Teams from all over the El Paso County area participate.  Students are encouraged to read as many of the forty books as possible.  They may begin reading books from the “Battle” list as early as second or third grade, but the actual competitions is limited to fifth graders.  Teams are chosen from each fifth grade class based on the number of books they have read and how well they remember details.  Each school determines the method by which teams are selected from their building.  Each team of four students goes to a “Battle of the Books” festival in the spring where they compete with teams from other schools.  The competition is set up on a “knowledge bowl” format where the teams learn to respond verbally to the questions asked.  In the tiebreaker and final rounds, teams may be asked to respond in writing as well.

 

        Preparation for the “Battle of the Books” is totally site-based.  School practice for the Battle of the Books in many ways, which may include not only reading, but also keeping a notebook of summaries, which help the participants review for the competition.  Students can be drilled both verbally and in written form to hone their skills at remembering detail for their reading.  Practice may occur during the school day, at lunch, or in a club format after school.  The competitions itself test their skills and also teaches sportsmanship as they practice being gracious winners or losers.  The program is designed to expose children to literature, which will make them well-rounded readers as they enter middle school.

 

Please click on the link below for a listing of all

"Battle of the Books" Titles:

 

Book List