Media matters, Vol. 7, Issue 6 (Jan. 2009)

Inside this issue:

Teen

2

Conference

DOT map

3

Doug's Tip

3

Georgia

4

Poetry

Jamie

6

McKenzie!

Leadership 7 Unplugged

Children's

8

Literature

Book Review 9

From Parapro 10 to Media
GaDOT info 11
A gift for you 12

GRA

13

CSAC

14

Writing

15

scores soar

Calendar

16

Media Matters
Volume 7 Number 6

January 2009

Georgia Public Broadcasting launched a new digital education channel on October 1, 2008. This new channel, GPB Knowledge, will be available throughout the state of Georgia and will replace the existing satellite delivery method (formerly PeachStar Satellite Programming.) Much of the content is available through GPB Education Streaming and the GPB Digital Library OnDemand, as well as on their new channel, GPB Knowledge. Educators have the same recording rights as before.
To receive GPB Education programs, educators have the option of: live viewing of GPB Knowledge (on television) downloading from GPB Education Streaming to their computers for later viewing storing on portable devices for more convenient viewing (i.e., flash drives or burning to CDs)
Schools will receive GPB Knowledge via: cable - Contact your local cable provider for channel location. commercial satellite digital receiver - Tune to 8.3 for our new digital channel, GPB Knowledge.
A converter box may be purchased wherever electronics are sold and costs between $40 and $80. A converter box will convert analog televisions - these are TVs with "rabbit ear" antennas - to digital so you and your students may enjoy digital broadcasting. In the event that your area does not have access to broadcast television and you'd like to watch GPB Knowledge, the channel may be accessed on your computer by using a USBTV tuner and antenna.
GPB Education Streaming will continue to provide On-Demand delivery of over 5,000 full-length videos with segments and educator resources. Visit www.gpb.org/education for more information and a complete list of all GPB Education programs.

Page 2

Media Matters
Kathleen Lyons Media Specialist Osborne High School
Cobb County

On Friday December 5, 2008 I attended the Teen Conference held at Macon State College. After registration and a short welcome, participants attended two breakout sessions, each about one hour long. Participants had a choice of attending two of six sessions: Book Talk Programs for High Risk Teens presented by Christy Dyson (Flint River Regional Library System) Building Community Partnerships for Your Library presented by Michelle Bennett (Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System) Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers presented by Amy Golemme, chair, and committee members Online Summer Reading Programs presented by Brijin Boddy (Chattahoochee Valley Libraries' Teen Department) Starting a Teen Advisory Board presented by Martha Powers (Ohoopee Regional Library System) Teen Summer Reading with the Collaborative Summer Library Program presented by Christopher Warren (Gwinnett County Public Library)
As a high school media specialist/librarian, I found that the sessions offered much. I attended Brijin Boddy's session first. The online summer reading program has many possibilities for school libraries to reach out to teens. Some collaboration and cooperation between a school library and a public library branch could lead to a great program to get teens reading. Partners in Education could be one funding source explored to provide cool prizes for teens such as MP3 players and iPods. The web site for the teen program was developed specifically to attract teens. Teens create an account and login to submit each of 5 book reviews. The book reviews are structured with 10 questions Brijin developed as a way for the participating teens to show that they read the book. All those who complete the 5 reviews are entered into a drawing that is held at a culminating party.
I also attended Martha Powers' session on the teen advisory board (TAB). We do have student representation on our media committee, but the TAB would be an excellent way to encourage more student participation in the media program. Teens would be able to make library material recommendations (teens know what teens like to read!), create bulletin boards, and develop and run special events throughout the school year. The TAB could be structured so the teens would gain valuable experience that could become part of their rsum.
Michele Gorman delivered the keynote address after a fabulous lunch. Michele Gorman is the Teen Services Coordinator for the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County in Charlotte NC. She has authored Getting Graphic! Comics for Kids, Getting Graphic! Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy with PreTeens and Teens, and Connecting Young Adults and Libraries: A How To Do It Manual 3rd edition. She is currently working on the 4th edition which is due out in June 2009. Michele also writes the "Teenage Riot" column for School Library Journal and the "Getting Graphic" column for Library Media Connections.
In the keynote, Michele encouraged everyone to "think like a teenager, not an adult!". Unlike storytimes and other programs for younger children, teen services is not just a numbers game, but also a matter of making connections with teens. Michele then spoke at length about brain research on the teenage brain in particular. Michele mentioned the book Primal Teen by B. Straugh and the 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents (age 12-18) from the Search Institute as good resources to help understand teens.

Volume 7 Number 6
For Middle Schools in the Northwest Georgia area
Several months ago middle schools in the Northwest Georgia area received a beautiful poster from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) featuring Native Americans.
The GDOT is writing an article for a national publication and would love to include pictures of Georgia children interacting with the poster. Do you have some pictures of your students with the poster? Can you take a picture or two and send them to me?
Archeologist Eric Duff of GDOT needs the pictures by midJanuary if you are able to help.

Page 3

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 #6:
Be seen outside the library. If your principal sees you on
committees, attending school events and even in the teacher's lounge, not only can you chat informally about library matters, but you send a powerful non-verbal message as well: I am full member of the school staff.

Page 4

Media Matters

Georgia Poetry Society

Every year the Georgia Poetry Society (GPS) holds a Youth Contest for young poetry writers. There is no entry fee and there is no requirement to buy the anthology. This contest is geared toward encouraging young poets, and it is fully funded by the society members. The winners will receive cash prizes and a free copy of the anthology in which they will be published.
If you would also like to encourage young poets, please consider spreading the word and helping the students in your school to enter this contest. The deadline is January 31st, 2009. Below are the contest rules and a link to download the entry form.
Best Regards, Keith Badowski President, Georgia Poetry Society
PRIZES FOR YOUTH POETRY
The Margery Carlson Prize is awarded annually by the Georgia Poetry Society for poetic achievement by students in grades 1-5. The Marel Brown Prize is a two-tier contest with prizes awarded annually by the Georgia Poetry Society for poetic achievement by students grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
ELIGIBILITY: Any student in grades 1-12 enrolled in a Georgia public or private school or homeschooled at a permanent Georgia address. FEES: There are no entry fees for this contest. LENGTH OF POEM: maximum of 32 lines. Only one entry per student. Maximum of four poems per school.
SUBJECT: Any subject in good taste, any poetic form. Poem must be student's original and unpublished work. Teachers should ensure that works are not plagiarized.
PRIZES (1st/2nd/3rd): $15/ $10/ $5 (Grades 1-5) $20/ $15/ $10 ( Grades 6-8) $25/ $20/ $15 (Grades 9-12) Prize-winners also receive a copy of the issue of The Reach of Song that contains winning youth poems.
RESTRICTIONS: Poems must be accompanied by entry form (a printable copy of the form is available on the GPS website at http://www.georgiapoetrysociety.org).
(continued on next page)

Page 5
HOW TO ENTER POEMS FOR Youth Poetry:

Media Matters

To guide submissions, please adhere to these format considerations:

Type or word-process on standard 8.5x11 white paper. Grades 1-5 may submit hand-written entries. Please ensure legibility. Do not include illustrations. Select a standard font such as Times-Roman rather than some unconventional font (such as script fonts or Gothic). Use fonts no larger than 14-point. One poem per page. Poems must be in English. Submit two copies of the poem, one without author identification. The copy with identification should be taped, pasted or stapled to the entry form. Keep a copy of the poem submitted as they cannot be returned. Send all manuscripts from the same school in one envelope with school name and grade level on the envelope exterior. No entries accepted from individual students unless home-schooled. Winners will be posted on the Society website at the completion of competition. Entry form must accompany each poem and must be complete. Form must be signed both by the student submitter and the sponsoring teacher. No emailed or disk entries accepted. Entries should be mailed to: Georgia Poetry Society, P.O Box 2184, Columbus, Georgia 31902 (Note: the Georgia Poetry Society mailing address usually follows the President. When a new President of the society is elected the mailing address may change. It is recommended that entrants check the website to verify the current mailing address as of the time of submission.)

DEADLINE: All entries must be postmarked no later than January 31 or next business day if January 31 falls on a holiday or weekend.

JUDGES: The Georgia Poetry Society will select qualified judges who receive the copies without author identification for judging.

Winners are announced at the April meeting of the Society. Winners are invited, but are not required, to appear with parents and/or teachers to receive their awards. The Georgia Poetry Society reserves the right to publish prize-winning poems in its annual anthology, The Reach of Song. Until published, rights rest with the Society. After publication, or a decision not to publish, rights revert to the author.

GEORGIA POETRY SOCIETY

P.O. Box 2184 Columbus, GA 31902 (706) 221-4370 Email: georgiapoetrysociety@yahoo.com URL: http://www.georgiapoetrysociety.org/

CONTACTS:

Keith Badowski, President PO Box 751 Columbus, Georgia 31902 Keithbadowski@bellsouth.net
Freddie O'Connor Riley, Webmaster Combak1@wmconnect.com Combak1@wmconnect.com

Dr. Robert Simon, Contest Chair rob1701b@aol.com
Linda Ames, Editor, Newsletter Editor 4816 Saint Francis Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31904 linaka31904grace@knology.net

Volume 7 Number 6

Page 6

Jamie McKenzie is coming to Columbus!
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.
Dr. McKenzie 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 also register at: http://cqtl.colstate.edu/offerings/instructional/default.asp#mckenzie
Seating is limited, so register early!
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

Page 7

Media Matters

Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience

Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience is a 21st Century Leaders summer program for a diverse group of 100 Georgia high school juniors and seniors that focuses on media, current events, and expanding worldviews, with the help of the worldwide leader in news, CNN.
The 2009 session will take place from June 21 - June 26, on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus. Students currently enrolled as high school sophomores and juniors are eligible. The application deadline is January 31, 2009.
Please see our website for details: http://www.21stcenturyleaders.org/cnn/index.asp
We would appreciate your help in sharing this information to staff members who could best identify students for this program. Link to flyer for distribution: http://www.21stcenturyleaders.org/documents/LUflyer09.pdf
Thank you!
Prissy Stewart (former DeKalb County Library Media Specialist) Program Manager Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience prissy@21stcenturyleaders.org21st Century Leaders 126 New Street, Suite A Decatur, Georgia 30030 Office: 404.373.7441 Fax: 404.373.7442 www.21stcenturyleaders.org

Have you read the GLMA blog?

SAT Online Have you helped a student register in SAT Online lately? If you need assistance contact: Georgia McSwain at gmcswain@doe.k12.ga.us (See the December Media Matters for more details.)

Volume 7 Number 6

Mark your calendar!

40th Annual Children's Literature Conference
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.

Page 8

Page 9

Media Matters

Book Review
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD) presented the fifth biennial Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award to K.A. Nuzum, author of A Small White Scar, at the Opening Session of the CEC-DDD 11th International Conference on October 9th, 2008. The Dolly Gray Award recognizes high quality fictional children's books with positive portrayals of individuals with developmental disabilities.
An adapted version of this book will be available on the GaDOE Access to the GPS Resource Board for teachers of students who have significant cognitive disabilities. Teachers must own a copy of the actual book to request the adapted accessible version of the text (which must be kept with the book at all times.)

http://neilswaab.com/design/smallwhitescar_jacket.html
Since his mother's death, Will's job has been to look after his twin brother, Denny, who has Down syndrome. Their father's word is law on the ranch, and 15-year-old Will knuckles under as the story begins. But he soon devises an escape plan that leads toward the rodeo, and beyond, to spending his days as a cowboy without the responsibility of watching his brother. When Denny follows Will across the plains, that plan takes an unexpected twist, leading Will to confront the people he loves and hates most and forcing changes in all their lives. Set in Colorado in 1940, the novel transports readers to a vividly realized setting as the boys move across the country on horseback and encounter hazards from a poisonous snake to a swollen river. But external dangers are not the engine driving the plot. Will's frustration, determination, and flashes of anger give the story its momentum as he struggles to emerge from his childhood and finds no clear path toward becoming an adult. Part family tale, part adventure, part journey narrative, this coming-ofage story has an emotional core that will touch even readers who never dreamed of competing in a rodeo. An unusually fine first novel. - Copyright 2006 Booklist.
Kayse Harshaw Intellectual Disabilities Specialist Division for Special Education Services Georgia Department of Education Atlanta, Georgia 30334-5040 Phone: (404) 463-5281

Page 10

Media Matters

From ParaPro to Media Specialist: True Stories from the Library Media Centers of Georgia
I am included the unique group of educators who started in the Fayette County School System as a paraprofessional 17 years ago. I started 2 years before that as a volunteer at Fayette Middle School media center. The media specialist at the time, Martie Courington, was a wonderful, experienced media specialist. As I observed her as a parent, she taught students and was an exuberant helper and faithful friend to the faculty, staff and parents. She took her responsibility to provide what teachers needed to teach and what students needed in order to be successful, life-long learners very seriously. She gave 110% effort in everything she did. When she asked if I would be interested in working in the media center as her parapro, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of her team.
Several years later a social studies teacher who had brought her class to the media center to do research, asked why I wasn't teachingand from that prompting to investigate the possibility of going back to college (at the age of 48), came the beginning of a very rewarding journey! Two months later I had an unexpected change in my life, and realized that not only was the journey beginning, but that what I considered as a fun adventure, now became a means of survival. I had already enrolled in 2 classes and managed to keep my head above water as I worked towards not only completing my undergraduate degree in Middle School Education, but of working towards a goal that I already knew I loved- media! Technology was just starting to be a major part of the media center and so I was able to have hands on experience in that area as well as I pursued my undergraduate degree. I took a year sabbatical to take 7 classes one semester and do my student teaching in the spring (managing to substitute at my school on Fridays when needed.)
When that degree was completed in May 2001, I immediately enrolled in the Masters program at the State University of West Georgia and applied for a media specialist position at Flat Rock Middle School. I interviewed for the job focusing intently on the fact that I had worked in a media center for 9 years as a parapro and had been mentored by an exceptional media specialist and that I would finish my Masters in Media and Technology in as short a time as possible. I got the job two days before my graduation!
As I worked at Flat Rock making friends with faculty, staff and encouraging students to love the media center, I often told students that we had something in common...I was a student too! I went to school at night and learned all those things I hadn't learned working as a media parapro. For example, I had done hundreds of budget requisition forms, but had never done any selection and purchasing of media materials. There was still plenty to learn and I enjoyed being able to immediately put newly acquired skills and ideas into practice. It was a wonderful year of learning and growing in confidence as I explored new programs and implemented ideas of my own.
Ten years after the journey began, I finished my Educational Specialist degree in Media and a year later had the once in a lifetime opportunity (for me) to open Fayette County's newest middle school. Last summer as I ordered and planned and worked and purchased and spent endless hours dreaming, I used every one of the skills that I had acquired over the years, both as a parapro and as a media specialist in order to be ready for a very excited Bennett's Mill student to check out...*on the first day of school*!
Three degrees in ten years and my encouragement to media parapros would be...do it, you'll never regret it! If you love what you are doing now, you will love it even more when you become a "real" media specialist!
Diana Evans Fayette County

Have a story to share? Send your parapro to Media Specialist
story to Judy Serritella at jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us You never know who you are going to inspire.

Volume 7 Number 6

Page 11

New Resource Available for Georgia Educators
GEORGE W. ROUGHTON AND THE IMMORTAL 600: THE STORY OF CIVIL WAR POWs
Developed by: GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, THE GEORGIA TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY AND THE HISTORY WORKSHOP (BROCKINGTON AND ASSOCIATES)
The video series is currently available in video format in the Georgia Public Broadcasting Digital Library: Part 1: mms://mediam1.gpb.org/ga/2008/GA_DOT_Immortal600_204745111.wmv Part 2: mms://mediam1.gpb.org/ga/2008/GA_DOT_Immortal600_204745112.wmv Part 3: mms://mediam1.gpb.org/ga/2008/GA_DOT_Immortal600_204745113.wmv
The video series and teacher resource material will soon be available on the new Georgia Stories website: www.gpb.org/georgiastories
The story of Civil War prisoners is the story of the Civil War itself. The Immortal 600, a group of Confederate POWs, is one story which has gone relatively unnoticed in the history of the Civil War. In 1864, Union General John Gray Foster ordered 600 Confederate prisoners to be brought to Morris Island from Fort Delaware. The 600 Confederate prisoners were herded onto the steamer Crescent City for the journey south to Charleston. The Confederate prisoners were housed in A-frame tents within the Morris Island stockade and poorly fed, mirroring the conditions of other Civil War prisoner of war (POW) camps. The prisoners were forced to sleep in the sand and endure sand fleas, insects, and hot weather. The stockade on Morris Island was strategically placed so that both cannon fire from Federal guns and return fire from Confederate cannons blasted over the stockade. As such, the 600 Confederate POWs were exposed to cannon fire from both the Confederate and Federal armies. Occasionally, the Federal shells would rupture prematurely and scatter the camp with shrapnel. Even more frightening were the 18 rounds that landed directly in the encampment. The Confederate prisoners were eventually removed from Morris Island and finally transferred to Fort Pulaski in Georgia. In all, they endured 45 days of exposure to shellfire. Amazingly, none of the prisoners were killed by shellfire, and only minor injuries occurred. In 1905, John O. Murray, one of the survivors, wrote a book about the Confederate prisoners' ordeal. He called the group of prisoners the Immortal 600, the name by which they are still known today.
In 2005, the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) and Brockington and Associates conducted cemetery excavations at the Roughton/Browne Family Cemetery in Washington County, Georgia. The cemetery was relocated to Brownwood Cemetery
in Sandersville, Georgia, due to the proposed widening and reconstruction of SR 24/SR 540. The Roughton/Browne Family Cemetery, containing approximately 15 graves, was identified by a single obelisk inscribed with the names George W. Roughton, Elizabeth Kinman Roughton, and Joseph Browne and one headstone inscribed as follows: Capt/Georgia [sic] W Roughton/CO 1/49 GA INF/CSA/1834/1895/ "ONE OF THE IMMORTAL 600."

Volume 7 Number 6

Page 12

Gift Books
In early January your system will be receiving three books that should be distributed to your elementary, middle, and high schools. These books are a gift from Dr. Jagdish Sheth, a professor of marketing at Emory University.
This gift was approved by the Georgia Department of Education.
India Unveiled by Robert Arnett is for both middle and high schools. This book was reviewed in both Library Journal and Booklist. As you know, Booklist only gives positive reviews. It is 224 pages and organized by regions of the country.
Finders Keepers also by Robert Arnett is for elementary and middle schools. This book was reviewed in School Library Journal.
Both of these titles have already been given to Muscogee, Bibb, and Savannah-Chatham school systems. (Those systems will not be receiving duplicate copies).
The books are being sent to the central office and we have asked that the Media Coordinator distribute the books at their earliest convenience.

We will lead the nation in improving student achievement.
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Judy Serritella Phone: 404-657-9800 Fax: 404-656-5744 E-mail: jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us
1754 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Volume 7 Number 6

Page 13

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.

Volume 7 Number 6

Media PMaagtete1r4s

From the Georgia Public Library Service:

I am pleased to announce that registration for CSAC 2009 is now online at the GPLS website.
CSAC will be held at the Anderson Conference Center in Macon, GA on Monday, February 2 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Like last year, CSAC will be free to attend, but is limited to the first 450 registrants. We have a great conference planned-- dynamic breakouts, fantastic presenters from across state, and fabulous featured speakers, storyteller J'Miah Nabawi and early literacy expert Saroj Ghoting. The first 50 to register will receive a "Be Creative" lapel pin.
For complete details and to register online, please go to: http://www.georgialibraries.org/lib/child/csac2009/.
If you have any questions or additional information, please do not hesitate to email or call.
Looking forward to being creative at your library with you,
E.B. Black Director of Youth Services Georgia Public Library Service 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345-4304

Are you a member of the TIE network? You really should be. Contact GPB for more information or see last month's Media
Matters.

Georgia High School Writing Scores Rise

Page 15

Eighty-nine percent of students meet or exceed standards

MEDIA CONTACT: - Dana Tofig, (404) 463-1487, dtofig@gadoe.org

November 25, 2008 -- Georgia's High School students showed steady improvement on the state's writing test this fall.

Eighty-nine percent of students met or exceeded standards on the Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT) -- up one percentage point from fall, 2007. Many of Georgia's student subgroups showed dramatic gains, including English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities.

"Our high schools are doing an excellent job teaching our students the importance of writing and the results are showing on the GHSWT," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "Using our new curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards, Georgia is growing a strong generation of writers and communicators."

More than 106,000 students took the GHSWT this fall, of which 96,444 were first-time test takers in grade 11. The pass rate for first-time test takers was 91 percent.

The pass rate for English Language Learners was 65 percent, a jump of 12 percentage points from last year. The pass rate for Students with Disabilities was 60 percent, an increase of five percentage points. The scores of African-American (85 percent) and Hispanic (82 percent) students each rose two percentage points, while the pass rate of white students held steady at 93 percent. "We are seeing high achievement and improvement across the board on the writing test," Superintendent Cox said.

ABOUT THE GHSWT

The Georgia High School Writing Test is given to students in grade 11 and must be passed in order to graduate from high school. Students who do not pass the GHSWT the first time can retake the test. The GHSWT has been aligned to the state's new curriculum -- the Georgia Performance Standards -- for two years. The test is scored on a scale from 100 to 350, using the following scoring levels:

100-199 - Does not meet standards 200-249 - Meets standards 250-350 - Exceeds standards The average scale score for the 2008 GHSWT was 219, up two points from last year.

MORE INFORMATION

- GHSWT Testing Brief - http://tinyurl.com/GHSWT-Testing-Brief

- About Georgia's writing tests http://www.gadoe.org/ci_testing.aspx?PageReq=CI_TESTING_WA

January 2009

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed Thu

Fri

Sat

1
1863:Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation
J.D. Salinger born: 1919-

2

3 Birthday of J.

Birthday of Isaac R. R. Tolkien--

Asimov--1920- 1892-1973

1992

http://

http://

tolkien.cro.net/

www.asimovonline

.com/

Birthday of Chris

K. Soentpiet--1970

-

4
1785: Jacob Grimm is born

5
1933: Construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge

6
Birthday of Carl Sandburg--18781967 http://carlsandburg.com/ biography.htm

7
Zora Neale Hurston-- 1891-1960 http://wwwhsc.usc.edu/ ~gallaher/ hurston/

8
1877 Crazy Horse fights last battle

9
1894: First movie copyrighted

10
1920: League of Nations instituted

11
Robert C. O'Brien birthday--19181973 http:// falcon.jmu.edu/ ~ramseyil/ obrien.htm

12
Birthday of Jack London--18761916 http:// sunsite.berkeley.ed u/London/

13
1966: LyndonJohnson appoints first African-American cabinet member

14
1875Albert Schweitzer born

151929
Martin Luther King Jr. born 1929

16
The Persian Gulf War begins: 1991

17
Robert Cormier-- 1925-2000 http:// www.teenreads.co m/authors/aucormier-robert.asp

18

19

Birthday of A. A. Milne--1882-1956 http:// falcon.jmu.edu/ ~ramseyil/ milne.htm

Edgar Allan Poe-- 1809-1849 http:// www.poemuseum. org/

20

21

1961 Robert Frost reads at JFK's inauguration

Huck Scarry born: 1953http:// www.randomhous e.com/author/ results.pperl? authorid=27050

22
George Gordon, Lord Byron, is born: 1788

23
1957 Toy company WhamO produces first Frisbees

24
11Edith Wharton is born: 1862

25
Robert Burns' birthday: 1759

26
Pinzon discovers Brazil: 1500

27

28

29

Lewis Carroll-- Vera B. Williams-- 1936 U.S.

1832-1898

1927-

Baseball Hall of

http://

http://

Fame elects first

www.lewiscarroll.o www.kidsreads.co members

rg/carroll.html

m/authors/au-

williams-vera.asp

30
Lloyd Alexander-- 1924http:// www.kidsreads.co m/authors/aualexanderlloyd.asp

31
Gerald McDermott--1941http:// www.geraldmcder mott.com/