Celebrating Reading Success!

Students in Liberty County from kindergarten to eighth grade participate in Accelerated Reader. Each elementary and middle school AR program is facilitated by the school media specialist. Students are administered the STAR Reading test at the very beginning of the grading period or at the very end of the previous grading period. The results from the assessment are used to calculate an individual reading goal for each student. The goal consists of a point goal, percentage goal, and a reading range goal. Students are informed of their goal and many schools have a visual reminder the students will bring to the media center. A reading log, shelf marker, or quick note may be added to their student's ID. The reminder helps students to pick books they will be successful at reading, and it helps the media center staff better assist the students.

Each school rewards students as they participate in the program. A visitor would notice the numerous motivational bulletin boards and displays celebrating students that earn 100% on a practice quiz or highlighting students that have met their individual goals. In addition to the displays, students' success is celebrated at the end of each grading period with a celebration.

Students that reach their goals are invited to attend the celebration.

Snelson Golden Middle School recently invited students to a Minute to Win It themed celebration. Students participated in a variety of challenges after being grouped onto teams. The challenges included tasks such as: stacking golf balls, stacking empty soda cans in a bowl of water, moving a cookie down from the forehead to the mouth without using hands, and knocking down water bottles using a pair of pantyhose and a softball. The middles school students delighted in participating in the games and watching their classmates attempt the tasks. The celebration was very popular!

When the school media specialist join together to discuss statistics, learn new technology, and procedures, it is also a time to share! It is always exciting to see the creative ideas each school brings to life to celebrate the success of the students.

The February Media Media opened with each media specialist participating in the Minute to Win It tasks used at the Snelson Golden Middle School celebration.

The tasks challenged and delighted the adult participants. Thank you, Ms. Cobb for sharing your wonderful idea! Other schools will benefit from your creativity!

Southern Regional Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

The day was wet and overcast, but the glum weather did not put a damper on the Liberty County teams at the seventh annual Southern Regional Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl! Student teams from Bradwell Institute, Liberty County High, Lewis Frasier Middle, Midway Middle, Joseph Martin Elementary, and Waldo Pafford Elementary made the three hour tip to Valdosta State University.

In addition to the Liberty County Schools, four different elementary schools competed at the bowl. Brittin Elementary, Crooked River Elementary, Matilda Harris Elementary, and Westside Elementary. Six additional middle schools competed: Camden Middle, JL Newbern Middle, St. Mary's Middle, Thomas County Middle, Valdosta Early College Academy, and Valdosta Middle. Four additional high schools competed in the bowl: Alfred Ely Beach High, Colquitt County High, Sol. C. Johnson High, and Thomas County Central High.

The elementary and high schools participated in a total of five rounds of competition for a total of five hundred possible points. The middle schools participated in a total of seven rounds for a total of seven hundred possible points. All of the teams showed mastery of the reading selections and demonstrated a keen understanding of the rules of the bowl.

Liberty County School System was proudly represented at the bowl! In fact, Joseph Martin Elementary earned first place. Matilda Harris Elementary earned second place, and Westside Elementary earned third place. Camden County Middle school earned first place. Midway Middle earned second place. Lewis Frasier Middle earned third place. Liberty County High School earned first place. Alfred Ely High earned second place, and Sol. C. Johnson earned third place.

The first and second placing teams will advance to the Division II bowl! Liberty County will be represented by not one, not two, but an impressive three teams!

The Liberty HRRB 2010-2011

Elementary, middle, and high school students across Liberty County have been working hard all year reading, reviewing, and practicing for the fifth annual Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. Reading is passion for many of these students, and the reading bowl offers a unique opportunity to celebrate their skills. The academic reading competition is possible with help from school media specialists, classroom teachers, instructional technology staff members, and retired educators.

Each year elementary and middle school students interested in participating in the student reading competition read books from the Georgia Children’s Book Award Nominee list for the current school year on their level. Students in the fourth and fifth grade qualify for participation in the bowl. This year elementary students read from a list containing seventeen books. The middle school reading list contained twenty books. In addition to reading books from the required list, students work as a team to create practice questions to review the facts from each book and prepare for the bowl by scrimmaging with a hand-held buzzer system.

Interested high school students also prepare for the bowl by reading, creating questions, and scrimmaging with a hand-held buzzer system. However, their reading list is taken from the Georgia Peach Book Awards for Teen Readers. The list for this year contained twenty books.

The middle and high school student teams participated in the Liberty County Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl on January 20th at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center. All of the middle and high schools were represented by their student teams. Several principals and parents attended to root for their school’s team. Student teams competed through six rounds of questions taken from their required reading list for a total of sixty questions. Student teams were enthusiastic and well-mannered!

The first place team for the middle school level was Lewis Frasier Middle School. The LFMS team was coached by their media specialist Dr. Sandy Jennings. Midway Middle School’s team took second place and was coached by Mrs. Cristina Dover.

Liberty County High School earned first place in the county reading bowl. The LCHS team was coached by Ms. Kay Williams, a media specialist for the high school. Mrs. Mrs. Amy Rhodes and Mrs. MaryAnn Scanlon served as assistant coaches for the LCHS team. Bradwell Institute’s reading bowl team took second place and was coached by Mrs. Nicole Lukkarinen, a media specialist at Bradwell. Mrs. Deborah Starkey served as an assistant coach for the BI team.

The elementary Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl was held January 21st at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center. All of the Liberty County elementary schools were represented by a team. First Presbyterian Christian Academy participated in the bowl for the first time. Several principals attended to support their school’s team. Parent attendance was also very high, filling the auditorium with eager spectators. The elementary teams participated in eight rounds of questions from their required reading list, for a total of eighty questions. All of the student teams showed focus and demonstrated excellent reading comprehension skill.

Joseph Martin Elementary School took first place in the reading bowl. Mrs. Elaine Walker, the school media specialist, was the lead coach. She was assisted by Ms. Rebecca Smith. Waldo Pafford Elementary School’s team placed second in the reading bowl. Mrs. Roxanne Lee, the school media specialist, was the coach foe WPE.

The first and second place teams from the elementary, middle, and high schools will advance to the Southern Regional Helen Ruffin Reading bowl which will be held February 5th at Valdosta State University. After the regional bowl, winning teams will advance to a divisional bowl and from there to the Georgia Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl in Athens. Both Joseph Martin Elementary and Liberty County High School have previously attended the state level of competition.

Preparing for the bowl takes a tremendous amount of dedication, many hours of reading, and practice. All of the student team members did an excellent job and are to be commended.