Media matters, Vol. 7, Issue 7 (Feb. 2009)

Media

Inside this issue:

Doug's Tip

2

Linda Martin 2

Georgia

3

Library Day

GPB Kids

4

Open Houses 5

Georgia Read 6 More

Exemplary

7

Program

Children's

9

Literature

Conference

GaDOE goals 10

GPB Road Trip 11
Lexile Training 12
Manning Oaks 13 Kids Convention

SAT Online 14

From Parapro 15 to Media Specialist

Newbery and 16 Caldecott

Picturing

17

America

KSU Literature 18 Conference

Calendar

19

Matters

Volume 7 Number 7

February 2009

Georgia Read More and John McCutcheon

John and the J.W. Arnold lucky third graders.

Getting makeup for the hot lights.

The mini concert for the whole third grade.

Story inside on page 6.

Media Matters

Page 2

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 #7:
It's OK to disagree with your principal.
You may think that some ideas of your principal may not be in the best interests of your students or staff. If that's the case, you have an ethical duty to give your reasons to your principal. But this is important: do so in private. Always voice your support in public; always voice your differences in private.

The Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship
The Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship provides a $4,000 grant to a qualified children's librarian to spend a month or more reading and studying at the Baldwin Library of the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville. The Baldwin Library contains a special collection of 85,000 volumes of children's literature published mostly before 1950. The fellowship is endowed in memory of Louise Seaman Bechtel and Ruth M. Baldwin.
This year's recipient is .............Linda Martin of Hall County.
Congratulations Linda!

Media Matters

Page 3

Georgia Library Day* Thursday, February 26, 2009
Atlanta
Sponsored by the Georgia Association for Instructional Technology (GAIT), Georgia Library Association (GLA) and the Georgia Library Media Association (GLMA)
8:45 A.M. Registration, coffee and juice Floyd Room (Twin Towers, 20th floor, West Tower) 9:15. A.M. Welcome GLA President Floyd Room 9:20 A.M. Remarks from Georgia Legislative Guests Floyd Room 10:00 A.M. Comments from the Georgia Library Community and Organizations Floyd Room 10:45 A.M. Visit the Capitol (Please contact your legislators prior to your arrival on February 26. Let them know you will be attending this event.) Georgia State Capitol 11:45 A.M. 1:30 P.M. Box lunch with your legislator Floyd Room
Registration Form (please complete one for each registrant)
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Library Name: ___________________________________________________________
My Library is in Georgia Senate District(s)*: __________________________________
My Library is in Georgia House District(s)*: ___________________________________
*Georgia Secretary of State Website: http://www.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/locator.asp
Please enclose: Registration form and $30 per person. Make check payable to GLA. Reference
Registration in note section. Payment must be received by Friday, February 13, 2009. Mail
payment to: Georgia Library Association: P.O. Box 793, Rex, GA 30273. Contact: Gordon
Baker at 678/466-4325 or gordonbaker@clayton.edu for more information.

Media Matters

Page 4

P
GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Announces Launch of GPB Kids Monday, January 19
New Digital Channel Offers Best of PBS Kids and Programs for Parents and Caregivers
Georgia Public Broadcasting is proud to announce the launch of GPB KIDS. The all-new digital channel, launching Monday, January 19, will feature the best of PBS Kids shows and programs for parents and caregivers 24 hours a day.
Georgia Public Broadcasting's goal in launching GPB KIDS is to help Georgians learn and grow together through a environment that stimulates curiosity, encourages interaction and fosters imagination. Currently, GPB airs more than 3,000 hours of commercial-free children's programming on its main television channel. With the launch of GPB Kids, GPB is furthering its commitment to children and providing more viewing options.
Throughout the weekdays and daytime on the weekends, GPB KIDS will feature PBS Kids favorites like Curious George, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, Cyberchase, Wishbone and Clifford the Big Red Dog. In addition, parents and caregivers can enjoy programs such as Keeping Kids Healthy and the award-winning A Place of Our Own, along with its Spanish-language counterpart, Los Ninos en su Casa. These programs provide expert advice and present opportunities for parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about a variety of learning topics.
Viewers with digital televisions with digital tuners or converter boxes can view GPB Kids on these stations across Georgia: Atlanta 8.2, Albany 14.2, Augusta 20.2, Chatsworth 18.2, Columbus 28.2, Dawson 25.2, Macon 29.2, Savannah 9.2 and Waycross -8.2.
Viewers subscribing to cable or satellite services should check with their local provider.
To learn more about GPB KIDS, visit our website at www.gpb.org.
Georgia Public Broadcasting is Television, Radio and Education: your PBS station serving all of Georgia; your source for great music and NPR news; and Georgia's source for top-quality multiple media educational products and services.
Watch Georgia Public Broadcasting on these nine stations across Georgia: Atlanta Channel 8; Albany - WABW/14, Augusta - WCES/20, Chatsworth - WCLP/18, Columbus - WJSP/28, Dawson - WACS/25, Macon - WMUM/29, Savannah - WVAN/9, Waycross - WXGA/8.

Volume 7 Number 7

Page 5

Exemplary Open Houses!

Mill Creek High School's Open North Gwinnett High School's

House date is February 27th Open House is February 27th

from 9am - 1:30pm.

from 9am - 1:30pm

4400 Braselton Highway (Hwy. 124) Hoschton 678-714-5850

20 Level Creek Road Suwanee 30024 770-945-9558

One kind word can warm three winter months.
Japanese proverb

Media Matters

Page 6

Georgia Read More Films John McCutcheon!
On Monday, January 26th GaDOE filmed our final reader for Year 3 of Georgia Read More. Author, folksinger, and six time Grammy nominee John McCutcheon read to the children of J.W. Arnold Elementary in Clayton County.
John read his book Christmas in the Trenches to a group of 3rd graders and then entertained the entire third grade (and many adults) with a mini-concert in the Library Media Center.
Congratulations are also in order for John....he married Carmen Deedy on Christmas Eve!
You can read more about John on his website at: http://folkmusic.com/homepage/

Happy 1st Birthday GLMA Blog!
Thanks to Kris Woods for her hard work on this great site

Volume 7 Number 7

Page 7

Exemplary and Exceptional Library Media Program Information
The Georgia Department of Education has launched the 2009 Exemplary Library Media Program. This will be the eighth year of this recognition program and we are using the same procedures as in past years. There have been several changes in the recognition area and the rubric.
Classroom teachers, parents, administrators, students, community members may nominate their school library media program. (The link to nomination form located below.) Only one nomination is needed to become a part of the exemplary process.
Two library media programs on each level (elementary, middle, and high) will be selected as a GaDOE Exemplary or Exceptional Library Media Program. We welcome and encourage you to nominate your school library media program for this honor.
This is an opportunity for your school and your Library Media program to be honored at the state level. This year, because of time constraints, only the Exemplary Programs will be honored at the State Board meeting in August 2009. The recipients, along with the administration, county office personnel, and others, will be invited to the State Board of Education meeting in August to be recognized by our superintendent and members of the state board. The award winning media center agrees to host an Open House during the school year so that other Library Media Specialists, teachers, administrators, and community members can observe an Exemplary and Exceptional Library Media Program in action. The deadline for nominating a Library Media Program is Friday, February 13, 2009.
The Exemplary Library Media Program utilizes education laws, state board rules, state guidelines, and national standards to help improve, enhance, and enrich the library media program in our schools. A rubric with nineteen indicators has been developed by the GaDOE that not only helps us honor and recognize media programs that meet these standards, but also illustrates those standards to schools that are working toward excellence.
Some of the guidelines that the Georgia Department of Education considers for this recognition are:
Student Achievement: The teacher and the Library Media Specialist use a variety of collaboratively designed tools for assessing student achievement. The Library Media Specialist and teachers also collect and use student data to design activities that will lead to improved student achievement. The library media program supports instructional strategies and learning activities that meet individual needs. The Library Media Specialist uses the Georgia Performance Standards and is familiar with the Lexile initiative.

Continued on next page

Volume 7 Number 7

Page 8

Flexible Scheduling: DOE Rule IFBD states that flexibly schedule media center access for students and teachers shall be included in school media program implementation. The accessibility refers to the facility, the staff, and the resources and is based on instructional need. Students and teachers must be able to come to the library media center throughout the day to use information sources, to read for pleasure, and to meet and work with other students and teachers.
Collaborative Planning: Planning between the Library Media Specialist and the classroom teacher, which encourages both scheduled and informal visits, is the process that makes a library media program successful. The Library Media Specialist actively plans with and encourages every teacher to participate in the design of instruction. Learning strategies and activities for all students are designed with all teachers who are willing to plan collaboratively.
Staffing: The Library Media Specialist is not shared at any other time with other areas in the school. A Library Media paraprofessional is part of the support team and is not shared in other areas of the school.
There are many other criteria listed in the rubric that I invite you to review and discuss with your Library Media Specialist, school media committee, and other stakeholders. If you feel your library media program meets or exceeds the criteria, I encourage you to write a brief letter of support for your school's media program and have your media specialist(s) fill out the required paperwork. The narrative does not have to be lengthy or time consuming. The directions and information including the rubric may be accessed at:
http://www.gadoe.org/sia_as_library.aspx?PageReq=SIAASMediaProgram
If you would like to nominate your school's Library Media Program, click on the link below:
http://admin.doe.k12.ga.us/gadoe/ots/empnom.nsf/Nomination?OpenForm
You are invited to share this link with parents, classroom teachers, community members, and students. Everyone is welcome to submit a nomination.
Please remember the deadline for nominations is: Friday, February 13, 2009. Last year several outstanding schools were nominated after the deadline and were not eligible for consideration.
Applications due: April 17, 2009.

Media Matters
40 years of the Georgia Children's Book Award Conference!
Don't miss it!
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

Page 9

Volume 7 Number 7

Page 10

Georgia Department of Education Goals!
GaDOE has streamlined our goals and is focusing on the following:
1) Increase the high school graduation rate, decrease the high school drop-out rate, and increase post-secondary enrollment.
2) Strengthen teacher quality, recruitment, and retention. 3) Improve workforce readiness skills. 4) Develop strong education leaders, particularly at the
building level. 5) Improve the SAT, ACT, and achievement scores of Georgia
students. 6) Make policies that ensure maximum academic and
financial accountability
GaDOE has already begun updating our Strategic Plan website (http:// www.gadoe.org/strategicframework.aspx) to reflect the new goals. In many cases, the existing strategies and indicators will remain, but will be sorted out into our new more-focused plan. Thanks to all of you who are doing this important work.

It is so simple a remedy, merely service. Not one ignoble thought or act is demanded of any of all men and women in the world to make fair the world. The call is for nobility of thinking, nobility of doing. The call is for service, and such is the wholesomeness of it. He who serves all best serves himself.
Jack London

Page 11

Media Matters

The producers of Road Trip, Georgia Public Broadcasting's award-winning program with the tag line "staying in school is worth the ride" have completed episode #10 of the 12 episode series. It is now available on GPB broadcast schedules and on the web for streaming: http://www.gpb.org/roadtrip/ episode10.
In this new episode, two girls apply for an entry-level job at a hospital whose strict policy requires employees to have a high school diploma or GED. Featured Road Trips include:
Northwestern Technical College's Occupational Therapy and Electronics Technology programs.
Atlanta Technical College's Emergency Medical Technician and Cosmetology programs.
Gwinnett Technical College's Dental Assistant and Construction programs.
Created by the Technical College System of Georgia in partnership with GPB, and in association with the national Stay-in-School initiative, Road Trip is now an official hit in the world of educational programs and is among winners that represent the best work in the industry.
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.
Helen Keller, letter to a five year old.

Volume 1, Issue 1

How do you use Lexiles in your Library Media Center? Have you signed up for the training?
Please share your ideas and best practices with your colleagues.

Page 12

Lexile Training Information

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), in collaboration with the Educational Technology Centers (ETC) and the Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA), will continue Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) training during winter 2009. These training conferences will be focused on support for Mathematics, English/Language Arts, Literacy, and Administrators. Listed below is course and date information. All courses are one day events (unless indicated otherwise). These GPS training events will be held at each of the ETCs in Georgia. The training will originate in Atlanta and will be broadcast live to each ETC. Participants at each ETC will have on-site facilitator support from ETC and RESA content specialists.

Please use the link below to register for all of these GPS training courses. Additional sections of these GPS training courses may be added if registration exceeds projections. Registration will open on December 15, 2008.
http://georgiastandards.org/training.aspx

Please remember that local school systems will be responsible for managing the professional learning units (PLU) that may be connected with these sessions. The Department will provide a sample course approval template and documentation of attendance for system use.

In January 2009, we will send you information about high school Mathematics I, II, and III training that will occur in May and June 2009.

Please contact John Wight (jwight@doe.k12.ga.us) with any questions you have.

K-12 ELA K-12 ELA

The use of Lexiles in instructional decision making. (1/2 day)
The use of Lexiles in instructional decision making. (1/2 day)

Media specialists
Administrators, ELA coaches, and lead teachers

March 30 March 31

MANNING OAKS ES
KIDS' BOOK CONVENTION
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:10-2:00 pm
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND MANNING OAKS ELEMENTARY'S SECOND KIDS' BOOK CONVENTION !!
DURING THE CONVENTION, OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, COUNTY EDUCATORS, and COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN:
GENERAL SESSIONS WITH AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, STORYTELLERS:
George Weinstein, Jake & the Tiger Flight www.tigerflightfoundation.org plans to land a helicopter for students to view
George Weaver, UGA Hunkers Down in Athens Town www.ugahunkersdown.com
Cathy Hodge, Famous Leaders in Georgia www.gavoyager.com
Mama Koku, Storyteller www.mamakoku.com
BOOK WORKSHOPS LED BY 42 TEACHER TEAMS: Students will rotate throughout the building for sessions, workshops, presentations, and exhibits.
PRESENTATIONS BY:
Atlanta History Center Red Door Playhouse Atlanta Blues in Schools Society
EXHIBITORS:
Meet the Authors, purchase their books, and have your books signed by them Barnes & Noble, Follett, Atlanta Fulton Public Library, Pickle Patch Books,
Chick fil-A, and more.
For Information, please contact: Claudia Zurbrick, Media Specialist, zurbrick@fultonschools.org Jeanne Auensen, Media Specialist, auensen@fultonschools.org 770-667-2912 x 137 Manning Oaks Elementary School 405 Cumming Street Alpharetta, GA 30004

Volume 7 Number 7

Page 14

IMPORTANT SAT ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION!

The Georgia Department of Education has received an encouraging study from the College Board regarding students in Georgia working in the SAT Online Course.
Members of the GA Class of 2008 who completed at least one practice test on SAT Online scored an average of 48 points higher on the SAT than members of the class who did not register for SAT Online and/or registered but did not work in the course.
Critical Reading scores for students completing work in SAT Online were 13 points higher, Math scores were 19 points higher, and Writing scores were 16 points higher. Pretty effective way to increase scores, huh?
Do you have all the students in your high school registered and working in SAT Online?
If you need assistance with this contact either Georgia McSwain at 404-6579799, gmcswain@doe.k12.ga.us, or Bonnie Marshall at 404-656-6854, bmarshall@doe.k12.ga.us.
Our unit is offering SAT Online Training for Teachers, Counselors, Media Specialists and Administrators here at GaDOE on February 23 and March 16. Contact Bonnie Marshall to register. The session only takes 90 minutes.

GaDOE Newsletter
The Georgia Department of Education has launched a new external newsletter, "The GaDOE Source" to provide news and updates to the public.
To receive the monthly newsletter, as well as press releases, policy updates and other information, join our external newsletter list.

All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent. -
John F. Kennedy

Volume 1, Issue 1
From Para pro to Media Specialists....and beyond!

Page 15

After years of raising children, I decided to go back to work. I had an undergraduate degree in a scientific field and thought about becoming a science teacher. I first became a teaching assistant to "get the feel" of working in a school, and then took a job as a middle school library paraprofessional.
My media specialist quickly convinced me that being a media specialist was the best job in the school. You could work with children one on one on special projects and guide them in groups towards the best books and the best methods.
I enrolled at Georgia State and got my degree over the next few years. When you already work full time in a library, homework is so much easier! You can apply everything you learn to the library you work in.
I was lucky to get my dream job at a local high school right after graduation. I worked there for five years and can truly say it was a wonderful experience and well worth the time and effort of getting the degree. I'm now in a university setting doing research on science education and enjoying every minute.
Interestingly enough, a good friend warned me against pursuing the degree. "Media Specialists are being phased out" she said. "There won't be a job for you." That was ten years ago and obviously, Media Specialists are still going strong!
Linda Wahlig Currently a Research Associate at Louisiana State University Formerly at North Springs High School (Fulton County)

4 key elements to leadership
trust vision roles communication

Breaking News! Newbery and Caldecott Winners!

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

Newbery Medal
"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman, HarperCollins Children's Books
Newbery Honor Books
"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
"The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom" by Margarita Engle, Henry Holt and Company, LLC
"Savvy" by Ingrid Law, Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group in partnership with Walden Media, LLC
"After Tupac and D Foster" by Jacqueline Woodson, G.P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Books for Young Readers
Caldecott Medal
"The House in the Night" illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson, Houghton Mifflin Co.
Caldecott Honor Books
"A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever" by Marla Frazee, Harcourt, Inc.
"How I Learned Geography" by Uri Shulevitz, Farrar Straus Giroux
"A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams" illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Picturing America Teacher Seminar
This past July, I had the privilege of attending the Picturing America Teacher Seminar held at the Georgia Museum of Art on the campus at the University of Georgia. The seminar was sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and included 31 teachers from around the state of Georgia. Teachers represented grade levels K through 12 and a variety of subjects including art, social studies, gifted education, language arts, elementary education and several media specialists. All participants were from schools that are recipients of the Picturing America grant.
The Picturing America grant consists of 40 large copies of artworks and photos of sculpture and the work of artisans created by American artists throughout our country's history. The grant also includes a manual with sample lessons and suggestions for incorporating the pictures into the curriculum. At the seminar, we were privileged to see paintings, ephemera, and artifacts in person, hear a number of speakers talk about different types of artwork (quilts, silver, and paintings), and take part in sample lessons we can use with students. We toured the Lyndon House Arts Center, and the north campus at the University of Georgia and discussed architectural details.
We were invited to tour the home of C. L. Morehead and see his fantastic collection of art including many works by Lamar Dodd. Mr. Morehead has an eclectic collection of art, which includes Oriental rugs, Remington bronzes, African art and artifacts. We were served an elegant and delicious meal and the next night were entertained in style again at the home of William Eiland, the Director of the Georgia Museum of Art.
On the last day of the seminar, teachers in attendance worked on more lesson plans to share. Lindsay Mikel of NEH and Carissa DiCindio, the Associate Curator of Education at GMoA as well as everyone involved with coordinating the event did a fantastic job. If you ever have the opportunity to attend such a seminar, don't pass it up! The learning opportunities were fantastic and the opportunity to meet other educators around the state was a big plus.
At my school, pictures included in the grant have been used by the Social Studies and Language Arts departments and the Family and Consumer Science department. We've been displaying pictures in the media center and have plans to include them in some cross curricular lessons as well.
Cheryl Youse Media Specialist Colquitt County High School Moultrie, GA 31768

Volume 7 Number 7

Page 18

We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.
Jimmy Carter.

February 2009

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun
1
Langston Hughes-- 1902-1967

2
Norman Rockwell-- 1894-1978
http:// www.normanroc kwell.com/ index.php

3
1944: U.S. troops capture the Marshall Islands

4Barbara
Shook Hazen-- 1930-
http:// www.eduplace.c om/kids/hmr/ mtai/hazen.html

5David
Wiesner-- 1957-
http:// www.houghtonm ifflinbooks.com/ authors/wiesner/ home.html

6
1911: Birthday of Ronald Reagan

7Charles
Dickens-- 1812-1870
http:// www.dickensmus eum.com/

8
1924: Coast to coast radio

9Alice

10Elaine 11

12Randolp 13William 14

Walker--
1944-
http:// members.tripod.com/ chrisdanielle/ aliceindex.html

Konigs-
burg--
1930-
http:// www.eduplace.c om/kids/hmr/ mtai/ konigsburg.html

Jane Yolen--
1939-
http:// www.janeyolen.c om/

h Caldecott--1846 -1886
http:// www.randolph caldecott.org.u k/

Sleator-- 1945-
http://www2.cs.cmu.edu/ ~sleator/billy/

15
1898: Battleship Maine explodes

16
1923:
Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut

17
1801: Thomas Jefferson elected

18Toni
Morrison--
1931-
http:// nobelprize.org/ nobel_prizes/ literature/ laureates/1993/ morrison-bio.html

19
1847: Donner Party rescued

20
1792:: George Washington signs the Postal Service Act

21
1878: Cherokee receive their first printing press

22
1892:Edna St. Vincent Millay is born

23
W. E. B. Du Bois-- 1868-1963
http:// www.naacp.org/ about/history/

24
1868: President Andrew Johnson impeached

25
Cynthia Voigt born:1942-
http:// www.scils.rutg ers.edu/ ~kvander/

26
1993: World Trade Center bombed

27
Longfellow-- 1807-1882
http:// eclecticesoterica.com/ longfellow.html

28
1953: Watson and Crick discover chemical structure of DNA