1892

1971?

1492

Birthday ofSara What did P.L. Teasdale: 1884- Travers writ e? 1933

10 11
Herbert Hoover Who is Alex born: 1874-1964. Haley? What number president was Mr.Hoover?

12
Thomas Edison invent s the phonograph: 1877. Where was Edison born?

13 14 15

The Berlin Wall is 1935 - U S Social Sir Walter Scott

start ed: 1961. Security Act

born: 1771-

When did it

p as s es

1832

come down?

16
Transatlanti c cable i nstalled: 1858

17 18
Davy Crockett's Who is Virginia birthday: 1786- Dare? 1836

19
Who is Philo T. Farnsworth?

20
Benjamin Harrison born: 1833-1901. Who was he?

21
Birthday of Count Basie: 1904-1984
Hawai i becomes the 50th state: 1959

22
Ray Bradbury born: 1920-

23
Who is Edgar Lee Masters? He was born in 1869.

24
The White House was burned by the Bri tish: 1814

25
Who is Leonard Bernst ein? He was born in 1918 and di ed in 1990.

26
What is the 19t h Amendment?

27 28 29 30

1928 - KelloggBri and Pact, outlawi ng war, signed by sixty nat ions.

1565 - St. Augus- 1958 - United Birthday ofLaure-

tine Fl . estab- States Air Force nt de Brunhoff,

lished. The

Academy opens French writer

oldest survi ving in Colorado

and ill ustrator :

European settle- Springs,

1925-

ment in the U.S. Colorado.

31
1803:Lewis and Clark st art their expedi tion from Pit tsburgh at 11 A.M.

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"In summer, the song sings itself." - William Carlos Williams