Nearly
200 students in fourth through sixth grades from more than 30 schools
throughout the county will test their knowledge April 26 at the 16th
annual Battle of the Books in the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO)
auditorium.
About
8,000 students in public schools countywide have been challenged to read as
many books as possible from a pre-selected list of 25 to qualify for the event.
These books will be the source of the questions and challenges that the
students will face at the “battle.”
Students
are encouraged to read all 25 books, but they must read at least 15 to attend
the Battle of the Books. Each school can send a maximum of five students.
“This
annual competition is an entertaining opportunity for students from throughout
the county to come together for a friendly ‘literary battle,’ but it’s also an
important reading incentive program,” said county Superintendent of Schools
Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the event.
In
addition to encouraging literacy and making reading fun, the Battle of the
Books rewards reading comprehension and teamwork. Two teams of six or seven
students compete against each other by answering 20 comprehension questions
based on the 25 books. The students must agree upon and offer their answers as
a group.
All
teams will compete in a round-robin tournament of four battles, and the
highest-scoring teams will take the stage for the final battle, facilitated by
guest author Valerie Hobbs.
“When
they arrive for the Battle of the Books, the students will be re-blended into
teams so that no one school competes against another,” said Matt Zuchowicz,
director of Educational Technology Services, the SBCEO department that conducts
the event. “Regardless of who wins the final battle, every student is rewarded
with certificates, and the winners receive books and custom-made tee shirts,”
he added. “Students also have an opportunity that day to vote for a book they’d
like to see on the list for next year’s event, which is a fun way to motivate
and engage the young readers.”
For
more information, call Rose Koller at SBCEO, 964-4710, ext. 5222.
