BUCKS COUNTY READING OLYMPICSDuplicate the Success!

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 CompetitionsAt 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 Committee2008 370 teams 168 schools Six host buildings Three nights 750 volunteers 30 member Executive Committee

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BUCKS COUNTY READING OLYMPICS 2008 STATISTICS

DistrictsSchoolsTeamsStudentsDistrict

InvolvedElemMidSrElemMidSrElemMidSrStudent

Totals

Bensalem62116561605060270

Bristol Boro100100100010

Bristol Twp.93113311303010170

Centennial62118411804010230

Central Bucks154460996009090780

Council Rock103223432304030300

Morrisville11111110101030

Neshaminy7411014110014010250

New Hope11143140301080

Other300300300030

Palisades311841804010130

Pennridge7301640160400200

Pennsbury113231823108020410

Private Schools151622730427030040610

Quakertown82213331303030190

Vo-Tech-Lower111010

2008 TOTALS103452024492342,4409203403,700

2007 TOTALS1044115252862625208602603640

2006 TOTALS10713118242943024209403003660

2005 TOTALS1034614241912524109102503570

2004 TOTALS1034412252932225209302203670

2003 TOTALS924213229912122909102103410

2002 TOTALS92379223851522308501503230

2001 TOTALS873812211881821108801803170

Estimate of 10 per team

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A Year in the Life of

Bucks County Reading Olympics

May Results of previous competition mailed along with the Book Lists for the next years competition.

See Handouts.

Building and dates are finalized for the next year.June

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!Bucks County Reading Olympics 2008Strayer Middle SchoolTuesday, April 15 - ELWilliam Penn Middle SchoolTuesday, April 15 JR/SR

Bucks County Technical High SchoolWednesday, April 16 - ELMill Creek Elementary SchoolWednesday, April 16 - ELNeshaminy High SchoolWednesday, April 16 - ELCouncil 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 3s or 4s

APPROVED

REJECTEDREJECTED

REJECTEDREJECTED

REJECTEDREJECTED

APPROVED

Event Building CoordinatorsThe 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 years competition.

This task alternates among the three Intermediate Units that utilize the same book lists.Summer

SeptemberFALL 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.

FallTeachers 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 theyve read.Reading Olympic Coaches send initial parent paperwork listing student and parent responsibilities home. Signatures required.

Whats Happening in the Schools?See Handouts.

Questions are typed, proofread, checked, and selected for the next competition.

Fall

JanuaryWhats 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.

JANUARY LETTER AND FINAL REGISTRATION FORM MAILED

See Handouts.January

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 years 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.aspxhttp://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 Whats 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

Whats 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 OrganizationBucks County Intermediate Unit 22Executive CommitteeBook SelectionQuestion QualityInstructional Materials and TrainingScheduling CompetitionsPublic RelationsCommunicationQuestion DatabaseManage CompetitionsElementary Building 1Elementary Building 2SecondaryBuilding Elementary Building 4Elementary Building 3

Reading Olympics ManagementBucks County Intermediate Unit Provides:County-wide management and coordinationManages team registrationReceives fees and pay billsLeads the Executive CommitteeCoordinates mailings and communicationManages database of questionsOrganizes the eventWorks with the various Committees and host buildingsOther agencies can get involved!

Reading Olympics Executive CommitteeThe 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.

HoorayAnother Successful Yearhttp://www.bucksiu.org/olympics