Saturday, April 6, 2013

Pass the Torch Linky


Get Ready for Bloggy Olympics!!!

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Join The 3AM Teacher, the Reading Olympians, and over 80 SUPREME education bloggers as we take you through a tour of the Reading Olympians Root Study Program!!

Reading Olympians 
I was so excited to read about the Reading Olympians Pass the Torch Linky opportunity. I have been wanting to use their fantastic program since I read about it while blog stalking.

I used the introduction as a mini-lesson embedded in a language arts lesson for a formal observation. My kids that were doing word work at centers, stopped to listen when they heard the small group react. So many of them have become huge Greek mythology followers with the Percy Jackson series. They rattled off the Greek gods and goddesses when I said each unit of study is named after one.

I didn't get pictures of the actual lesson with the kids, but I should have asked the assistant principal to snap some. He stayed well beyond the scheduled visit because he was hooked.


The program comes with everything you need to implement the root word study, minus copies of course. Included in the program are posters for each unit. I printed these in color (but forgot to take a picture) along with other clipart I will explain later.) The program has word cards that are kept on a key ring for students to study. They also complete a journal to record words that have the root word. They use the root word in a sentence, and draw a picture to help them understand the root. They use their knowledge of the ten roots from the unit to complete a worksheet. Some of the students liked the chants. I printed them for students just in case. The chants are great for auditory learners.



The students cut the key ring cards apart that first day. They worked on the journal on Tuesday and Wednesday. They did their root word application worksheet on Wednesday. All students took the test on Thursday. One student scored an 80%, another one earned a 90%, but the rest had 100%. Students volunteered to draw a picture on our word wall card. (I still need to mount them.) They proudly displayed their award certificates (below).

I decided to reward students that pass the test with color coordinating beads on a chain. I made my own "Brag Tag" using the clipart available from the fabulous Michelle's (The 3AM teacher) store. The Reading Olympians have some real brag tags you can order from their store. I used a gift card to purchase the rings and necklaces from Hobby Lobby.  (The spools of chain with connectors was 50% off. I needed one and a half spools for 24" chains.) I had the mini pony beads already. The students proudly wore their Nike necklace the rest of the day. I forgot to take a close up of the necklace. They hang them on hooks in the room over night and vacations.
They were only too eager to explain to the curious what the necklace meant. They didn't want to wait to start the next unit. I assured them the unit would be ready upon our return from break. Now they just have to wait to see for which god it is named.

 BTW we usually aren't this casually dressed. It was pajama day and the last day of our "March is Reading Month"

activities. They thought the real wrap up was the Pass the Torch activities!

Discover the program IN ACTION in more K-6th grade classrooms as you Pass the Torch!! Get ideas, discover the progression of the program, and enter the Raffle for a chance to win ONE of the three prizes listed below!!

First Place Winner : Gold Medal

  Prizes: Complete Reading Olympians Program
            $50.00 Amazon Gift Card
            50% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!

Second Place Winner: Silver Medal

   Prizes: $25.00 Amazon Gift Card
              40% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!

Third Place Winner: Bronze Medal

    Prizes: 30% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!


Pass the Torch!!!
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Kindergarten:



Grade 1 & 2






Grade 3 & 4






Grade 5 & 6


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