bucks county reading olympics duplicate the success!
TRANSCRIPT
Why Are We Here?
Introduce the Reading Olympics program
Discuss the involvement needed
Answer questions about specifics
What Is Reading Olympics?
County-wide, extracurricular program
Encourages reading for students of all ability levels throughout school year
Involves students grades 4 through 12 in elementary, middle/jr. and senior high levels
Every district and 35 private schools participate
Rave reviews from students, teachers and parents
How Does the Program Work? Professionals choose 45 books for each level in spring of year preceding competition
Volunteers read books and write questions during summer months
Students form teams of 8 to 12 members
Teams read all 45 books, occasionally meeting for discussion and sharing
Readers demonstrate knowledge and receive rewards at evening competition
How Is the Program Organized? Executive Committee of 15 - 25 volunteers Vital support from the Bucks County IU and Bucks County Free Library One District Coordinator from each district / school participating One coordinator from each participating building to oversee teams, train volunteers, communicate with committee Two teachers per team assist at competition Host buildings provide support
Book selection Question quality control/Proofreading Orientation/Training Scheduling Public Relations Supply Inventory Manage Competitions
At least five people for each of the locationsBuilding Coordinator & Building Contact Person
Executive Committee Subcommittees
Why District Coordinators? Share responsibilities and improve communication
Assures quality program and safety
At least one person per district
3 year commitment Year 1 to learn; year 2 to lead; year 3 to teach
Preserves Reading Olympics for the future
Whom Will I Ask for District Coordinator?
District Leader in Language Arts, Librarian, Reading Specialist Current Building Coordinator Current Team Leader or “Coach” Dynamic leader with experience in other programs Dedicated reader Retired Personnel
What Is Working Well?
1994 64 teams 30 schools One host building One night 75 volunteers 3 member
Executive
Committee
2008 370 teams 168 schools Six host buildings Three nights 750 volunteers 30 member
Executive
Committee
May
Results of previous competition mailed along with the Book Lists for the next year’s competition.
See Handouts.
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!Bucks County Reading Olympics 2008
Strayer Middle SchoolTuesday, April 15 - EL
William Penn Middle SchoolTuesday, April 15 – JR/SR
Bucks County Technical High SchoolWednesday, April 16 - EL
Mill Creek Elementary SchoolWednesday, April 16 - EL
Neshaminy High SchoolWednesday, April 16 - EL
Council Rock High School NorthThursday, April 17 – JR/SR
Depending on the number of participants you may need 1-5
competition locations (buildings).
What determines a good
location (building)?
Besides location, location, location!
Requirements for Host Buildings 35 to 40 rooms each for elementary 30 to 40 rooms for secondary Use of auditorium and gymnasium for awards
ceremonies Adequate parking and access Cooperation of administration, faculty and staff Proximity to participating districts and schools Building Contact Person
See Handouts
USABLE CLASSROOM SPACEWhat determines a usable classroom?
• Can accommodate up to 32 students + spectators.
• CAN NOT have equipment or many personal items in the classroom (science rooms, family consumer science rooms, rooms full of personal items)
• Classrooms that are easily grouped by 3’s or 4’s
Event Building Coordinators
The event building coordinator is a member of the executive committee.
The role of event building coordinator is critical to the success of Reading Olympics. The event building coordinator works with the building contact to help ensure that all the necessary steps to ensure a successful event are being completed.
Teachers and librarians are recruited to read new titles placed on the book lists, and write questions for these books for the next year’s competition.
This task alternates among the three Intermediate Units that utilize the same book lists.
Summer
September
FALL PACKETS mailed out with buildings/dates/book lists and pre-registration forms.
See Handouts
October
Pre-registration forms are due for a team to remain on the mailing lists.
Orientation for “New Building Coordinators” is facilitated by Executive Committee members.
Fall
Teachers recruit members of teams, distribute book lists and paperwork, encourage reading. Start meeting monthly with the students. Students hand in questions and answers for the books they’ve read.
Reading Olympic Coaches send initial parent paperwork listing student and parent responsibilities home. Signatures required.
What’s Happening in the Schools?
See Handouts.
JanuaryWhat’s Happening in the Schools?
Teachers decide on the number of teams, team names, and plan motivational and discussion activities to encourage team members to read lots of books. T-shirt designs considered.
Meeting weekly with the teams, mock competitions.
FebruaryFinal Registration Form due (one per team),
$30 due/complete information needed.
At this time clerical staff is working behind the scenes preparing the question packets for each level of competition
FebruaryBook Selection meeting for next year’s
selection of books.
The lists are recycled every four years.
10 % - 15% of the titles from the list are replaced with new titles.
http://www.buckscounty.org/government/municipalities/Municipalities.aspx
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry
.com/~usgenweb/maps/
pa/county/chester/usgs/
Since partnering with Chester County and Montgomery County the task of selecting books for the book lists rotates in a three year cycle.
http://www.4wallsinphilly.com/searchmontco.htm
February/MarchExecutive Committee schedules teams in buildings, schedules moderators and scorekeepers and prepares competition schedules.
March
FINAL PACKET mailed including building assignment, team schedules, final instructions.
See Handouts
March What’s Happening in the Schools?
Teams meet more often usually twice a week. Team T-shirts ordered.
Final packet of competition information is sent home to parents (room numbers for each round, bus permission slip, and transportation information).
April
What’s Happening in the Schools?
Teams are meeting daily, holding mock competitions. The day of the competition students stay after school for a pizza party, and receive their t-shirts.
Let the Reading Olympics Celebration Begin!
Thousands of students work in teams of 8 -12 plus alternates to answer 40 questions from the 45 titles on the book list.
April
Students attend an awards ceremony in a central location in the school (gym, auditorium). An executive board member or a school administrator will moderate the ceremony calling the captains for each team to the ribbon table to collect the ribbons for their team. When all teams have been recognized the captain returns to their team to distribute the ribbons.
Another successful celebration has ended!
The Awards Ceremony
MayFinal report about the competition and Book
Lists for the next year are mailed to participants. Mini-report and statistics given to IU Board.
Reading Olympics Organization
Bucks County Intermediate Unit 22 Executive Committee
Book Selection
Question Quality
Instructional Materials and Training
Scheduling Competitions
Public Relations
Communication Question Database
Manage Competitions
Elementary Building 1
Elementary Building 2
Secondary
Building Elementary Building 4
Elementary Building 3
Reading Olympics Management
Bucks County Intermediate Unit Provides: County-wide management and coordination Manages team registration Receives fees and pay bills Leads the Executive Committee Coordinates mailings and communication Manages database of questions Organizes the event Works with the various Committees and host buildings
Other agencies can get involved!
Reading Olympics Executive Committee
The Reading Olympics Executive Committee meets several times throughout the year to plan for a successful event.
The RO Executive Committee is comprised of 33 school librarians, public librarians, teachers, and IU specialists.