Media matters, Vol. 7, Issue 5 (Dec. 2008)

Inside this issue:

From Parapro to 2 Media Specialist
Doug Johnson Tip 3

Exemplary Open 4 Houses

GaDOE List

5

Service

SATs

6

The Karkowska 7 Sisters

Children's

8

Literature

Conference

GLMA Mable

9

Wyche Under-

wood Grants

LMSOTY!

10

Jamie's coming! 11

GRA

12

Conference`

TIE Network

13

Why books make 15 great presents

GALILEO Online 16 classes

Calendar

17

Media Matters

Volume 7 Number 5

December 2008

Meet the Illustrator: Michael Austin

We recently filmed illustrator Michael Austin (Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, Railroad John and the Red Rock Run, Late for School, and many others) at his lovely home in Duluth for our next episode of Georgia Read More. Railroad John was read by Fred Newman, and we interviewed the author Tony Crunk for this latest edition to our literacy project.
Join the TIE Network GPB Needs YOU!
(see page 12 and 13 for systems who still need a
member...or two or three!)

Volume 7 Number 5

Page 2

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

I love my job it is simply the best. I have been at Whitewater High School since it started, five years ago. When our school opened it was staffed almost entirely with faculty and staff that volunteered to work in the newest high school in Fayette County. One of the first things we learned about our school was that it was determined to be the best from the start. Our principal, Mr. Greg Stillions, has an annual faculty retreat to help us bond together and work outside our departments. We have climbed trees, gone on scavenger hunts, and whitewater rafted together. No one is left out. This is a great opportunity for the Media Specialist to mix with the total faculty. (See photo yellow shirt is me!)
Whitewater started with just 9th grade and added a grade a year we are now the largest school in the county with over 1700 students. Mr. Stillions has done great things with our school. He has embraced and supported the newest technologies. Representative of this forward thinking is the daily use of Interwrite pads with wireless connectivity in our classrooms, allowing for instant access to video, computer files and the Internet. When working with our classes, it is wonderful to be blend the high tech aspects used in education with traditional print and Internet research. As a Media Specialist we must always be looking for opportunities to integrate new technologies to improve ourselves, our faculty ,and our students.
I started as the Media Parapro, and one Masters and one Ed.S. later I work alongside Mr. Kelly Baker, the original Media Specialist. I remember when I left my airline job to raise a family, I volunteered in the school media center. I was soon working as a media parapro and then made the decision to make media my career. I couldn't be happier.

Gail L Harrell harrell.gail@fcboe.org Media Specialist Whitewater High School

Have a story to share? Send it to Judy Serritella at jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us

Page 3

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 #5.

Try to speak on behalf of a group, not just for yourself.

Principals really listen to the comments of parents and community members. (Ever notice how it only takes three concerned citizens at a school board meeting to change a policy?) If you can submit the library goals and objectives, the budget, or program initiatives on behalf of an advisory group that includes parents and community members, you are more likely to be taken seriously.
See <http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/advisory-advice.html> for some ideas about library advisory groups.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as thought nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein

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

Volume 7 Number 5

Exemplary Library Media Programs Open Houses

Meadowcreek ES Open House will be March 26, 4-6PM

Hahira Middle School Open House will be on December 9th from 1 until 5 PM.
Contact Debra Martin or Heather Morin for more information.
dmartin@lowndes.k12.ga.us hmorin@lowndes.k12.ga.us

Mill Creek and North Gwinnett High Schools will have their Open Houses on February 27th. 9:30-1:30

Page 4

Debra Martin, Heather Morin, and Pam Murphy.

Middle School Media Specialists presented at the recent GaETC. The room was packed for the Exemplary
presentations!

Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love.
Mahatma Gandhi

Page 5
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Francis P. Church

Media Matters
GaDOE List Service
Are you a member of the GaDOE List Service? If not, you may want to consider joining so you won't be left out on grants, workshops, newsletters, job opportunities and more. Send a blank email to:
Join-doemedia@list.doe.k12.ga.us If you are a member but haven't been receiving messages, you might want to check the status of your membership. Some systems have blocked email from the list so if you think you are not receiving messages, you might want to check with your central office technology specialists.

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.
Theodore M. Hesburgh

Volume 7 Number 5

Page 6

SAT Online is a web-based tutorial the state of Georgia makes available to all students grades 9-12, high school teachers, media specialists, counselors, and administrators. SAT Online gives students access to six practice SATS and provides students with explanations of answers to all questions in the online course. Plus, the program allows students to work through 18 interactive lessons which cover the SAT math, critical reading, and writing sections. The lessons feature interactive activities and multimedia content. The lessons are accompanied with practice quizzes. All quizzes, essays, and online tests in the program are computer scored, immediately. Students receive scores and detailed personalized feedback within seconds.
Educators may receive student, class, and school reports to follow students' progress in SAT Online. The detailed reports provide educators with views at item, quiz, and test levels.
All of our media specialists may establish SAT Online accounts as educators, by requesting a teacher activation code. To request a code, email satonlinecourseschool@collegeboard.com.
Upon receipt of your code, go to www.satonlinecourseschool.com. On the right-hand side of the web page in the "Educators" section, click on "Register Now!"
On the next web page, enter the activation code and the six digit College Board testing code for the high school .
Each code may be used only once by an individual teacher.
Once you have successfully created an Educator account, you can proceed to The Official SAT Online Course. On all subsequent visits, you will use the username and password you created. With your educator account, you can print activation codes for students by entering SAT Online, clicking on the Class Management Tab. On the Class Management web page, look to the left-hand side and click on Manage Student Accounts. This option will let you print activation codes for students.
Students follow the same registration process as educators, but must register under the "student" section on the homepage of SAT Online.
Questions? Contact the SAT support unit at GaDOE:
Georgia McSwain, gmcswain@doe.k12.ga.us, 404-657-9799; or Bonnie Marshall, bmarshall@doe.k12.ga.us, 404-656-6854.

Page 7

Media Matters

The Karkowska Sisters Duo's Educational Outreach Programs
DESCRIPTION:
A workshop & concert for students to teach them appreciation of music in the context of different times, cultures and art's movements. The goal is to establish a connection between contemporary world reflected in every school's daily schedule and the fine arts.
Presentation of classical music is to be enhanced by personal stories of the struggle and success that will connect with students' own experiences and encourage them to shape their own destiny.
Karkowska Sisters teach through entertainment, their programs include lots of laughter and fun in order to build a better and quicker connection with the young audience.
The Duo presents many interesting programs for the different age groups introducing to classical music from Music for Everyone through interdisciplinary With the Bow and Brush (illustrating basic techniques of Correspondence Des Arts) to master classes for any level of instrumental advancement.
The Duo has already lectured and performed for over one hundred thousand younglisteners in United States to great success!
Educated at the most prestigious music institutions (the Juilliard and Chopin Academy)the sisters are finding new ways of reaching the young public with overwhelming results:
EXERCISES PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM (Optional):
1. Two weeks prior to KS Duo's program it's highly recommended to expose students to short (2-4 minutes) listening exercises choosing pieces considered to be "classical music easy " i.e.: George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Manuel de Falla's El Amor Brujo, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Overture to La Nozze di Figaro. 2. Listening should be also an exercise in practicing good concert manners stressing the importance of an audience to the live performance. After the concert the KS Duo will hand out exercises to follow their performance. Their type will be determined during the performance to answer the precise needs of the young public in question.
ksduo@karkowskaduo.org

Volume 7 Number 5

Page 8

Registration for the 40th Annual Children's Literature Conference, to be held in Athens GA, on March 6-7, 2009 at the
Georgia Center for Continuing Education, is now available.
This year's conference features Caralyn and Mark Buehner, winner of the 2008 Children's Picture Storybook Award for Superdog: The Heart of a Hero; Bryan Collier, winner of the Caldecott Honor Medal for Rosa (2006) and Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2002); Paul Janeczko, author of A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems, Birds on Wire, and Wing Nuts; Gail Carson Levine, winner of the Newbery Honor Medal for Ella Enchanted (1998); Peter Sis, winner of the Caldecott Honor Medal for The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain (2008), Tibet Through the Red Box (1999), and Starry Messenger (1997).
Four ways to register:
Online at: http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/conferences/2009/Mar/06/ child_lit.phtml
By Mail: 40th Annual Conference on Children's Literature- (#57131) Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602-3603
By Phone: 706-542-2134 or 800-884-1381
By Fax: 706-542-6596 or 800-884-1419
You can also register through accessing the GCBA website at: http:// www.coe.uga.edu/gcba/conference/attend.html
Thank you for joining us and please bring a friend.

We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own.
Ben Sweetland

Page 9

Media Matters

GLMA Mable Wyche Underwood Grants

The GLMA Mable Wyche Underwood Grants are available for the 2009-2010 school year. You can find the application on the GLMA website under Awards and Grants (http://www.glma-inc.org). This is a great opportunity to fund an idea that will help you have an exemplary program in your media center. The grant application is only one and a half pages long.

Grants are judged on six criteria: Quality Innovativeness Clear objective Benefit of project to students Budget Evaluation plan
Three grants will be awarded in the amount of $300 - $500. The deadline for submitting the application is May 15, 2009.

Mable Wyche Underwood

In order to apply for a grant, you must be a current GLMA member and have been a GLMA member last year as well. Grant recipients must agree to participate in a concurrent workshop along with other grant recipients at a COMO convention to share the merits of their projects.

Joan Abraham, NBCT Library Media Specialist Princeton Elementary School 1321 South Deshon Road Lithonia, GA 30058 678-875-3020

Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got.
Art Buchwald

Volume 7 Number 5
Are You Our Next Library Media Specialist of the Year?

Page 10

Do you think you have what it takes to be Georgia's next Library Media Specialist of the Year? Are you a member of GLMA or GAIT? Do you collaborate regularly with your teachers and come up with great programs? Does your library program help boost student achievement at your school? Have you connected with your school's community and involve parents & families with your media center? Go ahead and toot your own horn, ladies and gentlemen! Visit the Georgia Library Media Association web page and download the 2009 application for LMSOTY. Then check with your system's coordinator or your District Chairperson to check on local deadlines that may already be in place.
Here's the 411:
1) Each school system will have to select a date for their application deadline in order to get their system winner's application to the GLMA office by April 1, 2009. There should be a committee in place at the system level to select a Library Media Specialist of the Year and then appropriately recognize the winner. Check with your System Coordinator or veteran colleagues if you are unsure of your system's process and deadlines. 2) The system applications must be at the GLMA office by April 1, 2009 so that they can be forwarded to the District chairpersons for the selection of the District LMSOTY. 3) The District LMSOTY committee must have their final selection made and to the GLMA LMSOTY Chairperson for selection of the State winner at the Summer Conference. The GLMA Chairperson will head a committee of GLMA and GAIT representatives for this final judging. 4) You MUST be a current member of GLMA or GAIT to be considered for this honor. Applicants without membership in one or both organizations will not be considered.
Don't go through life being an unsung hero! Share your successes! If you think you've got what it takes (and you probably do), visit the GLMA Website today, download your application, and get started! You may just have the best program in the State!

Marie Salter Media Specialist West Town Elementary School

The library is the temple of learning, and learning has liberated more people than all wars in history.
Carl Rowan

Page 11

Media Matters

Columbus State University will he hosting Dr. Jamie McKenzie for a full-day workshop on January 14th from 9 am - 4 pm. This hands-on workshop will concentrate on "Designing Digital Lessons" and "Strategies for Blending Demanding Questions in Daily Lessons." Participants will be utilizing Classroom Performance Systems to incorporate the lessons from this seminar into effective formative assessments.
Dr. Jamie McKenzie is an international speaker with a focus on questioning, thinking skills, information literacies and the smart use of new technologies. His work takes him from Singapore to Sweden and inspires teachers to challenge students at a high level of rigor.
Jamie is the Editor of "From Now On - The Educational Technology Journal, "a publication with some 8,000 subscribers, a third of which are from outside North America. He also publishes "The Question Mark," a journal devoted to effective questioning and thinking.
Jamie has published and spoken extensively on teaching and learning strategies designed to transform classrooms to support student centered, engaged learning.
You can learn more about this workshop at: http://fno.org/atlanta.html#5
You can register at: http://cqtl.colstate.edu/offerings/instructional/ default.asp#mckenzie
Seating is limited, so register early!
Date: January 14, 2009 Time: 9:00 am - 3:OO PM Audience: All Educators Location Columbus State University Cunningham Conference Center Columbus, Georgia Format: I-Day Workshop Cost: $150.00
Larry Moore, EdD Center for Quality Teaching and Learning 3100 Gentian Blvd Columbus State University Columbus, GA 31907 http://ettc.colstate.edu 706-568-5063

Volume 7 Number 5

Page 12

2009 Georgia Reading Association Annual Convention
The Georgia Reading Association will host its Annual Convention March 1-3 at the Omni Hotel, CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme of the convention is "Reading with Purpose". Join the hundreds of literacy leaders and reading professionals who will share with educators at every level their research and teaching experience.
-------------------------------------------------------
Keynote Speakers Dr. Robert Cooter University of Memphis Editor The Reading Teacher Journal and Renowned Author
Dr. Joyce Many Georgia State University Professor and Coordinator of Georgia's Reading Consortia and Author
Steve Swinburn Stephen R. Swinburne has turned his personal enjoyment of nature and photography into a series of books on wildlife for children.
-------------------------------------------------------
The proposal can be found on www.georgiareading.org. Submit your proposal to Dr. Sallie Averitt Miller at miller_sallie@colstate.edu.

Page 13

Media Matters

GPB TIE Network Statewide Membership Update
Since the beginning of November, the TIE Network has grown to 1,087 members statewide and includes public and private K-12 classroom teachers, professors of education, pre-service teachers, media specialists, instructional technology specialists, counselors, graduation coaches, RESA personnel, ETC personnel, etc. While 150 (82.87%) of the 181 school districts in the state of Georgia are currently participating in the TIE Network, our goal is to reach 100% involvement by December 31, 2008. The map below shows GPB TIE Network membership across the state of Georgia with participating districts colored in green. The list below is getting shorter and shorter on a daily basis, and we're closing in on our 100% district participation goal. Help us fill in your county or school district by joining today!

Continued on next page

Volume 7 Number 5

The TIE Network

Page 14

We're still looking for members in the 31 school districts listed below:

Bacon County Bleckley County Buford City Burke County Butts County Chattahoochee County Chickamauga City Clay County Commerce City Crawford County Dade County Dodge County Dooly County Early County Echols County Emanuel County Haralson County Jeff Davis County Marion County (joined!) Oglethorpe County (joined!) Peach County Pelham City Randolph County Taliaferro County Taylor County Trion City Turner County Walker County Wheeler County Wilcox County Worth County

Thank you to the following educators who have become the FIRST TIE Network members in their individual school districts Ben Hill County - Angela Booth Brantley County - Gail Barker Calhoun City - Sylvia Brumbelow Charlton County - Judy Weegar Chattooga County - Leann Lowry Jenkins County - Sylvia Gay Morgan County - Lisa Adams Pike County - Karen Merrick Polk County - Monica Damron Webster County - Marcia Roberts Wilkes County - Beth Jackson Wilkinson County - Felicia Cummings

Please tell your colleagues in neighboring districts about the TIE Network so we can reach our end-of-the-year goal of 100% district participation!

Page 15

Media Matters

Why Books Make the Best Presents!
1. Books don't need to be assembled before being given. 2. Books don't need batteries. 3. Books never come in the wrong color or size 4. Books don't need to be serviced by a dealer 5. Books don't need spare parts 6. Books are easier to wrap then footballs 7. Books look good with any decor. 8. Books don't need watering or fertilizing 9. Books don't irritate your allergies 10. Books don't go out of style 11. Books don't get aphids or draw ants 12. Books don't bark or need to be walked in the middle of the night. 13. Books don't stretch, shrink, or fade 14. Books don't need extension cords 15. Books won't scratch the coffee table 16. Books don't get stale before they arrive 17. Books never need ironing 18. Books don't have zippers that break. 19. Books can be used over and over by many people 20. When you are finished with a book, it is not empty. 21. A book is a gift you can open again and again and again.

Volume 7 Number 5

GALILEO Online Classes

Page 16

There is space available in several GALILEO online classes scheduled in December. There is no cost and no travel time, so joining in a class is easy.
For some classes, you will need a computer and a phone, but for most you will just need a computer with internal or external speakers.
Many individual libraries or departments have found it useful to set up a lab or meeting room with speakers/speaker phone and a projection screen so that several staff can attend together. Specific instructions for connecting to classes will be sent before the class date. Certificates of participation are sent to everyone who attends a class.
A summary of the classes offered is listed below. To register for a class, visit http:// www.usg.edu/galileo/help/library/training/.
December 9--Current Contents Connect
December 10--Britannica for Public Libraries
December 10--Britannica for Elementary Schools
December 11--Britannica for Academic Libraries
December 11--Britannica for Middle and High School
If you have any questions or need more information, please use GALILEO's Contact Us feature or contact OIIT Customer Services at helpdesk@usg.edu.
These classes are offered through GALILEO/Board of Regents.

December 2008
Georgia Department of Education

Su nday

Mond ay
1
http:// www. janbrett .com/
Jan Bret t : 1949-

Tuesday
2
David Macaulay born: 1946-
http:// www. houghtonmifflinbooks.com/ aut hors/ macaulay/

Wed nesday
3
Birthday of Joseph Conrad: 1857-1924

Thu rsday

Fr iday

4

5

1783: Wash- Birthday of

ington bids Chri stina

farewell to Rossetti :

his officers

1830-1894

Satu rd ay
6
1884: Washi ngt on Monument complet ed

7

8

9

10

1941: Pearl Harborhttp:// www.

Birthday ofJean Birthday of

bombed

thurberhouse. De Brunhoff

Emily

org/james/james. :1899-1937

D ick in s o n :

html

Joel Chandler

1830-1886

James Thurber

Harris: 1848-1908

:1894-1961

11
1946: UNICEF founded

12
1980: Da Vinci notebook sells for over $5 mil lion

13
2000: Al Gore concedes presidential election

14

15

16

17

1799: George Wa- 2001: Leaning

shi ngt on

Tower ofP isa

dies at Mount reopens after 11

Vernon

years and

mil lions of

dollars in

renovations

Arthur C. Clarke born: 1917-2008

1903: First airplane fl ys. Where?

18

19

20

1620:

Birthday ofEve

Mayflower Bunting:1928-

p as s en g er s

come ashore at

Plymouth

Harbor

1963: Berlin Wall opened for first time

21

22

23

Hanukkah begi ns.

1956: 1st gorilla born in captivit y
Jerry Pinkney born: 1939-

Avi's birthday: 1937-

24

25

1881: Nobel Prizewinning poet Juan Ramon Jimenez is born

Chri stmas

26

27

Kwanzaa begins Birthday ofDiane Stanley : 1943-

28

29

30

1793: Thomas 1890: Bat tle at Rudyard

Paine is arrested Wounded Knee Kipling born:

in France for

1865-1936

treas o n

31
1999: Panama Canal turned over to Panama

Nov emb er 0 8
S M TW T F S
1 2345678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Jan ua ry 09 S M TW T F S
123 4 5 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

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. Antoine de Saint--Exupery