Media matters, Vol. 8, Issue 8 (Mar. 2010)

Media Matters

Volume 8 Number 8

A newsletter for people who care about Library Media Programs March 2010

Library Legislative Day!
Rescheduled for March 10th

Inside this issue:

Full Circle

2

Educational Seminars 2

LMSOTY

3

Read in

4

SAT Online

5

My invisible world

6

Open Houses

6

GALILEO

8

Teacher Conservation 10 Workshop

Author Mingle

10

Open House pics

11

Guest editorial

12

Green eggs and ham 14

Science books

15

Weeding

15

Information Security 16

Betsy's Excellent

18

Adventure

GSO to Go

20

Children's Lit

22

Innovation Awards

23

Invitations

24

Project ExPreSS

26

Peach Award

27

Calendar

28

Happy 15th Birthday GALILEO!
Lauren Fancher
Believe it or not, GALILEO will turn 15 on September 21, 2010. Way back in 1995, long before Google, GALILEO helped bring the University System of Georgia libraries, students, faculty, and staff the ability to search indexes and retrieve full-text materials on this new thing called the World Wide Web using something called ASCII text. For many of these users, GALILEO was their first introduction to the Internet, much less graphical interfaces, as well as the benefits this technology had for learning and research. In fact, GALILEO helped put public computers into the University System libraries and provided fax machines for interlibrary loan articles, at time when some campuses had a single fax machine in the President's office. Institutions that had only a few journals suddenly had access to hundreds of journals. GALILEO's delivery over PeachNet helped people understand the benefits of robust networks for transmitting data, providing the impetus and legislative support for bringing both internet access and GALILEO to public libraries and schools. Even in this era of ubiquitous information that has followed its early innovation, GALILEO still provides the core resource for the libraries and media centers of Georgia, fulfilling its mission to be One Statewide Library by bringing quality, authoritative, and secure digital materials of all kinds to the citizens of Georgia, including encyclopedias, books, thousands of periodicals, and unique materials of historical and cultural significance. Over one billion user experiences attest to the success of GALILEO.
Continued on page 8
Check out more information at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/ teentechweek/ttw10/home10.cfm

Media Matters

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Full Circle

In 1973 my mother, Shirley Upchurch, graduated from West Georgia College. She began working at Austell Elementary School as the librarian. Austell Elementary was an old school, once having been a Junior High. So in early 2000 the Cobb County School Board voted to build a replacement Austell Elementary School. The new school, ironically, was to be located in Powder Springs.

The new Austell Elementary opened in 2002. My mother then had the opportunity to open a new building, although she missed the old building and all its ambiance. So after being at the new school for three years, mom was able to retire after having worked for thirty years.

During the flood in September 2009, my school, Clarkdale Elementary, was destroyed. Consequently, our students were split between Austell Intermediate School and Compton Elementary School. I was assigned to the media center at Austell Intermediate. How ironic! I had been assigned to the media center that my mother had opened. Many of the same people that mom had worked with still worked at Austell. I was seeing people that I had known since I was a little girl following her around on teacher workdays. What a small world!

I guess you could say I've come full circle!

Michelle Jorgensen and her Mom

Educational Seminars provides opportunities for teachers and principals to participate in fully funded, short-term educational exchanges to Argentina, Brazil, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Thailand, and Uruguay. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. While in the host country, participants shadow their international peers' schedules, network with educational leaders in the country, and develop joint classroom projects and school partnerships supportable through the program's grant funds. Through nation-wide competitions, approximately 80 U.S. teachers and principals are selected each year to participate in 2-3 week exchange programs in the host countries. Additionally, the program brings approximately 80 international teachers and principals for 2-3 week programs to be hosted by schools across the U.S. Applications to participate in programs in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Jordan, or Uruguay, due March 12, 2010, can be accessed at www.americancouncils.org/es.
For more information, contact Tim Hair (thair@americancouncils.org), or Julia Homstad (jhomstad@americancouncils.org).
If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders. ~ Abigail Van Buren

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Library Media Specialist of the Year!
Each year GLMA and GAIT co-sponsor the Georgia School Library Media Specialist of the Year award to recognize K-12 library media specialists whose services have resulted in exemplary library media programs.
Each school system may select one library media specialist for this award. From those chosen for the system level award, one media specialist is chosen as the district Library Media Specialist of the Year. (Each district represents a different region of Georgia.)
The state Library Media Specialist of the Year is selected from the district winners and will be announced the Georgia Council of Media Organizations (COMO) conference.
Additional details and application can be found at http://www.glma-inc.org/ and at http://www.gait-inc.org/
Important Dates: System level selection has to be completed and postmarked to the GLMA office by April 1,2010.
Each GLMA district chair will convene a committee to review the system level applications in order to select a district winner by May 15, 2010.

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. ~ Frank A. Clark

Some special guests at the Sprayberry High School Open House

Media Matters

Read in at Arnold Elementary

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By Curt Yeomans cyeomans@news-daily.com
Arnold Elementary School (Clayton County) third-grader, Toddrick Ennis, and his father, Todd Ennis, sat on a couch, tucked away in a secluded corner of the school's media center, and read Stan and Jan Berenstain's, The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day, on a recent Thursday afternoon.
The school hosted one of its five family read-ins after school on Thursday. Toddrick Ennis and Todd Ennis took turns reading the book, which chronicles the Berenstain Bear's family move from a cave to a tree house. Toddrick Ennis, 9, read the first half of the book to his dad, and then, Todd Ennis read the second half to his son.
After they finished the book, the younger Ennis went over to a computer station in the middle of the media center, and took an Accelerated Reader (AR) test on the book.
We make it to everyone of these family read-ins, Todd Ennis said. It's a good thing to do, because he gets to come in here, and he reads to me, and I read to him. Then, he gets to catch up on his AR points. I think it's a good time for family time.
Arnold Elementary has been hosting family read-ins for several years, said school Media Specialist Carrie Davison. It's a chance where they [the families] get to come in and read together, she said.
After the family finishes a book, the student then takes the Accelerated Reader test on the book, while its contents are still fresh in his or her mind.
Students also sign up for a raffle during the read-in, and Davison pulls the names of the winners after the event closes for the evening, she said. The winners get prizes that include books and posters, she added.
A student can't come into the media center during a read-in, unless he or she is accompanied by a parent, Davison said.
I like the read-ins, because I can relax and enjoy a book, Toddrick Ennis said. When we read in the class everyday, the other kids talk a lot, and you don't really get the full effect of the book. In here, it's just peace and calm, and you get to relax while you read.
Continued on next page

We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give. ~ Winston Churchill.

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Davison said the school was scheduled to host six read-ins this year, but the January event had to be canceled because after-school activities throughout the school system were canceled that day, due to snowfall. The last family read-in for the 2009-2010 school year is scheduled to take place in March, she said.
Two hours into the three-hour read-in Thursday, 22 students, and their mothers and fathers, had already come by to read together, according to Davison. The events typically draw 30 families, she said.
It's very popular with our families, Davison said. When it was snowed out, a lot of parents and children were disappointed.
John Walker, father of Arnold third-grader, Brandon Walker, and the director of school safety for Clayton County Public Schools, said his family likes the read-ins because it gives the students something to do after school.
They're keeping them [the students] off the streets, and keeping them safe, he said. What better way to protect our children than to have them read books.
Brandon Walker, 8, then added, I like the read-ins, because I get to read a bunch of books without the teacher around.
Reprinted with permission from the Clayton News Daily.

Support Math students taking the GHSGT and spring EOCT's
The math lessons and quizzes in SAT Online are a great review and practice resource for students taking the GHSGT this month and/or math EOCTs later this semester. These lessons and quizzes support Math I and Math II, as well as Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
Any educator with an active account in SAT Online may print access codes for students by going to: www.satonlinecourseschool.com.
Then, enter your User Name and Password, click on the Class Management Tab, select Manage Student Access Codes. You may then generate and print the student codes needed.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Georgia McSwain at GaDOE. gmcswain@doe.k12.ga.us or at 404-657-9799.

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My Invisible World Life with a brother, his disability and his service dog
Being the sibling of a child with special needs has its own unique challenges that often go unrecognized, unseen...especially when the disability itself is invisible. As the typical sister, Morasha Winokur candidly shares her story about the invisible life that exists within a life that others think they know. Hidden dreams and hidden challenges become understood and embraced when a specially trained Behavioral Assistance Dog for Morasha's brother joins the family. Through the unconditional presence and skilled companionship of Chancer, an irresistible 90 lb. Golden Retriever, healing happens for not only Morasha's brother, but for each member of the family in unexpected ways.
Morasha's article:
People often ask me, Why did you write My Invisible World? When I was eight years old, I wanted to write a book, so I did. It took me three years and I just finished at eleven. I stopped for a while and then when we got Chancer, Iyal's service-dog, my mom started talking to me again about writing. I had been keeping a journal on and off all this time, so I used the journal to help write the book. Part of the reason I wrote this book is that I want people to experience while they are reading my book, what life is like when you live with a family member who has a disability. It can be really frustrating at times...especially when we are in public.
One thing I've found out living with a brother who has special needs is that it's important to have good friends when your life can be stressful. Another reason I wrote My Invisible World is that I hope when people read the book it becomes a really good thing and that people learn about FASD. FASDs are 100% preventable and my generation can stop it from happening to more babies. We ALL have to know about it. I hope people read it and think Oh, if I see someone who is disabled, I shouldn't talk about them or make fun of them. I want the bullies to stop being bullies to people who have differences. I hope my book can make life easier for people like my brother.
For more information about: My Invisible World Life with my brother, his disability and his
service dog, visit: www.thechancerchronicles.com or contact Donnie Kanter Winokur at
thechancerchronicles@gmail.com or 770 856-5424
Article submitted by the Winokur family.

When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt. ~ Henry J. Kaiser

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The whole world opened to me when I learned to read. ~ Mary McLeod Bethune

Continued from Page 1:

Page 8

The spirit of innovation and collaboration that has been part of GALILEO since the beginning continues, as today GALILEO has multiple interfaces that serve different audiences and communities of interest, special tools for federated searching and linking to ejournals across all resources, a toolbar for easy use in common browsers, online training for library staff, and video tutorials for users. The future promises to continue apace, as new discovery tools and tools to assist the integration of library resources into online learning environments enhance the GALILEO environment.

As a teenager, GALILEO will continue to need the support, encouragement, and thoughtful guidance of the GALILEO community; the birthday is a great opportunity to share and express the value that GALILEO provides to the state of Georgia.

GALILEO Life Contest: Use your creativity to show support for and use of GALILEO by making a video, poster, powerpoint, or a library fan. Contribute entries by May 14th. Prizes will be awarded for the 5 age groups in each of the three media (poster, video, and powerpoint) categories and the 3 library types (public, academic, and K12) in the fan category. See details about the contest guidelines and submission instructions here: http://www.usg.edu/galileo/about/birthday/

GALILEO Scrapbook: Collect your stories, quotes, and pictures and share with GALILEO to post in an online scrapbook of community and sharing. Details will be available soon.

GOLD/GALILEO User Group Conference: Our annual gathering will include special events and activities to recognize GALILEO's birthday and contributions to libraries in Georgia and your participation in the contest and scrapbook activities. Details will be available later in 2010.

Virtual Birthday Celebration, September 21, 2010: A special online event to share and recognize the 15th birthday and the GALILEO community. The celebration starts today -- watch for regular news and information in the coming months, and in the meantime, remember: you are part of GALILEO, so this is your 15th birthday too!

Where I'm From in GALILEO" Lesson Plan

The Where I'm From in GALILEO lesson plan is a fun classroom activity using GALILEO resources that can be used to meet Georgia performance standards for social studies and language arts across all K-12 grades. Based on George Ella Lyon's popular "Where I'm From" model, the Where I'm from in GALILEO activity helps students compose digital stories about their community using unique content in GALILEO. Working alone or in groups, students are guided through the creation of a Where I'm From poem about their town or county by exploring resources in GALILEO. They then create a digital story of the words and related images with a poster, video, or slide presentation.

The objectives for this lesson plan are aligned in whole or in part with specific Georgia Performance Standards for social studies, language arts, reading across the curriculum, information processing, and map and globe skills for each grade. For more information and video, PowerPoint, and poster project examples, see the Where I'm from in GALILEO; webpage:

http://help.galileo.usg.edu/educators/where_im_from_in_galileo/

Webinars have been scheduled for staff in GALILEO libraries and media centers, as well as teachers, to obtain more information about the lesson plan and to get a peek at the resources available for it. Please encourage your teachers to participate. To register, visit the GALILEO training page: http://help.galileo.usg.edu/ librarians/training/online/

Students' media objects that result from this activity will make great entries for the GALILEO Life contest.

See the article on GALILEO's fifteenth birthday above.

Karen Minton

Media Matters

Media Matters

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The Teacher Conservation Workshop is a weeklong workshop (June 21-25, 2010) that uses the forest as a window to environmental education. Activities are led by foresters, biologists, educators, and industry professionals. This interdisciplinary workshop focuses on the environmental, economic, and social benefits of Georgia's forestry and wildlife communities. Sessions take place mostly outdoors in the forest and in manufacturing facilities and will demonstrate the cycle of growing trees and man-aging for wild-life.
The Teacher Conservation Workshop is recommended for Georgia educators working with grades 5-12 informal educators and senior or graduate pre-service educators may apply. This workshop is an introductory course for non-forestry and non-wildlife educators and requires a commitment to spend the entire week in this educational setting. Moderate physical exertion will be required to attend the sessions and field trips. These facilities and operations we visit may be very hot, unpleasant smelling and we may be exposed to insects.
Registration is $35 per person, and includes all teaching materials, food, lodging and transportation during the workshop. Transportation to and from Charlie Elliott Wildlife Conference Center in Mansfield is the responsibility of the individual.
Workshop is limited to the first qualified 30 participants. A waiting list will be kept in case of cancellations.
More information and the application are located here: http://www.gfagrow.org/education.asp

Media Matters
Norcross High School Open House

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Joanne Bates teaching a lesson to 1st graders.
Sprayberry's collection of Dr. Seuss hats!

Tritt Elementary Open House

Sprayberry High School Open House

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Guest Editorial
What are we missing?
From the GLMA Blog Susan Grigsby
You may recognize that title from a flurry of emails that have been posted on the LM-NET listserv. It started with one seemingly innocent email from a media specialist wondering why - in spite of advocacy, in spite of studies showing an impact on student achievement, in spite of increasing our visibility we find ourselves fighting the same budget battles every single year. Good question. Why, indeed?
Let's start with advocacy. It is a part of our job. I didn't become a school librarian because I wanted to be politically active but I will remain a school librarian ONLY if I continue to be politically active. We provide a service to our school community that is almost invisible if we're doing it really well. When we co-teach, it is the classroom teacher who gets the kudos when test scores improve. When we are able to put our hands on the perfect resource that a teacher or student has requested, it is the patron who looks good for using a valid, current, and accurate resource. When we administer a meager budget yet still manage to keep a quality collection of resources and equipment it is the school that is viewed as being on the cutting edge. Anybody remember the old Joni Mitchell song that said don't it always seem to go that we don't know what we've got 'til it's gone? If you are doing all of what your job requires but you don't advocate for yourself or your program you're missing a key piece of the puzzle. I've heard the arguments about how that's not fair and we shouldn't have to do that. On the first day of class in Reality 101, you learn that fairness doesn't matter and that we all have to do things that we really shouldn't have to do.
Now we get to student achievement. Yes, studies show that a fully funded library media program managed and operated by a highly qualified library media specialist (or teacherlibrarian or school librarian or Information God/Goddess) has a direct and positive correlation to improved student achievement. But how many of us really know where and how that impact is being felt in our own schools? Do you know that the lesson you just taught has a direct correlation to GPS and that GPS has a direct correlation to a CRCT domain? If so, fantastic! If not, you've got some homework tonight. Are you speaking the language of data with your classroom teachers and your administrators and then backing up the talk with the walk? If so, great! If not, you've got a little more homework. Are you looking at test data, down to the specific domains that address information literacy, and using that data to drive instruction when you collaborate with your classroom teachers? Okay, you know where I'm going here. I know there are degrees of implementation and some are further along the spectrum than others. That's not an indictment but a call to action if you're not there yet then at least commit to moving in that direction.
Continued on next page

Questions drive libraries, libraries drive questions.~ Buffy Hamilton

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Finally, let's address our visibility. I want you to ask yourself if you are seen as an information specialist in your school. Ask yourself if you are seen as one of the vital resources in your school (not the books, not the DVDs, not the cameras YOU). Are you on your school's leadership team? If not, don't lament your exclusion go to team meetings, grade level meetings, or subject area meetings and find out what's going on in the classroom. Once you know what's going on in the classroom then you can use your professional resources to let teachers know what's available to help them teach those subjects or units. I've walked into these meetings before and the principal looked up and asked What are you doing here? I just smiled and said I was really interested in what was going in the classroom so that I could support my teachers. Suddenly I needed a sweater because it got a little chilly... Think about how you can make yourself more visible to the parents of the children you serve. If you can get their support through a full understanding of the value you add to the education their child is receiving then you've got a real ally. Let them know what's going on in the legislature when our funding is threatened - parents are heard in a whole different way by the politicians who hold our purse strings. Invite them to your library, teach classes or conduct seminars that speak directly to parents, help them learn new ways to help their children, and make sure they know about your media committee and opportunities for them within your center. You'll reach some and you'll miss some but it's worth doing anyway. Lastly, if you're doing some amazing things at your school (or some pretty good things I'm not asking for perfection), share it with principals, APs, counselors, and school board members. If you've presented at a library conference (COMO, GaETC, AASL), consider applying to present at a conference for teachers, principals, or other administrators and alter the focus to help them understand what's in it for them. We spend an awful lot of time preaching to each other let's bring others into the fold!

Will all of this make a difference? Honestly, we could do all of this AND do all of it really well and our legislators could still take away our expenditure controls (thus most, if not all of our funding). We could be library rock stars and still find ourselves in a precarious position when those in charge are trying to decide who's next on the chopping block. None of it provides any kind of guarantee. Except for the personal knowledge that YOU did all you could to spread the news that you are valuable to your school.

Before I close I want to clear something up. When I have posted such articles or comments in the past I have invariably gotten a few emails expressing dismay at the implication that I blame the library professional when his/her job is cut. That could not be further from the truth. It is a sad day when a library staff position is cut or library resource funding is cut or libraries have to shut their doors or be staffed by parents or volunteers or untrained clerks. My only point is that we are ultimately responsible for speaking up for ourselves and I challenge each of you to do so no matter how uncomfortable that may be. We are ultimately responsible for knowing when legislation is on the table that will directly impact our programs. If we do not speak up for ourselves then we have no one to blame but ourselves for not speaking up. Shout it out, folks we matter.

Just remember the world is not a playground but a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday but an education. One eternal lesson for us all : to teach us how better we should love. ~ Barbara Jordan

Media Matters
Green Eggs and Ham turns 50 years old!

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No matter what shape... No matter what size... Step in the library... And give your spirit a rise!

Superintendent Kathy Cox is helping celebrate the 50th anniversary of Green Eggs and Ham!
Read Across America! March 2nd!
http://www.seussville.com/lb/events.html

Read a Seuss book... Read one I say... Then read another..and another... And another all day.
Read Seuss books... From morn until night. Go to bed late And get up all bright.

Green Eggs & Ham, Green Eggs & Ham! I do so like Green Eggs & Ham! I would read it here or there, Say, I would read it anywhere!

Read them...and read them... And read them some more. And you will be happy As never before.
By Tony Pope, 2007

Media Matters
Looking for some wonderful Science books to enhance your collection? Check out the National Science Teacher Association website.
As of this writing GaDOE staffer Steve Rich's new book Outdoor Science has not been released, but is already in the NSTA Top 10 List.
Picture-Perfect Science lessons is also a fabulous book that presents 15 ready-to-teach lessons--complete with student pages and assessments--that use picture books to guide science inquiry explicitly tied to the National Science Education Standards.
http://www.nsta.org/store/?lid=tnavhp

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Weeding!
I recently met someone who told me that she loved her Library Media Specialist because he never threw anything away. EEK!!!
Even in these tight economic times a Library Media collection should be current, in good condition, and age appropriate. Weeding should be an ongoing, continual process.
Check out what Texas has posted on their website concerning weeding:
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/crewmethod08.pdf
Follett has some great information on weeding:
http://www.flr.follett.com/intro/pdfs/grants-weeding.pdf
In 2003-2004 GaDOE created a Library Media Institute and the modules are still available (and the information current). Check out the weeding module at: http://www.gadoe.org/sia_as_library.aspx?PageReq=SIAASNewMedia

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FrEodmucthaetioGneEoInrxgfpoiarlbmDoeyarpteiaworrnct,hmoSFienecnichtrtuTeoeriufnhftyostexeowr,nsOeWaabpcewhbcreraeaosbt,swpaitssanhegdaereS,IiWsnasutfaeaecsbrrhoni Bfaaetrstwr.eotaeTtwrhxhetese,aemrgperrpo?aalspirtcehapiatcriseonvnouarmtlehobntahett.rearoPllfmoludwagifts-feietnrhrisaee,nla.u(tls1swe)oreIktbtonibsovrawioevnwwesaraesynraspdd-o-idpnI-utnoeltnarearsr,cnmtaerewtetihthod

applications that extend the functionality of browsers. Some of the more familiar plug-ins include Flash

Player, Java, Media Player, QuickTime Player, Shockwave Player, RealOne Player and Acrobat Reader.

Based on how a web page was designed, certain plug-ins, may be required to view some content.

How Can Your Browser Put You At Risk?

According to a study conducted in 2008, approximately 45% of people surfing the Internet were not utilizing the most secure version of their web browser. Like other software, without the appropriate security patches applied, web browsers are vulnerable to attack or exploit. A fully patched web browser can still be vulnerable to attack or exploit if the browser plug-ins are not fully patched. It's important to remember that plug-ins are not automatically patched when the browser is patched. You must patch these plug-ins manually as the patches are announced and made available by the various software makers.

Traditionally, browser-based attacks originated from bad websites but due to poor security coding of web applications or vulnerabilities in the software supporting web sites, attackers have recently been successful in compromising large numbers of trusted web sites to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting visitors.

Hackers add scripts that do not change the website's appearance. These scripts may silently redirect you to another web site without you even knowing about it. This redirect to another web site may cause malicious programs to be downloaded to your computer. These programs are generally designed to allow remote control of your computer by the attacker and to capture personal information, often related to obtaining credit card and banking information and data used for identify theft.

In April 2009 Panda Labs, a computer security and anti-virus publisher, announced that more than 380,000 web sites had been altered to redirect computers to malicious websites which would attack them in a variety of different ways. The SANS Institute, a computer security research and training organization, recently declared browser attacks to be Top Cyber Security Menace for 2009....and it's now 2010!

It's not just desktop or laptop computers that are vulnerable. As their popularity increases, smart phones such as Blackberries and iPhones may become targets of browser based attacks because of the built in browser technology and Internet access.

Clearly users must be aware of the issues and take pro-active measures.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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What Can You Do To Protect Yourself From Browser Attacks?
There are a number of steps that we can take, most of which our IT Security Department has implemented for the GaDOE network, but which also apply equally to your home computer.
Keep your browser(s) updated and patched.
Keep your operating system updated and patched.
Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and keep them up to date.
Keep your applications (programs) updated and patched, particularly if they work with your browser such as multimedia programs used for viewing videos.
Install a firewall between your computer and the Internet and keep it updated and patched.
Block pop-up windows, some of which may be malicious and hide attacks. This may block malicious software from being downloaded to your computer.
Tighten your browser security settings in the security, privacy, and content sections of your browser. The minimum level should be medium.
Consider disabling JavaScript, Java, and ActiveX controls, also configured in your browser security settings.
Please note, a number of these tips may impede your use of the Internet or limit what content you can access. If you find that you really need ActiveX controls or you require JavaScript be enabled, set your browser to prompt you before running scripts. If you find that you need to lower your security settings to be able to access what you need, lower them temporarily, then reset them.
1. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser
To learn more about browser security go to:
US-CERT Security Tip: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-022.html (Understanding Your Computer: Web Browsers)
US-CERT Security Tip: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST05-001.html (Evaluating Your Browser's Security Settings)
PC World: Hackers Increasingly Target Browsers: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/ article/144490/hackers_increasingly_target_browsers.html

A good education is the next best thing to a pushy mother. ~ Charles Schultz

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Traveling to Mexico to Learn about the Monarch Butterfly Migration
Betsy Razza
In 1976, the science community discovered one of the world's most remarkable migrations when they found that millions of Monarch butterflies travel to the mountains of central Mexico every fall in order to winter there. These butterflies make this migration annually from Canada to Mexico. While the Mexican people in the state of Michoachan, Mexico, had long known that the butterflies visited them annually, the outside world had not. For hundreds of years this migration has long impacted the culture of Mexico as images of the butterflies were prominent in Aztec art then and are still an evident theme in central Mexican art and culture today.
Monarchs Across Georgia sponsors a yearly trip to Michoachan, Mexico for educators to learn about winter butterfly colonies in Mexico. Last month, I was fortunate to be able to take this trip. The organization's purpose is to promote education about the Monarchs and the other pollinators as their population is declining due to habitat destruction. To prepare for this well organized trip, I had to attend two meetings where I learned about butterfly anatomy and life cycle, lessons incorporating butterflies, and Mexican culture.
It is a unique experience to see the butterfly colonies. They are hidden in 12 different isolated colonies in the mountains of Mexico. We traveled on horseback to two different colonies. A guide took us up the rugged mountain terrain and then we walked a mile into the woods to get to their roosting area. Walking became more difficult as we got closer to the colony as we found butterflies resting on the path and had to be careful not to step on them. It is hard to describe the moment when we got to the colony. The butterflies filled the skies and trees. Before us were millions of butterflies and each branch held an estimated 15,000 butterflies. The trees were covered so thickly that we often could not see the tree trunks or branches. The hand-made signs in Spanish told us to guard the silence in these magical habitats.
This was a special trip that encompassed so many wonderful experiences; shopping in local markets, viewing cathedrals, eating authentic Mexican food, staying in a hacienda, visiting a tree farm, seeing the work of Mexican artisans, and more. The trip also involved visiting a K-8 school in Mexico to promote reading and to interact with the children. The children in this school had no library other than two sets of encyclopedias and they were very excited to receive the books written in Spanish that we brought.
Monarchs Across Georgia offers teachers Professional Learning Unit credit for attending this trip which is scheduled every February.
For more information, visit the Monarchs Across Georgia website at: http:// www.monarchsacrossga.org
(pictures on following page)

The more faithfully you listen to the voice within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside. Only he who listens can speak. ~ Dag Hammarskjold

Media Matters

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Media Matters

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Do you know about the GSO to GO newsletter?

Each month Georgia Standards.org creates the GSO to GO Educator Newsletter. It is full of wonderful and useful information. Past issues have included articles on:
327 Georgia Schools Awarded for Outstanding Achievement Free Online ExPreSS - Exam Preparation for Science and Social Studies 2009-2010 Young Georgia Authors Competition Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2010 Integrating Technology into your Curriculum Another Slam Dunk Georgia Read More Video! Reinforce Basic Math Skills with Online Video Games 41st Annual Conference on Children's Literature Ancient World Adventures at the Michael C. Carlos Museum Carlos Conversations The Labors of Herakles: Outreach Program African-American Research At The AARL

Missed an issue? Visit the GSO to GO Archives: http://bit.ly/GSOtoGOarchives Listen to the GSO to GO Voices Podcast: http://bit.ly/GSOtoGOPodcasts Got an iPod, iPhone or MP3 Player? Subscribe to the GSO to GO Voices Podcast on iTunes: http://bit.ly/GSOtoGOiTunes

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. ~ A Cowboy's Guide to Life

Media Matters
Student recommended readings

Hillgrove High School Open House

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Displaying student artwork behind the circulation desk.
From Clarkdale Elementary:
Please relay our sincere appreciation to the schools that helped us with the bulletin boards. Our teachers were very excited to get those supplies. It was nice to see that others would take so much time to help us during our crisis. We have been awed by the amount of help we have received since September. Our students and teachers have truly been blessed by the generosity of others!
Michelle Jorgensen Media Specialist Clarkdale Elementary School

Media Matters

West Georgia RESA/ETC Library Media Consortium
Do you spot anyone you recognize?

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Registration for the 41st Annual Children's Literature Conference, to be held in Athens GA, on March 19-20, 2010 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, is now available.
Three ways to register:
Online at:
http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/conferences/2010/Mar/19/child_lit.phtml
By Mail:
41st Annual Conference on Children's Literature (#68778) Attn: Conference Registration, Room 129 Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center & Hotel The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-3603
By Phone: 706-542-2134 or 800-884-1381
You can also register through accessing the GCBA website at: http://www.coe.uga.edu/gcba/conference/attend.html

Media Matters

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Heard County Middle School Media Center
2009 Georgia Department of Education
Exceptional Library Media Program
Join us for open house Thursday, March 11, 2010 10 a.m. to Noon
269 Old Field Road Franklin, Georgia 30217
706-675-9247
Hosted by:
Media Specialist Glovis G. South gsouth@heard.k12.ga.us, & Media Assistant Janet B. Scott jscott@heard.k12.ga.us
...with continued support from
Principal Marti Robinson mrobinson@heard.k12.ga.us
Awarded August 13, 2009 by the Georgia Department of Education

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We will lead the nation in improving student achievement.
1770 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
FreeOnline ExPreSS creates an online opportunity designed to help students prepare for the science and social studies GHSGT. Science and social studies are the two GHSGTs that Georgia students fail most often. Online ExPreSS will offer self-paced units based on the instructional plans created for the summer ExPreSS Program.
Students can create their own registration account using their Georgia Testing Identifier (GTID) number. Detailed instructions for creating this account and locating their GTID number will be provided on the ExPreSS website at: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Resources/Pages/Tools/ExPreSS.aspx
The summer Project ExPreSS program is scheduled for June 14-25, 2010. To get more information, please click on the following link: https://www.georgiastandards.org/resources/Documents/Student_ExPreSS_Flyer.pdf
State Media Festival Friday, April 30 2010 Clayton County Professional Learning Center
1087 Battlecreek Rd Jonesboro, GA 30236 Registration database and contact information must be submitted to Joni Jones with Rockdale County Schools by email by
April 9, 2010 jonibjones@rockdale.k12.ga.us
(770) 860-4213 Projects must arrive at Clayton State University Library on or before
April 16, 2010 at the latest to be considered.
Clayton State University Library ATTN: Dr. Gordon Baker 2000 Clayton State Blvd. Morrow, GA 30260

Media Matters

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Last week the 20 Nominees for the 2010-2011 Georgia Peach Book Awards for Teen Readers (Grades 9 - 12) were selected by the committee.
After by Amy Efaw Bonechiller by Graham McNamee Brutal by Michael Harmon Burn by Suzanne Phillips Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan Hold Still by Nina LaCour If I Stay: a Novel by Gayle Forman Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen King of the Screwups by K.L. Going Muchaco: a Novel by LouAnne Johnson North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley The Orange Houses by Paul Griffin Shiver by Maggie StiefvaterSkinned by Robin Wasserman Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson The Year We Disappeared: a Father-Daughter Memoir by Cylin Busby
Please remember that voting for the 2009-2010 Georgia Peach Book Award continues through March 12. The winner and 2 runners-up will be announced on Tuesday, March 30 at the Kennesaw State University's Annual Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults. (And on our listserv the following day).
For more information about the Peach Awards, please visit the website at http://glma-inc.org/peachaward.htm

March 2010
Georgia Department of Education

Su nday

Mond ay

Tuesday

Wed nesday

1

2

3

Who is Frederick Birthday of

Patricia

Chopin?

Dr. Seuss-

MacLachl an-

1810-1849

1904-1991

1938-

http:// www.

catinthehat.org/

Leo Dil lon-1933-

Thu rsday

Fr iday

4

5

Cort ez l anded in MemFox-1946Mexico: 1519 Who is Crispus A ttu ck s ?

Satu rd ay
6
Birthday of Michelangelo: 1475-1564
Thacher Hurd1949-

7

8

What year did t he Kenneth

Suez Canal

Grahame-

open?

1859-1932

9

10

Joseph Krumgold- 1st US paper

1908-1980

money i ssued:

1862

11
Ezra Jack Keats1916-1983

12
Virginia Hamilton born1936-2002

13
Uranus d is co v ered : 1781

14 15 16

1794~Eli Whit neyAndrew Jackson

is granted a

born:

pat ent for the 1767-1845

cot ton gin.

Sid Flei schman1920-

17 18

Who was St. Patrick?

Birthday of Grover Clevel and: 1837-1908

19
Swallows return to Capist rano

20
Fred Rogers1928-2003

21
Birthday of Johann Bach: 1685-1750

22 23 24

Who is Randolph Patrick Henry Cause of

Caldecott?

gave his famous tuberculosis

speech: 1775 discovered:

1882

25 26

Churchill

Robert Frost-

ent ered

1874-1963

Germany: 1945

27
1st l ong distance call: 1884

28
1st picture book for children! 1592

29
Cy Young born: 1867-1955

30
Birthday of Vincent Van Gogh: 1853

31
Andrew Lang1844-1912

F ebru ary S M TW T F S
123456 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

April 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

Be who you are and say what you feel, because thos e who mind don't matter, and thos e who matter don't mind. ~ Dr. Seus s