Transcript Battle of the Books - Shelby County Schools

Battle of the Books
A New Solution to the Challenge of
Promoting Recreational Reading
Heather Mays, September 2011
Battle of the Books Objectives
Encouragement of reading
Improvement of reading comprehension and
social skills
Improvement of higher level thinking and
reasoning skills
Heather Mays, September 2011
Battle of the Books Objectives
The objectives will be achieved by organizing book
discussion groups in middle and high schools to
provide individualized challenges, to increase
excitement for reading, and to improve reading
comprehension. Students, regardless of ability, are
exposed to quality literature and read from a
prescribed list of grade-appropriate titles. The
culminating competition format creates interest and
excitement as students improve reading skills,
mature in their choices of reading materials, and
acquire a broader knowledge base.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Student Benefits
Short term benefits
– the opportunity to read and discuss quality literature with
their peers, thereby formulating discussion techniques
(group dynamics, recognition of responsibilities,
contributing insights and responses).
Long-term benefits
– becoming life-long readers as a result of their development
of camaraderie, sharing the love of reading, broadening of
their knowledge base, and maturation in reading
selections.
Character Development
– The development of social skills and group dynamics will
lend itself to their becoming citizens who contribute to
their communities. As students extend their discussions
beyond the group, they will serve as examples to others.
Heather Mays, September 2011
“Students who read
become adults who lead.”
~Helen Ruffin
Heather Mays, September 2011
Selecting Books
Choose contemporary books that will “grab”
readers.
Choose newer, lesser-known titles and
authors.
Consider a mix of genres.
Choose books that will appeal to boys and
girls.
Don’t overload the reading list with a
particular type of book.
Choose at least one riotously funny book.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Ordering Books
Scholastic Book Fairs and Scholastic Library
Group will give you titles off their lists at
remarkably reduced rates.
BAMM.com (Books-A-Million) provides a
20-40% discount and free shipping.
Barnes & Noble provides 20% off and free
shipping.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Snagging Sponsors
Book vendors for free books, discounted
books.
Restaurants for snacks and lunchtime
desserts.
Pizza restaurants for discounted lunches.
Grocery stores for paper products, waters,
desserts.
Local businesses for t-shirts.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Managing Books
(before and after competition)
Cataloging books-give a list of participants to
Library Media Specialists
– Catalog as hidden items or
– Catalog as separate collection
Circulating books (out of LMC)
– Give a list of participants to LMS
What to do after the competition
– Share books with other schools as appropriate
Heather Mays, September 2011
Coaches’ Responsibilities
READ! READ! READ! – Be sure to read all of the books on
your list so that you can be an active participant, too.
Make sure the BOB books are processed in a timely manner
by the library media specialists.
Offer BOB to all students in the school – Remind them that 6
team members will be chosen in December/January and they
must have read all books.
Distribute BOB flyers and bookmarks.
As BOB participants read the selections, have them turn in 20
questions electronically to you – these questions will be used
by you in the spring to practice with for the competition.
Use BOB wikis or blogs to facilitate student dialogue about
BOB books.
Submit questions to grade level test creator.
Use official BOB test in December/January to determine the
team of six for the spring competition.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Coaches’ Responsibilities
Meet 2 hours a week with the team to practice for the
competitions. Buzzers will be used like Scholars’ Bowl so
you will want to practice game rules as well.
Fill out Activities Permission Request. Give to principal at
least 15 days before event. Include “Volunteer Driver
Transporting Students in Privately Owned Cars” form filled
out by drivers – has to be on file in school office.
Fill out System Professional Leave Request.
Request a substitute, if necessary.
Send home permission forms.
Post-competition, submit Stipend Request Form.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Getting the Word Out
BOB Flyers
BOB Bookmarks
School Broadcast
School Newsletters
Student Newspaper
Public Library Displays
Open House “Commercials”
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Recruiting Team Members
Interested Students
Ask interested students to bring a friend
Literature teachers
School counselor
Library workers
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Using Library 2.0 with BOB
BOB Blogs
BOB Wikis
BOB Podcasting
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Narrowing the Team Down
Natural Attrition
Use test to choose final 6 members of team
Other students who continue to practice were
invited to our competition as “assistant
coaches.”
Heather Mays, September 2011
Communicating with Parents
All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off
during the competition.
Participants and observers who are waiting in the hall need
to be completely quiet while waiting in the hall for rounds
to end.
Once a round begins, no one can enter the room. Those
waiting in the hall should do so quietly and can enter a
competition room for the next round.
We ask that you please not bring young children – babies
and preschoolers – to the Battle of the Books competition.
Each round is approximately 30 minutes and we must
maintain silence from the audience during the competition.
Heather Mays, September 2011
How do I get BOB questions?
Write your own!
– Have student participants and/or coaches
submit questions.
Hire someone to write them.
– Buy set of books for the question writer.
– Provide plenty of time to read at least twice,
highlight, write in margins, use post-it flags.
– Use spreadsheet formulas to determine how
many questions per book are needed.
Heather Mays, September 2011
How do I get BOB questions?
Heather Mays, September 2011
BOB Officials
Each room needs the following officials:
– Moderator/Reader
Official “rule keeper and enforcer”; “runs the room”
Reads all questions
Rules on any objections filed by team captains
– Timekeeper
Keeps the official time
Clears and checks buzzers
– Scorekeeper
Keeps the official score
Files team/individual scores with Central Scorekeeping
Heather Mays, September 2011
Central Scorekeeping
(and why it’s important)
Central Scorekeeping should be manned by
at least two non-biased individuals with
scholars bowl or BOB experience.
One laptop with pre-programmed
spreadsheet with all teams, student names
for easy computation.
Stock extra supplies: paper, pencils,
scoresheets, snacks for officials, etc.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Scheduling the BOB Competition
Welcome & Introductions at 8:30ish.
Each 4-period round lasts 25-30 minutes.
If you have less than 9 teams, each team
should play all other teams.
If you have 9 or more teams, consider
playing a “bracket-style” tournament with a
championship round for a shorter day.
End with lunch and awards (or
championship round).
Heather Mays, September 2011
Setting Up
Rooms
Each competition room will need:
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A table for the officials with 3 chairs
A table for each team, with 4 chairs at each table
Chairs set up for spectators
A set of buzzers
12+ sharpened pencils
Scratch paper
Scoresheets
Water & mints for the officials
Heather Mays, September 2011
Media & Public Relations
Contact TV, radio, and newspapers at least
one week ahead of the competition with an
official press release.
Send a reminder via email to media contacts
the day before the event.
Send a press release the day after the event
with photographs of winning teams (identify
students by name clearly).
Heather Mays, September 2011
Making It a Day to Remember
Welcome signs and banners recognizing
students and sponsors.
Encourage superintendent and other CO
personnel to attend opening remarks and
awards ceremony.
Beg administrators to come watch their
teams compete!
Play music during transition time.
Take pictures of teams and post to webpage.
Heather Mays, September 2011
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Feeding the Masses
Breakfast for Officials
Brainy Snack for Students at 9:30 a.m.
Snacks available all day for officials in
Central Scorekeeping Room
Pizza Lunch & Dessert for all students,
coaches, and officials.
Heather Mays, September 2011
T-shirts
Hold BOB logo contest.
Let each team pick a color shirt and print all
shirts in white or black ink.
100% cotton Hanes tees will run $4-5 screenprinted with your logo.
One year, we printed on the front only and
teams wrote their names/drew on the back of
their shirts.
Heather Mays, September 2011
Trophies & Awards
Recognize the following:
– 1st Place Team
– 2nd Place Team
– 1st Place Individual
– 2nd Place Individual
– Top Scoring Individual from Each Team
Heather Mays, September 2011
2011-2012 BOB Books
Intermediate Schools
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Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed
Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord
My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian
90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Glabis
Unsinkable by Gordon Korman.
Heather Mays, September 2011
2011-2012 BOB Books
Middle Schools
– The Shadow Project by Herbie Brennan
– The Defense of Thaddeus A. Ledbetter by John
Gosselin
– A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
– Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
– The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
– Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Heather Mays, September 2011
2011-2012 BOB Books
High Schools
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All Over But the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg
Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Diamond Ruby by Josseph Wallace
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by
Allen Zadoff
Heather Mays, September 2011
For More Information…
Heather Mays
Supervisor, Library Media & Fine Arts
Shelby County Schools
601 1st Street South
Alabaster, AL 35007
205-682-5920
[email protected]
Heather Mays, September 2011