Media matters, Vol. 9, Issue 2 (Sept. 2010)

September 2010 Volume 9 Number 2

Media Matters
A newsletter for people who care about Library Media programs
Exemplary Library Media Program Recipients

Inside this issue

GALILEO

2

School gardens

4

Plains, Peanuts and a

6

President

Children's Literature

7

Conference

10 Reasons

8

AJC

11

1925 and 1965

12

Role of School Librarians

13

COMO is coming

15

GPB

16

Nancy Brown

16

PLU activities

17

Exquisite corpse

20

SAT Online

20

GaETC

21

Calendar

22

Top picture: Amy Altman, Camille Ward, Buffy Hamilton, Roxanne Johnson, Betsy Clem, Andy Plemmons.
Picture Above: State Board Chair Wanda Barrs, Trudy Crouse, Sherri Holcomb, Nan Lanford, State Board Member Al Hodge
Picture Left: State Board Chair Wanda Barrs, Susan Klodnicki, State Board Member Buzz Law
Hispanic Heritage Month
Colorn Colorado salutes the rich history of Hispanic culture with games, books, activities, and fun! Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, is a great way to celebrate a family legacy and expose students to world traditions.
http://www.colorincolorado.org/calendar/celebrations/hhm

Media Matters

Volume 9 Number 2

Page 2
New Resources, New Tools for 15-year-old GALILEO
GALILEO will be fifteen years old on September 21. In honor of our birthday, ProQuest upgraded the GALILEO package for the academic and public libraries and agreed to provide ProQuest Newspapers and Research Library to K-12 schools at no additional cost. ProQuest was the first full-text database offered on GALILEO.
ProQuest Newspapers includes hundreds of national and international newspapers, as well as many vetted news blogs. Titles include the Atlanta Journal, Atlanta Constitution, and the Atlanta JournalConstitution with combined coverage from 1990-present. Access to international newspapers is valuable to students studying world events and history, presenting them global viewpoints. The collection also includes some Georgia newspapers, including the Augusta Chronicle, Macon Telegraph, and Savannah Morning News.
Research Library is a multi-subject academic database of use to high school students and educators. Education titles include American Teacher, Harvard Educational Review, Mathematics Teaching, Science Teacher, and many other titles of interest to teachers, administrators, and educators working on advanced degrees. The ProQuest interface is intuitive, but enhancements that are coming soon will make results easier to refine.
The Britannica encyclopedias for elementary, middle, and high school now feature a new tool for creating timelines. Students can build a timeline on any topic for any time span. The timeline is a unique creation for each student or group of students. Events on the timeline can connect to encyclopedia articles, illustrations, and even web pages.
The Britannica Elementary encyclopedia now features Geography Explorer, an interactive tool that guides students to build a world wall map. Students identify continents, oceans, rivers, mountains, and famous places to color in the map.
SIRS Issues Researcher has added a Note Organizer to help students organize their research. This note-taking tool is useful for getting from note taking to outline. iThink is a new interactive skills tutor that assesses a student's critical thinking. Many Leading Issues modules are also new to SIRS Issues Researcher this year, including modules on oil drilling, online social networks, and the Iraq War.
Britannica resources are now correlated to Common Core Curriculum Standards, in addition to Georgia Performance Standards. ProQuest is working on providing correlation to CCSS in SIRS Discoverer and SIRS Issues Researcher and plan to complete the project in time for Georgia's implementation of CCSS.
The NoveList and NoveList K-8 interfaces were enhanced over the summer to bring many of the previously underlying features to light. One terrific feature is Teaching with Books, which includes tools for optimizing reading activities in the classroom, such as picture book extenders, discussion guides, topical bibliographies, and more.
Don't forget that articles in SIRS, NoveList, and other K-12 EBSCO databases have assigned Lexile reading levels to help engage students in articles and books that are challenging but not beyond their reading ability.
The GALILEO training schedule includes webinars on the resources and special features mentioned here. Keep checking back for new sessions. See the schedule and register for sessions at http:// help.galileo.usg.edu/librarians/training/
Continued on next page

Page 3

Links to featured resources Britannica Encyclopedias: Elementary http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link?dbs=zebk Middle http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link?dbs=zebm
High http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link?dbs=zehs
NoveList http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link?dbs=zknl
NoveList K-8 http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link? dbs=zkne
ProQuest Newspapers http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link? dbs=zupn

Are your teachers using GALILEO with their students? Are you promoting GALILEO through in-services or workshops? With budget cuts and expenditure controls removed, GALILEO can continue to move us forward, help our students, supplement the curriculum, and provide educational resources for all of us in the K-12 community.

ProQuest Newspapers: Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link?dbs=zuaj

Research Library http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link?dbs=zurl

SIRS Discoverer http://www.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/link?dbs=zssd

Page 4
Seeking Pollinator Habitat Certification for a School Garden
Betsy Razza
Give your school or home garden a focus. Monarchs Across Georgia offers school groups and home gardeners pollinator certification for their butterfly gardens. The application process is a learning experience, as it requires you to assess what you have to support the needs of pollinators in your garden. In 1984, the first butterfly was listed on the federal endangered list. Since then, a number of butterflies as well as other pollinators have been classified as endangered. Often, the causes are habitat loss, land development, and pesticides. While animals such as the polar bear usually receive great attention, pollinators or insects do not. Yet pollinators and insects, along with plants, provide the foundation of life on earth. One of the aims of the application process is promoting public awareness of the needs of butterflies, moths, bees and other pollinators. The application requires you to list what you have to support pollinators in your garden in a number of categories. These include the following: 1. A list of plants that support butterflies and caterpillars. (The milkweed plant, which supports monarch butterflies, is a required plant.) 2. A list of plants that support pollinators by blooming through spring, summer, and fall. 3. A list of five host plants. (Host plants are specific plants upon which butterflies will lay their eggs and on these plants only, as the leaves of these plants will nourish their young caterpillars when they emerge from their eggs.) 4. A water or puddling source. 5. A basking site. Butterflies seek the warmth of the sun, as they need a certain temperature to fly. 6. Shelter from predators and the weather.
Continued on next page
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Page 5
School gardens foster an increased awareness of important environmental issues and can serve as a focus for teaching the following:
Role of pollinators in nature Support needed for our declining pollinator population Native versus invasive or alien plants Composting and recycling Monarch butterfly migration over Georgia Respect for good soil Pollinators' needs through different seasons Importance of host plants for butterflies Appreciating and understanding the role of bees Crop production through pollination management A certified pollinator garden provides a focus to a garden and is a fun way to expand curricula and gain student interest. A garden not only instills ownership and pride in a school, but also provides a sense of accomplishment for creating a beautiful space. Gardens also offer a focus for community service and a chance to involve our parents and community as well.
An artist at the Fernbank Science Center designed the Monarchs Across Georgia
Certified Pollinator Garden sign. The application process involves filling out a form located at the Monarchs Across Georgia
website:
http://www.monarchsacrossga.org/MAGCertification.php
You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him. ~ Leo Aikman

Page 6
When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice. ~ William James

Page 7
The 42nd Annual Conference on Children's Literature will be held at the Georgia Center on March 4th and 5th, 2011
Featured Speakers: Alma Flor Ada is author of The Gold Coin, winner of the Christopher Medal, Under the Royal Palms, winner of the Pura Belpr Medal, and My Name is Maria Isabel, a NCSS and CBC Notable Book. She is Professor Emerita at the University of San Francisco. http://almaflorada.com/
M. T. Anderson is the author of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation., Volume I: The Pox Party, winner of the National Book Award; The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation., Volume II: The Kingdom of the Waves, a Michael L. Printz Honor for literary excellence in young adult literature, and Feed, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner. He also is author of the Pals in Peril series. http://www.mt-anderson.com/
Karen Beaumont is author of I Ain't Gonna Paint No More, winner of the 2009-10 Georgia Picture Storybook Award. Her other books include: Dance the Polka, I Like Myself, and Doggone Dogs. http://www.karenbeaumont.com/
Gail Gibbons is among the most prolific and distinguished authors of non-fiction for young readers. Her recent books include: Hurricanes!; Tornadoes!; Snakes; Alligators and Crocodiles, and Elephants of Africa. http://www.gailgibbons.com/books.html
Mary Downing Hahn is author of three Georgia Children's Books Award winners: The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story; Time for Andrew and, most recently, Deep and Dark and Dangerous. She also has won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Stepping on the Cracks http://www.hmhbooks.com/features/mdh/
The person you are is the person your children become. Show love and compassion, self-control and discipline; seek knowledge and demonstrate good values. ~ John Wooden

Page 8

10 Reasons Why the Internet Is This poster can be purchased. One-hundred percent of the proceeds

No Substitute for a Library
By Mark Y. Herring
Dean of library services
Dacus Library

go to the library development fund at Winthrop University. http:// www2.winthrop.edu/dacus/about/ ordertenreasonsposter.htm.

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Reading, said the great English essayist Matthew Arnold, is culture. Given the condition of reading test scores among school children nationwide, it isn't surprising to find both our nation and our culture in trouble. Further, the rush to Internetize all schools, particularly K12, adds to our downward spiral. If it were not for the Harry Potter books one might lose all hope who languishes here. Then, suddenly, you realize libraries really are in trouble, grave danger, when important higher-education officials opine, Don't you know the Internet has made libraries obsolete? Gadzooks! as Harry himself might say.

In an effort to save our culture, strike a blow for reading, and, above all, correct the well-intentioned but horribly misguided notions about what is fast becoming Intertopia among many nonlibrarian bean counters, here are 10 reasons why the Internet is no substitute for a library.

Not Everything Is on the Internet
With over one billion Web pages you couldn't tell it by looking. Nevertheless, very few substantive materials are on the Internet for free. For example, only about 8% of all journals are on the Web, and an even smaller fraction of books are there. Both are costly! If you want the Journal of Biochemistry, Physics Today, Journal of American History, you'll pay, and to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Needle (Your Search) in the Haystack (the Web)
The Internet is like a vast uncataloged library. Whether you're using Hotbot, Lycos, Dogpile, Infoseek, or any one of a dozen other search or metasearch engines, you're not searching the entire Web. Sites often promise to search everything but they can't deliver. Moreover, what they do search is not updated daily, weekly, or even monthly, regardless of what's advertised. If a librarian told you, Here are 10 articles on Native Americans. We have 40 others but we're not going to let you see them, not now, not yet, not until you've tried another search in another library, you'd throw a fit. The Internet does this routinely and no one seems to mind.

I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love. ~ Mother Teresa

Quality Control Doesn't Exist
Yes, we need the Internet, but in addition to all the scientific, medical, and historical information (when accurate), there is also a cesspool of waste. When young people aren't getting their sex education off XXX-rated sites, they're learning politics from the Freeman Web page, or race relations from Klan sites. There is no quality control on the Web, and there isn't likely to be any. Unlike libraries where vanity press publications are rarely, if ever, collected, vanity is often what drives the Internet. Any fool can put up anything on the Web, and, to my accounting, all have.

Page 9

What You Don't Know Really Does Hurt You
The great boon to libraries has been the digitization of journals. But full-text sites, while grand, aren't always full. What you don't know can hurt you:
1. articles on these sites are often missing, among other things, footnotes; 2. tables, graphs, and formulae do not often show up in a readable fashion (especially when
printed); and
3. journal titles in a digitized package change regularly, often without warning.
A library may begin with X number of journals in September and end with Y number in May. Trouble is, those titles aren't the same from September to May. Although the library may have paid $100,000 for the access, it's rarely notified of any changes. I would not trade access to digitized journals for anything in the world, but their use must be a judicious, planned, and measured one, not full, total, and exclusive reliance.

States Can Now Buy One Book and Distribute to Every Library on the Web--NOT!
Yes, and we could have one national high school, a national university, and a small cadre of faculty teaching everybody over streaming video. Let's take this one step further and have only digitized sports teams for real savings! (Okay, I know, I've insulted the national religion.) Since 1970 about 50,000 academic titles have been published every year. Of these 1.5 million titles, fewer than a couple thousand are available. What is on the Net are about 20,000 titles published before 1925. Why? No copyright restrictions that cause prices to soar to two or three times their printed costs. Finally, vendors delivering ebooks allow only one digitized copy per library. If you check out an e-book over the Web, I can't have it until you return it. Go figure, as they say. And if you're late getting the book back, there is no dog-ate-my-homework argument. It's charged to your credit card automatically.

Hey, Bud, You Forgot about E-book Readers
Most of us have forgotten what we said about microfilm (It would shrink libraries to shoebox size), or when educational television was invented (We'll need fewer teachers in the future). Try reading an e-book reader for more than a half-hour. Headaches and eyestrain are the best results. Besides, if what you're reading is more than two pages long, what do you do? Print it. Where's a tree hugger when you really need one? Moreover, the cost of readers runs from $200 to $2,000, the cheaper ones being harder on the eyes. Will this change? Doubtless, but right now there's no market forces making it change. Will it change in less than 75 years? Unlikely!
Continued on next page

Aren't There Library-less Universities Now?

Page 10

No. The newest state university in California at Monterey opened without a library building a few years ago. For the last two years, they've been buying books by the tens of thousands because--surprise, surprise--they couldn't find what they needed on the Internet. California Polytechnic State University, home of the world's highest concentration of engineers and computer geeks, explored the possibility of a virtual (fully electronic) library for two years. Their solution was a $42-million traditional library with, of course, a strong electronic component. In other words, a fully virtualized library just can't be done. Not yet, not now, not in our lifetimes.

But a Virtual State Library Would Do It, Right?
Do what, bankrupt the state? Yes, it would. The cost of having everything digitized is incredibly high, costing tens of millions of dollars just in copyright releases. And this buys only one virtual library at one university. Questia Media, the biggest such outfit, just spent $125 million digitizing 50,000 books released (but not to libraries!) in January. At this rate, to virtualize a medium-sized library of 400,000 volumes would cost a mere $1,000,000,000! Then you need to make sure students have equitable access everywhere they need it, when they need it. Finally, what do you do with rare and valuable primary sources once they are digitized? Take them to the dump? And you must hope the power never, ever goes out. Sure, students could still read by candlelight, but what would they be reading?

The Internet: A Mile Wide, an Inch (or Less) Deep
Looking into the abyss of the Internet is like vertigo over a void. But the void has to do not only with what's there, but also with what isn't. Not much on the Internet is more than 15 years old. Vendors offering magazine access routinely add a new year while dropping an earlier one. Access to older material is very expensive. It'll be useful, in coming years, for students to know (and have access to) more than just the scholarly materials written in the last 10 to 15 years.

The Internet Is Ubiquitous but Books Are Portable
In a recent survey of those who buy electronic books, more than 80% said they like buying paper books over the Internet, not reading them on the Web. We have nearly 1,000 years of reading print in our bloodstream and that's not likely to change in the next 75. Granted, there will be changes in the delivery of electronic materials now, and those changes, most of them anyway, will be hugely beneficial. But humankind, being what it is, will always want to curl up with a good book--not a laptop--at least for the foreseeable future.

The Web is great; but it's a woefully poor substitute for a full-service library. It is mad idolatry to make it more than a tool. Libraries are icons of our cultural intellect, totems to the totality of knowledge. If we make them obsolete, we've signed the death warrant to our collective national conscience, not to mention sentencing what's left of our culture to the waste bin of history. No one knows better than librarians just how much it costs to run a library. We're always looking for ways to trim expenses while not contracting service. The Internet is marvelous, but to claim, as some now do, that it's making libraries obsolete is as silly as saying shoes have made feet unnecessary.
Reprinted with permission. This article originally appeared in American Libraries, April 2001, p. 7678.
To purchase this poster see page 8

AJC and Students!

Page 11

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is proud to work with our educators who use the newspaper as an instructional tool to promote literacy. Today's technology allows teachers and students to receive the daily newspaper seven days a week from anywhere there is an internet connection. In addition, we provide materials and special supplements all conveniently online. And, at NO EXTRA COST!! This service is provided to you from our loyal subscribers and their donation to this educational program.
In School Training Opportunities
Administrators and teachers may request a onsite training session for all staff members. This training session will go over all the functions of the E-Edition as well as go over the resources available to teachers. Training sessions can be administered in as little as 30 minutes or up to an hour. The choice is yours to decide how much time you would like to use. To contact about having a training session email Patrick White at pwhite@ajc.com<mailto:pwhite@ajc.com> with the subject line "Training Session "or call 404-526-7891. Training times are determined by the discretion of the teacher or school.
2010-2011 School Year registration
Registration for the 2010-2011 school year begins Monday August 2nd. Simply go to our website<http://edu.ajc.com/> and complete the sign up process. Be sure to check your email after registering to validate your email and activate your account. Remember, there is no cost to you or to your school for this service. Benefits of AJC in Education [cid:image007.jpg@01CB450A.B133C2A0] Websites for Teachers
http://www.nieteacher.org/ajcnie/ Over 300 instructional resources are provided including many high quality teacher guides, serial stories, student supplements, character education materials, numerous subject-specific resources, video & audio teacher training modules, and the popular NIE Instructional Calendar. These resources address the goals of No Child Left Behind and the research- and standards-based curriculum focus of schools and teachers. There are curriculum materials for every subject area and grade level. Resources are listed below with brief descriptions. Click on any resource to access it. All resources may be copied for classroom use or for homework assignments.

http://www.refdesk.com/ The most comprehensive learning website on the web. Stocked daily with new information and activities for teachers. Teachers will no doubt use this website as a main resource in their classrooms.
http://newseducation.hotapplepie.wikispaces.net/ Teachers! The news-related lesson plans offer an easy way to integrate technology into your program. There are writing assignments with instruction, video and polling, informational text with interactive comprehension quizzes and much more. They're easy to use and make use of the latest in technology's learning tools.

Additional Information
Contact us at: http://edu.ajc.com ajcteachers@ajc.com 404-526-7891

Page 12
1965 Georgia School Information (with updates) 196 local systems (159 county systems and 37 independent systems) In 2010 there are 180 systems 1,942 schools 2010: 2271 37,822 teachers 2010: 115,277 full time teachers and 5,383 part time teachers 4,947 school buses carrying nearly a half million students 2009: 19,839 buses carrying 1.4 million students twice a day 1,130,482 estimated enrollment for 1964-1965 2010: 1,667,685 students $5,040 estimated average teacher salary 2010: $52,823.17 Estimated per child expenditure in Georgia for the 1964-65 school year is $330. In 2005-2006 : $9,433

Loothkehyo1ww9e2sr5me! ianrt

From the Manual for Georgia Teachers (1925)

Who will see to it that all of Georgia schools are supplied with books? It is idle to argue the value of a library to a school and community. This surely needs no argument now--certainly not in a teacher's manual. The question concerning us is, how shall the 11,751 elementary schools be supplied with library books?

1. In the first place, county Boards of Education must be brought to realize that the rural school library is as much a part of the school equipment as desk, blackboards, stoves and textbooks. No school shall be called a standard school that does not have a dictionary , maps, and a library. No high school can get any credit or receive any special state aid without a well equipped library.

2. Over 38 states in the Union are appropriating funds every year for rural school libraries. Georgia can not solve the problem without such aid from the school funds. Beginning with January, 1921 every county is required to levy a school tax. Let the county board, from the very beginning, set aside from one to two percent of this county local tax for library purposes.

3. The county School Superintendent should appoint at the beginning of the year a teachers committee of five of libraries to act with him in library matters. This committee should report once a month to the county teachers and to the public through the county appears.

Joseph of old stored up grain in times of plenty for the lean years, and saved the nation. May not all resolve that we give to the youth of Georgia the riches stored in library books in the schools of the state? Who doubts that many leaders will come from these to bless the state?

Dr. Jos. S. Stewart N.H. Ballard, Superintendent

The Role of School Librarians in Promoting the Use of Educational Technologies

Page 13

School librarians perform an integral role in promoting the effective use of educational technologies in their schools.

About School Librarians

School librarians are professionals who hold teaching degrees, as well as librarian certification. School librarians may also be referred to as teacher-librarians or library media specialists.

School librarians are in unique positions within their schools because they:

collaborate with all teachers in the building across grade levels and subject disciplines. work with all students throughout the students' academic careers.

are instructional leaders in their schools who serve on curriculum, school improvement, and planning committees.

frequently provide professional development to their colleagues in areas related to instructional and technology resources.

teach a wide range of local, state, and national curriculum, information literacy, and technology standards, including all ISTE NETS standards.

serve as the primary technology "integration specialist" in their buildings.

About School Libraries

Libraries support the curriculum, promote literacy development, and foster lifelong reading habits among children through the development of carefully selected print collections and the infusion of educational technology.

Libraries provide:

a wealth of educational resources for students in the form of online databases; eBooks; audio books; online catalogs; creativity and research tools; and professionally vetted websites that are available at school and home.

ready access to technology hardware, including computers, printers, assistive technologies for special needs students, presentation equipment, digital readers, and cameras, as well as a variety of specialized educational software and online applications.

equitable access to technology for students of all income levels.

flexible, broadly available access points for technology whether the school uses computer labs, portable devices, or a hybrid model.

a location that encourages individual study, group collaboration, and large group presentations.

Continued on next page

About School Librarians & Educational Technology

Page 14

School librarians play a critical role in the infusion of educational technology in their schools. In particular, they:
support the use of technology throughout the school by working closely with the school's technology coordinator or fill the role of technology coordinator when a separate position does not exist.
serve as information literacy and educational technology specialists in their schools.
address educational technology and information literacy skills instruction embedded in the curriculum.
provide technology training for teachers, administrators, and parents.
work with teachers, counselors, and administrators to prepare students to succeed in higher education, the work place, and in society.
help students develop important digital citizenry attributes to demonstrate responsible use of information and technology.
provide leadership in the development of local information and technology literacy standards.
Educational Technology Issues Faced by School Librarians Today
In today's difficult economic times, many school districts have chosen to cut non-classroom teaching positions. These cuts run counter to a large body of research that indicates that a strong library program, staffed by certified school librarians, correlates with significantly greater student achievement. Short term savings are obliterated by long-term consequences of denying students equitable access to educational resources and instruction provided by the school's information literacy specialists and technologists - school librarians. As schools close their libraries or staff them with non-certificated personnel, students lose access to professionally managed print and electronic resources. At an unprecedented time in history when students require development of complex information literacy and technology skills to succeed, a robust school library program is a prerequisite to success.
School librarian needs include:
adequate funding for technology, including sufficient connectivity, electrical access, hardware, software, subscription databases, and online tools to equitably support research and inquiry-based learning.
access to relevant professional development that supports them in maintaining currency in their knowledge of educational technology and its applications.
funding and incentives to assist school districts in committing to staffing all school libraries with certified school library professionals and appropriate support staff.
language in legislation that specifically highlights the inclusion of school librarians to ensure that these critical professional positions are not eliminated due to ambiguity and misinformed prioritization.
Prepared by the ISTE SIGMS Executive Advocacy Committee. Contact Lisa Perez, SIGMS Chair, atleperez333@gmail.com with comments and questions.

Page 15
10 Reasons to Attend the COMO 2010 Conference in Athens
October 13-15, 2010 http://www.georgiacomo.org/
1. Wednesday Library Movie Night featuring the documentary, "The Hollywood Librarian", followed by "Party Girl" with free prizes and movie munchies 2. Technology and Evolution. Learn about the role of gadgets and portable computing from keynote speaker Michael Porter also known as "Library Man" 3. Book cart drill competition teams in costumes to choreographed music go for the gold, silver, and bronze prizes 4. Awards luncheon with AECT President Michael Spector. Recognize our great media specialists of the year and see what they are doing 5. Authors' Reception to meet Georgia authors 6. Nine exciting free pre-conference programs and tours as well as a morning fun run/walk 7. 2.0 librarians Buffy Hamilton, Cliff Landis, and Tim Daniels in an engaging panel. How Media, Technology, and Society are Reshaping the Future of Libraries 8. Exhibitors' Hall 9. Over 30 concurrent sessions just for media specialists 10. Socializing and networking with librarians from all over the state. Come celebrate with old friends and introduce yourself to new ones!
Register now at http://www.georgiacomo.org/
You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~ Desmond Tutu

We will lead the nation in improving student achievement.

Georgia Department of Education
1754 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Dive Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-657-9800 Fax: 404-656-5744 E-mail: jserrite@doe.k12.ga.us

Page 16

Welcome back to school! GPB Education wants to know what you love about us! Share with us how you use our GPB Digital Education resources (Discovery Education/United Streaming) and why you and your students love it. Georgia Public Broadcasting is also making a difference by bringing an enormous range of locally-produced content into your classroom including Georgia Stories, Physics and Chemistry, Georgia Traveler, Salsa, GPBKids.org and much more. Let us know how great these materials are and what you need so that we can continue to serve Georgia students and educators with media content for the 21st century. Simply share your thoughts and you'll be entered to win one of 100 Visa gift cards worth $25 to use in your classroom!
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22B3CUJDYHK
Thank you for supporting GPB!

Dr. Nancy Brown was recently honored with the "Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award" in the College of Education at Georgia State. She has taught/mentored many outstanding Library Media Specialists and is very proud of her students.
Congratulations Nancy!
In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~ Albert Schweitzer

Page 17
Georgia's Native Habitats at the Georgia Aquarium
Come learn about some of Georgia's amazing aquatic habitats through interactive lessons from Georgia Native Waters and Project WET. The workshop will include a combination of hands-on activities from the two curricula, exhibit tours, and group discussion to promote awareness, conservation, and appreciation of Georgia's natural habitats.
Location: Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA 30313
Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010 from 3:30 PM 8:30 PM Friday, September 24, 2010 from 8:00 AM 4:000 PM
*Must attend both days to receive 1 PLU
Targeted Audience: Workshop will be geared for educators of grades 2 5. However, all classroom educators are welcome.
Registration fee: $25.00 per person for curricula, resource materials, dinner and lunch and access to the aquarium ($100 value).
Deadline for registration is September 10, 2010. Register early, as there are only 20 spaces. Directions and program details mailed out upon registration.
Cancellation policy: Full refund given if notice is at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Georgia's Native Waters: Designed to be more than conservation education, it is an interdisciplinary set of environmental education lessons and over 55 activities for kindergarten through twelfth grade students that inspire them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations through the investigation of many of Georgia's amazing aquatic ecosystems, while at the same time connecting how community values can impact these areas.
Project WET facilitates and promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids. The curriculum guide contains over 90 broad-based water resource activities that were developed and field-tested by over 600 educators and resource managers working with 34,000 students nationwide.

Georgia's Native Seasons and The Leopold Education Project Workshop

Location: Cobb County Water System 662 S. Cobb Drive Marietta, GA 30006

Date: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Tuesday, October 26, 2010

3:30 PM 8:30 PM (The Leopold Education Project) 3:30 PM 8:30 PM (Georgia's Native Seasons)

*Must attend both days to receive 1 PLU Audience: Classroom teachers, non-formal educators, scout and youth leaders, home school educators, or anyone interested in the environment.

Cost: $38 for both days includes curricula, resources, & make and takes Deadline for registration is October 2. Directions and program details mailed out upon registration.

Continued on next page

Cancellation policy: Full refund given if notice is at least two weeks prior to the workshop date.

Page 18

Georgia's Native Seasons: When you study the natural world you discover that life has few definite beginnings and endings, but rather passes through stages that are part of a continuing cycle. In this interactive workshop you will explore the changes that occur in the flora and fauna throughout the Georgia seasons. The over 120 hands-on activities are great addition to any outdoor classroom lesson plan. Curriculum and resources provided.

The Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an innovative, interdisciplinary, critical thinking, conservation and environmental education curriculum based on the classic writings of the renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold. The Leopold Education Project teaches the public about humanity's ties to the natural environment in the effort to conserve and protect the earth's natural resources. It compliments existing EE curricula. Participants will receive the Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold and an 87-page curriculum guide.

Project WILD and Georgia's Native Seasons
Location: Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center 543 Elliott Trail Mansfield, GA 30055-2302
Date and Times: Friday, January 21, 2011 4:00 PM 9:00 PM Saturday, January 22, 2011 8:30 AM 2:00 PM
*Must attend both days to receive 1 PLU
Georgia's Native Seasons: As the seasons revolve, many organisms alter their routines to compensate for the changing temperatures and available food. In this interactive workshop you will explore the changes that occur in the flora and fauna throughout the Georgia seasons. Interdisciplinary activities promote critical thinking and problem solving skills, and are a great addition to any outdoor classroom lesson plan. Curriculum and many additional resources provided.
Project WILD: The program emphasizes the intrinsic and ecological values of wildlife, as well as its importance as a basis for teaching how ecosystems function. In the face of competing needs and pressures affecting the quality and sustainability of life on earth, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet. Curriculum and resources provided.
Registration fee: $38.00 per person for both days or $25.00 for one day. Deadline for registration is January 11. Directions and program details mailed out upon registration. Cancellation policy: Full refund given if notice is at least two weeks prior to the workshop date.

Let's Go Native! Georgia's Native Seasons and Native Waters Workshop

Location:

Funk Heritage Center Reinhardt College 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway Waleska, GA 30183

Date and Times:

Friday, January 28, 2011 4:30 PM 8:30 PM Saturday, January 29, 2011 9:00 AM 3:00 PM *Must attend both days to receive 1 PLU

Continued on next page

Page 19
Registration fee: $35.00 per person, includes 2 curricula and numerous resources. Deadline for registration is January 22. Directions and program details mailed out upon registration.
Cancellation policy: Full refund given if notice is at least two weeks prior to the workshop date.
Georgia's Native Waters: Designed to be more than conservation education this curriculum is 212 pages of interdisciplinary lessons and over 55 activities for kindergarten through twelfth grade students that inspire them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations through the investigation of many of Georgia's amazing aquatic ecosystems as found in each of Georgia's five diverse eco-regions, while at the same time connecting how community values can impact these areas.
Georgia's Native Seasons: When you study the natural world you discover that life has few definite beginnings and endings, but rather passes through stages that are part of a continuing cycle. As the seasons revolve, many organisms alter their routines to compensate for the changing temperatures and available food. In this interactive workshop you will explore the changes that occur in the flora and fauna throughout the Georgia seasons
Join us for a hands-on, interactive workshops packed with new ideas and techniques to enhance your current lesson plans. Workshops scheduled throughout the state and throughout the year for grades K 12. Register online or by using the form below. PLUs available to those county's still requiring continuing education.
Registration Form
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location of workshop: __________________________________ Date: ___________________________ First Name: _______________________________ Last Name: __________________________
Educational Facility's Name: ______________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: __________ Zip Code: ______________
Phone Number: (________) _______________________
Email: _________________________________________ Grade(s) taught: ________________
Amount Due: ____________________
Make check out to: Georgia Conservancy or pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express
Credit Card # _____________________________________ Exp. Date: ___________________
Mail payment to: Karen Garland, Georgia Conservancy, 817 W. Peachtree St. Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30308 - or register online at www.georgiaconservancy/Events/List.asp

Page 20

Have you been following the Exquisite Corpse Adventure on the Library of Congress's read.gov website? Now you can listen to the story as well. The Library has created podcasts for each chapter. Click on the links that say Hear It for each chapter.

Want to encourage your students to create their own

Exquisite Corpse adventure?

Go to :

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/fun/

exquisiteprompt and find links to writing activities you

can

use with your students.

In addition, students can enter a contest and have their writing published online and have a visit either online or in person with one of the authors or illustrators of the Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

Good News from Becky Chambers ~ GaDOE Program Manager for College Readiness:
You will recall that I sent you a message on May 6 reporting that the FY11 state budget did not include sufficient funding to allow the state to enter into another contract year providing the SAT Online Prep Course for our students and teachers. That status has not changed. However, the College Board has contacted GaDOE to let us know that SAT Online is being extended to all high schools until November 1, 2010!! Your students and teachers may continue to work in this fabulous resource, at no cost to the state or your high school, until November 1.
All students and teachers with active accounts last year are still active in the program. You may generate access codes for new students (or any not previously registered) by using the Manage Student Access Codes under the Class Management tab.
If you need any assistance generating student access codes or obtaining teacher activation codes, contact my colleague, Georgia McSwain,
gmcswain@doe.k12.ga.us.
Access to this resource should really help your juniors and seniors planning on taking the SAT this fall!!
I'm glad to be able to share a bit of good news.
As always, thank you for what you do every day to support Georgia students.

Georgia Educational Technology Conference GaETC 2010: Explore - Engage - Empower November 3-5, 2010 Georgia International Convention Center College Park, Georgia
GaETC 2010 is rapidly approaching and promises to be an exciting professional learning opportunity for all of us! We're anticipating an entertaining opening keynote session by Jeanne Robertson, former educator and professional speaker. For conference registration information, go to: http://www.gaetc.org/reginfo10.htm
WORKSHOPS While registering, be sure to consider a conference workshop. We have a wide range of workshop topics on the latest issues and trends in educational technology. For more information, go to: http://www.gaetc.org/workshops10/ workshops10.htm
DEADLINE FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS IS QUICKLY APPROACHING! The application deadline for Concurrent Sessions, Bring Your Own Laptop sessions, Poster Sessions, and Student Showcase presentations is quickly approaching. Don't miss this opportunity to gain exposure for your school, district, and to showcase the great work you are doing. Submit your online application by September 5th by going to: http://www.gaetc.org/sessions10_app.htm
We look forward to seeing you at the conference in November!
Dr. Brian Blanton Conference Chair
Hoke Wilcox Associate Conference Chair
Monica Lanier Associate Conference Chair
Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you. ~ H. Jackson Brown

September 2010

Georgia Department of Education

Su nday

Mond ay

Tuesday

Aug u st SM TW T F S
1234567 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Octob er
SM TW T F S
12 3456789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Wed nesday

Thu rsday

1

2

Rosa Guy ~ 1928 Eugene Fiel d~ 1850-1895

Fr iday
3
1783~ Treat y of Paris signed

Satu rd ay
4
Richard Wright~19081960

5
Paul Fleischman~ 1952-

6
1901: What happened to P res id en t Wi lliam McKinl ey on this day

7

8

9

Jacob

Jon

Leo Tol stoy~

Lawrence~1917- Sci eszka~1954- 1828-1910

2000

10 11
Roy Doty~1922- O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) ~1862-1910

12 13
Russians launch What did Roald 1st rocket to the Dahl write? moon: 1959

14
John Steptoe~19501989

15
Tomie dePaola born: 1934-

16
Who loves Curi ous George? H. A. Rey~ 1898-1977

17
Work begins on the Hoover Dam~1930

18
We salute the US Air Force!

19 20 21 22

Who is Arthur Sue El len Bri dgers H.G. Wells~1866- Stephen

Rackham? 1867- born~ 1942-

1946

King~1947-

1939

23 24 25

Lewis and Cl ark Birthday ofF. Wi lliamFaulkner

complet e expedi- Scot t

born~1897-1962

tion: 1806

Fitzgerald~1896-

1940

26 27 28

George Gershwin 1930: Bobby 1918: Flu

born~1898

Jones wins U.S. epi demi c hits

T.S. El iot~1888- Amateur titl e Phil adelphi a

1965

29 30
Stan Berenstain Who is Elie born: 1923-2005 Wi esel?

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. ~T.S.TE.lioSt. Eliot