Students on Battle of the Books teams may check out one B.O.B. book at a time. Students do not need to renew these books on their scheduled Library class visits if they are not done with them. Simply return it when you are done and check out a new one. This can be done before and after school, or during their library class day B.
The Battle of the Books: Get Ready to Rumble!!
Teams consist of no more than 5 students. Each student may read all of the books or become an expert on 2 or more. This will be up to the team and their coach. This year we will have 6 books total instead of 10 due to our late start.
Battle dates:
Monday, April 29, 2019 3rd Grade Competition
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 4th Grade Competition and 3rd/4th grade Championship Battle
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 5th Grade Competition
COACHES:
Important: Coaches need to have a fingerprint clearance card on file with the school before working with children.
We will have an informational coach's meeting on Friday March 8 at 2:30.
**Coaches may meet with their teams at their lunch time outside on the patio tables only. When checking in with Ms. Synthia, provide a list of students that you will be meeting with and their homeroom.
What does a coach do?:
Coach’s Responsibilities:
- Act as a communication link between team members, parents, and B.O.B staff (Mr. Huskisson and Mrs. Butterfield) regarding all information and materials for Battle of the Books.
- Be sure your team has submitted a team name along with group member names to Mr. Huskisson. In case multiple teams select the same name, you may want to have a backup name in case your team’s requested name has already been claimed.
- Discuss with members what your team's commitment will include (attend meetings, stay with the group until the end, read the books etc.)
- Read/research each of the books when possible to assist teams with preparation.
- Explain what the competition will look like and how answers are scored.
- Make sure your team demonstrates good sportsmanlike behavior during the Battle.
Build team spirit
- Meet regularly.
- Decorate team T-shirts
- Have fun using your team name
- (B.O.B. book titles, authors, and/or covers may NOT be a part of the team’s outfit.)
Prepare for the Battle
- Decide who will read each book. It will be to your team’s advantage to make sure at least two team members read each book. In many schools, the most successful teams have had all team members read the books and then assigned “experts” for each book.
- Decide how often and where you will meet to discuss the books.
- Hold mock battles or “Jeopardy” style games based on the books.
- Have students compose practice questions to quiz each other during the meetings.
Encourage and reward students
- Offer praise and encouragement.
- Serve snacks at your meetings.
- Have a party after the Battle.
- Keep it fun and make great memories!
Coaches: The following is a quick checklist of things to run through as you meet with your group:
- All questions must be answered with the full, correct title of the book, and the authors full name. Example: "Champ by Marcia Thornton Jones
- Team t shirts/outfits may be worn to school on the Battle day as long as they follow school out of uniform policy.
- One team member needs to be elected as team captain. When a question is asked, the team will huddle together and discuss the question. Before the time limit is up, the team captain will then go to the microphone and answer the question for the team.
2018 - 2019 Book lists:
3rd and 4th grades:
Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt
George Washington's Spies by Claudia Friddell
Just My Luck by Cammie McGovern
The Penderwicks: a Summer Tale... by Jean Birdsall
Pugs of th Frozen North by Philip Reeve
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
5th Grade:
The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick
Finn Family Moomingtroll by Tove Jansson
Firegirl by Tony Abbott
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Soar by Joan Bauer
Story Thieves by James Riley