The Battle of the Books

17. What is “The Battle of the Books?”

1. The Battle of the Books” is a reading enrichment program for 5^th and 6^th grade students in elementary schools in the Diocese of Arlington. During the course of the school year participating students read from a pre-selected list of approximately sixteen books and engage in a variety of activities to enhance their understanding and appreciation of the books read. In the spring, teams of fifth and/or sixth grade students representing each participating school meet for the annual “Battle of the Books” competition. The “Battle” is similar to an “It’s Academic” or “College Bowl” event where teams from each school are asked questions about the books on the list. The school teams earn points for questions answered correctly. The winning team is awarded a “Battle of the Books” banner which will travel each year to the winning school.

17. Who in the school assumes the responsibility for sponsoring “The Battle of the Books” Program?

1. In many schools the “Battle of the Books” is sponsored by the school librarian and the librarian acts as the team “coach”. In some instances the librarian has a parent volunteer as an assistant coach. Sometimes the librarian and the fifth or sixth grade teachers coach the team together. In other schools, a 5^th or 6^th grade teacher may sponsor the program as an after school activity. In some schools, the classroom teacher devotes one reading period a week to the “Battle of the Books” and the librarian acts as a team teacher.

17. How many children can participate in this activity?

1. As few as five or six students or as many as an entire classroom can participate in a “Battle of the Books” program. Fifth and sixth grade students can be mixed in one group or the program can be limited to one grade level only.

Q. What goes on at the weekly meetings?

A. Several components make up a typical weekly meeting. A meeting can consist of one or several of these components. First, the students can be introduced to a new book on the list by a book talk presented by the librarian, teacher, volunteer, or by another student. Second, the students can quiz each other about the books they have read, based on practice questions they make up that are along the lines of the questions used at the year end competition. Third, the coach can prepare and ask questions about books on the list or can lead a discussion about a book that most of the students have completed. Any game or activity that enhances a child’s understanding and appreciation of the books is also appropriate.

Q. When does the final competition take place?

A. The final competition is in the spring of the school year. The moderators are from the Office of Catholic Schools. This competition is an excellent motivation for reading and provides a spirited, enjoyable way for students to compete in an academic activity. The winning team is given a banner that will travel from year to year to the winning school.

Q. Are there other activities in addition to the weekly meetings and final competition?

A. Yes, schools may hold several practice meets during the school year. These may be held in front of the student body to help the participants get ready for the final meet. For each practice meet, the students are divided into two teams and compete against each other with questions prepared by the coach. These practice meets also create interest and excitement about the books and the program among the student audience.

Q. What preparation is needed to be an effective coach?

A. Familiarity with the books on the list is very important. Ideally, all the books on the list should be read by the coach. As a practical matter, this is usually accomplished during the course of the year. A book talk about a book is not truly effective unless the presenter has read the book in its entirety. Only then is his/her enthusiasm for the book really felt by the students. This is one of the keystones of a successful Battle of the Books program. The students will not be enthusiastic about the books and about the program unless the coach is genuinely excited about the books and is anxious to share them with the students.

Q. How are the books acquired? How are they read by all the students?

A. The students can often obtain most of the books on the list from their school library. The number of copies needed for the program will depend on the number of participants. As a rule of thumb, one copy of each title is recommended for every 8 to 10 students. Students can also be encouraged to obtain copies of the books from their public library. The Children’s Librarian at the public library should be given the list in advance and told about the program so that she can more effectively assist your students when they visit the library. Paperback copies can be made available for purchase at your annual book fair. Books on the list are sometimes offered through student book clubs and can frequently be found at used bookstores. Because quantities are usually limited, it is rarely possible for the students to all read the same book at the same time. Sometimes classroom sets of a particular book may be available in a school, thus making it possible to all read the same book at the same time. Take advantage of this situation if you are fortunate to find multiple copies for all your students. The goal is for all students to read all the books on the list. To achieve this goal, students should try to read at a rate of 2 to 3 books per month. Sometimes titles can be put on the summer reading lists for the 5^th and 6^th grades.

Some people pick up used copies of paperbacks at used bookstores or from donations as well. Others order paperbacks from books stores or companies.  Everybody does this differently, depending on their budget, their preferences, and their team size.

Q. Who writes the questions asked during the “Battle?”

A. Questions are developed by librarians, teachers, or volunteers involved with the Battle of the Books program. Students should bring in questions after reading a book. Parents are invited to participate. A parent may choose several books from the list and make up questions about these books. The coach runs the practice sessions.

Q. What are the questions like that are asked at the final meet?

A. The questions are based on the books’ plots, characters, settings, literary genre, etc. The students may be asked to compare and contrast different books, or to name several books that have a characteristic in common. The questions test recall as well as comprehension. During the course of the year, practice questions are prepared by students, coaches, and volunteers. For the final meet, the questions are developed by the coaches from participating schools. The books are divided and each school coach is responsible for submitting questions for that school’s assigned book(s).

Q. What else should I know about the final meet?

A. The final meet is held in the spring. Each school sends a team of 5 members and 3 alternates to represent their school. Parents are also encouraged to attend. The “Battle of the Books” is an excellent motivation for reading and provides a spirited and enjoyable way for students to compete in an academic activity.

Q. Is there a specific way to answer the questions?

A. All answers to questions should begin with “In____________(title), by ___________(author), . . . answer the question asked.  No more, no less. 

It is helpful for the students to use the wording of the question to answer the question. 

For the written question, the students must use complete sentences to answer the written question along with correct punctuation and grammar.