• Battle of the Books 2024-2025

     

    Battle of the Books Season for 2023-2024 is Over. We are already looking forward to next year!

    What is it?

    *A team of fourth and fifth grade students who read 15 books and answer questions from them.

    *A team can have no more than 12 members (with only 6 members allowed to play during a round).  This is subject to change for our competition.

    * Our team of 12 will compete against other GCS elementary teams virtually in February.  The date will be set later.

    How does my child become a member of the team?

    All students are invited to participate in the Battle of the Books.  Summerfield Elementary uses a point system to determine which students will be on the competition team. If necessary, cuts will be made to narrow down to the final 12.  Dedication is the key to making it on the team. 

    How are points earned?

    Students have ample opportunity to earn Battle of the Books points:

    1. Students earn 30 points for each meeting they attend prior to the first cut.
    2. Students earn 100 points for each meeting they attend after the first cut.
    3. Students will earn points based on Battle of the Books comprehension quizzes. Their number grade will count as points (if they score a “90”, then they will receive 90 points).  As this is a strong deciding factor for choosing our team it is important that participants follow the calendar and are prepared to take quizzes on the day assigned.  After the first quiz, if students are prepared to take the quiz the day it is scheduled on the calendar and they make an 80 or above score, their points will double!!  Any score below 80 will count as is.
    4. Graphic Organizers (this will vary). This must be filled out for each book with detailed information.  Each one is worth a maximum of 100 points. 
    5. Students earn 50 points for each Book Club meeting they attend ON TIME before school starting at 7:15. Meeting start date will be determined after we begin regular after school meetings.

    What will practices be like?

    We will start holding practices on Mondays, beginning October 2 until 3:00.  After the first initial practice to discuss the above information, our practices will be discussion groups on the books (a calendar will be given out stating which books will be discussed and when) and/or questions in the Battle of the Book format on all books, quizzes on the books.   An example of a question would be:  In which book did a girl find a long lost brother?  Answer:  Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

    A non-example:  In which book was there a character named Mary Jane? No proper nouns can be used in questions.

    How can we get started?

    Begin by reading from the list of Battle of the Books.  The first book you will need to read by the first practice date  is  Wish by Barbara O'Connor.   Please see the back of this paper for the official list of titles with authors and begin to memorize the titles exactly and the authors.

    How can I help?

    *You can volunteer to read the books and write questions.

    *You can provide snacks for after school practices.

    *You can encourage your child and cheer them on!

    *You can read the books along with your children and have discussions about the books at home.

     

    To help your child prepare for Battle of the Book practice sessions, you might want to ask them questions about the following:

     Concentrate on knowing:

    Plot

    Setting

    Character traits

    Genre of each book

    Setting (not specific names of places)

    How the book begins and how it ends

    Conflicts within the story - what are they, who are they between?

     

    Guidelines we will use when making questions:

    *All questions will begin:  “In which book…?”

    *We will avoid using proper names for characters and settings

    *We will sometimes use quotes taken directly from the book

    *We will avoid any specific reference to the title within the question

     

    Answers will always be in the format of the title (must be exact) and the authors’ names (must be exact).

    NC Elementary Battle of the Books List

    2024-2025

    Shine On, Luz Veliz! by Rebecca Balcarcel

    Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper

    Hello, Universe by Erin Estrada Kelly

    Yusuf Azeem is not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi

    Ban this Book by Alan Gratz

    The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

    Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

    The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

    Chester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoon

    From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

    Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

    Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

    At the Bottom of the World by Bill Nye & Gregory Mone

    The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass

    Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas

    Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks & Gita Vardarajan

     

     

    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the BOB coaches:

    Meredith Rodrigues or Jessica Trent  336-643-8444