Drill and Thrill, Fun with Fluency Jesse Smith Associate Superintendent of Quality Control The Roger Bacon Academy
RBA Charter Schools Leland, NC Whiteville, NC Wilmington, NC Rural K-7 K-2 Rural K-8 950+ Students 750+ Students Projected 100+ Students 147 acre Campus 66 acre Campus Campus TBD 12 years in operation 5 years in operation Recommended for Approval
=FASTAR= F luent A cademic S kills T ournament for A rithmetic and R eading • FASTAR was created by Baker Mitchell, founder of The Roger Bacon Academy, in 2004. • Race events held for students in grades K-5; middle school students also participate volunteers • The program has grown from about 50 students participating to over 400 across two campuses. • FASTAR is a fun, academic tournament that allows all students of varying ability levels to race to the finish and be rewarded for a job well done!
Race Events Grades Participating Charter Day 140 Kindergarten Teach Well 220 1 st & 2 nd Booster Club 350 3 rd & 4 th Bacon 400 5 th
FASTAR Promotional Video
The focus of FASTAR is speed and accuracy! Speed • In a Nascar race, speed is miles per hour driven. • In FASTAR , racers focus on the speed of – words per minute read – numbers per minute added – digits per minute printed – letters per minute printed
The focus of FASTAR is speed and accuracy! Accuracy • In a Nascar race, drivers must complete their course without losing control. • In FASTAR , racers must complete their course without making errors. – reading words incorrectly or without articulation – adding numbers incorrectly – writing digits incorrectly – writing letters incorrectly
Speed + Accuracy = Fluency • Speed and accuracy indicate that a skill has become nearly automatic, or “fluent.” • Fluent skills can be done “without thinking.” • Benefits of fluency in a skill are: – longer retention – increased endurance – increased comprehension – stronger foundation for complex skills – shorter homework times
Fluency Example Suppose a homework assignment in history is to read a chapter that is 2,000 words long. – The student reading 50 words per minute needs 40 minutes to complete the assignment. – The student reading 200 words per minute needs only 10 minutes to complete the assignment. • This student may also comprehend more and will not be as tired. Fluency in all subjects will decrease homework time!
Benefits of FASTAR Everyone is a winner in FASTAR! • Builds Confidence – Racers see their academic improvement in one minute timings and practice races. • Builds Excitement – Racers get excited about academic skills. • Builds Endurance – Racers practice hard to meet their goal.
Registration Process – Crew Chiefs • Crew chiefs have a month window to learn about the program through information sessions and online resources before registering their racer FASTAR registration fee is $15 Upon qualification, each racer and includes: will receive: Crew Chief Resources Certificate of Qualification • • Racer practice materials FASTAR t-shirt • • Race Day Lunch •
2011-12 T-shirt Design
Registration Process – Behind the Scenes • Each campus has a Registration Coordinator that accepts forms and compiles racer information into a master spreadsheet • Racers are organized by grade to determine total number in each race category • Sponsors are acquired – monetary and food donations • T-shirt design is finalized and orders placed • Packets containing Crew Chief resources and racer tools made for each registrant
Practice Packet Contents • Crew Chief resources including: – “Achieving Fast Recall in Math Facts” – “Learning to Read Fluently” – Frequently Asked Questions – FASTAR Terminology • Racer tools including: – One-minute math and reading passages – Stop watch – Progress Chart (ticket to qualify)
Practice Packet Contents
FASTAR Tune-Ups • Racers have the option to practice in an official FASTAR garage on campus to “tune up” their skills. • Four Tune-Ups are held once a week after school leading up to the event day. • Tune-Ups are optional, but strongly recommended. • Operated by volunteer school staff • An adult or older sibling must accompany each racer as Crew Chief. • Racers receive their practice packet including stopwatch on the day of the first tune-up.
FASTAR Tune-Ups At each Tune-Up, racers will: • complete one-minute timings in reading and math, • chart one-minute timings, • practice mock races, • receive additional practice materials, • fuel up with snacks, • experience the excitement that race day will bring!
Qualifying for FASTAR • As in Nascar, FASTAR racers must also qualify to race by demonstrating their reading and math skills. • Qualifying requirements for each race will vary by difficulty level, length, and skill. • A qualifying event will be held the week prior to race day for all racers. • Each racer will complete one-minute math and reading timings in order to qualify. • Racers must meet the qualifying requirements and turn in completed progress chart showing practice • The fastest qualifier will receive a trophy!
Qualifying Expectations *Students who do not meet the qualifying requirements but show improvement on their progress chart will be allowed to compete.
Practice & Race Day Procedures Practice Procedure: Race Procedure: Fixed Distance (varies by race) Fixed Time (1 minute) Go for least “Time” Go for most “Distance” “Go” – Start the timer 1. “Go” – Start the timer 1. 2. Read all words and problems 2. Read passage or answer math in race booklet without problems for 1 minute stopping between skills “Stop” – Stop the clock 3. 3. Raise hand when finished 4. Count words read or “Stop” – Stop the clock when 4. problems completed student raises hand 5. Put dot on the practice chart Shortest time completing booklet wins.
Race Course Details
Race Course Contents
Prepare Race Day Layout • Scores obtained from each racer during qualifying are used to predict the time it will take racers to complete the race course packet • These predictions allow for organizing the field in relative order with the fastest qualifying racers in the last row to race together • The pole position is the racer in Lane 1, Row 1 and receives a special trophy for being the fastest qualifier
Race Day Field Layout
Calculation Prediction Example • Johnny reads 100 wpm at qualifying event • He is in 2 nd grade and the race course packet will contain a story with 150 words total • To calculate the time it will take Johnny to complete the reading section: [(150wpm)(60sec.)]/(100wpm) = 90 seconds • Math is calculated in the same manner and the sum of both will provide a prediction of the time it will take Johnny to complete the entire race course packet
The Race Event • FASTAR is an outdoor event held during Spring • Racers line- up in rows and compete in “heats” • Racers participate in designated race for their grade level • Classmates and parents come out to cheer on the sidelines • Lunch is provided for all racers and can be purchased by parents • Awards ceremony held at the end of the day to recognize all racers with a medal • Award Pole Position and 1 st -5 th place winners of each race
Event Schedule
Race Day Crew • To make race day a success the following positions are needed: – Race Coordinator: Organizes all aspects of race day – Race Marshall: Announces the races – Pit Crew: Middle school volunteers that listen and time each racer – Judges: Score each racer’s packet and determine winners – Parent Volunteers: Prepare the course, decorate, help with lunch – Registration Coordinator: Helps organize lunch details day of race
FASTAR Race Day Video
Calculating Racer Scores
Race Event Wrap Up • Each racer is sent a results card that shows the winning racer’s time, their personal race course total time, and if they finished in the top 10 • Thank you letters are sent to all sponsors • An event summary is written by the Race Coordinator containing race event details and ideas for improvement
The Roger Bacon Academy Jesse Smith jessesmith@rogerbacon.net 3610 Thaddeus Lott Lane Leland NC 28451 910-655-3600 www.rogerbacon.net
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