WAR GAMES: preparing for the Battle of the Books
From Spring Hill to St. Pete, students all over the Tampa Bay area are gearing up for the 2008 Battle of the Books competition. Right now, students are reading and rereading the Sunshine State Young Readers and Florida Teens Read nominated books and talking about them at the Times Book Battle Blog. In a couple of months, participating schools will give a qualifying test to determine which students are the most familiar with all the stories from the books on the list. Next, participating schools have their own battle and winning school teams will move on to participate in area battles then district battles. It is exciting as any game show you will find on television and the competition is fierce!
Starting today, Times Book Battle Blog has a new discussion category that is focused on preparing for the battles ahead. We are looking for your ideas and tips on how to get ready for the big event. If you have book battled before, send a study skill or game strategy that helped you get in fighting shape to jwilson@sptimes.com. We will be awarding string backpacks and Subway coupons for the best ideas, so be sure to include your name, grade and school along with your submission.
hello i like your books and
Posted by: julianne cooney | April 10, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I am going to battle the school battle tomorrow and I cannot wait. Last Year my team won the school Battle and lost the second round at county. This year I am determined to win. This is the best Program and I would advise parents to encourage their children to join. This helps them on their comprehension and reading skills. It also gives them the opportunity to interact and work together with other students.
Rio Vista Elementary Student,
Jessica K.
Posted by: Jessica K. | April 16, 2008 at 06:27 PM
My 4th grade team won the schoolwide battle at my school. We are the first fourth grade team to win. Last year a fifth grade class at my school for the first time won regionals and came in second at district. I am so excited and ready to win. We are very prepared and know the books inside and out. we are ready for competion.
Posted by: Caitlin | April 18, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Hi! The county Battle of the Books is April 30th and I can't wait! I have the position of captain representing Bellamy Elementary School. Hope you see me there! This years books are so thrilling- I hope they are like this every year!
Posted by: Lindsey M. | April 22, 2008 at 04:23 PM
The most important thing here is teamwork! If you can't work a problem out before the battle, it won't be easier during it! Make sure you understand everyone's point of view! That is the key to winning!
Good luck everyone!
---Sorella, Bay Point Middle
Posted by: Sorella | May 08, 2008 at 07:01 AM
Well, the battle's over. Too bad. It felt really short! My team got second place in the first round... The free book I chose, "Varjak Paw", was really great!
Have you heard? The new list of books is out!!! Most of them are very good so far! (I'm reading my tenth, "Kingdom Keepers" by Ridley Pearson.) I think you'll all like them!
Keep reading, I hope to face ya next year!
---Sorella, Bay Point Middle
Posted by: Sorella | May 24, 2008 at 09:58 AM