Elementary Battle of the Books 2015-2016 Battle of the Books Coaches, Thank you for your interest in the Elementary Battle of the Books (BOB). We hope you are looking forward to another year of reading great books and building teams. On our Battle of the Books website you will find the 20152016 book lists. In this packet you will find some tips, a sample letter for parents, and your enrollment form. Each BOB team should consist of an adult coach and six elementary school students. Only one elementary team per building will be allowed to compete in the regional event. If your local participants number more than six students, it is important that everyone understand that a maximum of six students will be allowed to attend and compete at the regional competition in April at AEA 267 in Cedar Falls, and only those team members who are present may take part in the competition. Many districts use the practice exam sent out in late February to identify the final six competing Regional Team Members. The regional round of competition will be held on Thursday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the AEA 267 Conference Center, 3712 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls. We hope that your school will form a team and have fun reading and “battling” with us this year. Our guest author this year will be Julia Cook. The team that wins the regional event will go to lunch with Julia. Elementary BOB is facilitated by AEA 267 Educational Services Consultants. We have no funding for books or supplies. The books may be available at a library near where you live. Some of the books may be in your own school’s library. It is up to each building to decide when to begin its BOB program. However, the sooner you get started, the more time your teams will have to read and have fun. Enrollment forms are due by January 15, 2016. To support this program please send in $30 per team to cover costs. IMPORTANT: You MUST send your enrollment form and payment to Barb Schroeder in Educational Services. We have had problems in previous years where several schools missed important communications because we did not have record of your enrollment and payment. Briefly, the program works as follows: Participants read from the pre-selected list of books; thus, each student may be asked to read five or so books. At the end of the program, the teams gather to “battle” by answering fact-based questions about the books. Although this is a competitive event, we emphasize teamwork and fun. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. Good luck and have fun! Thank you, Sue Longcor slongcor@aea267.k12.ia.us Corey Rogers crogers@aea267.k12.ia.us AEA 267 Educational Services Consultants Resource provided by AEA 267 © 2011 — Permission granted to educational organizations to copy and use http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/ 1 2015-2016 Battle of the Books Suggestions for Team Coaches 1. Each team should select a name and find an adult team coach. Each coach should receive a copy of the suggestions and a list of BOB books and authors. 2. Coaches are responsible for monitoring the progress of their team and for encouraging each member to read as many of the books as reasonable. You might want to meet over your students’ lunch hour, after school or during a study time. Use your creativity and make it fun! Coaches can also work with students on strategies—who will read which books and when, what will you study and how will you study, how will you strengthen your memory, how will you build teamwork? 3. Encourage parental support and interest by sending home a letter of introduction explaining the coach’s role and plans for future meeting. 4. Stage mock-battles and ask questions from the books, such as setting, main characters, plot, etc. Part of the battle will include knowledge of all the authors’ names (used as a tie-breaker). 5. The most important role of the team coach is to encourage reading for enjoyment. Your good example and support are essential for the smooth operation of the BOB program. Resource provided by AEA 267 © 2011 — Permission granted to educational organizations to copy and use http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/ 2 Elementary School Battle of the Books 2015-2016 September 2015 Parents, Your student has expressed an interest in Battle of the Books (BOB). BOB is a reading program designed to encourage children to read. A team will be formed of six students and an adult coach. Students read from a pre-selected list of books for elementary children. Your child may be asked to read five or more books. At the end of the program, in April, the teams from around north central Iowa will meet to “battle” by answering questions about the books they have read. Elementary school BOB is facilitated by AEA 267 Educational Services Consultants. There is no funding for books or supplies. All of the books on the BOB reading list are available at most public libraries, and perhaps even in your school library! Please contact us if you have any questions. Thank you, Resource provided by AEA 267 © 2011 — Permission granted to educational organizations to copy and use http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/ 3 Elementary Battle of the Books April 7, 2016 Enrollment Form (Please turn in ONE form per team by January 15, 2016; registrations received after January 15 will be honored on an “as available space only” basis) District ___________________________________ Building _________________________________ School Street Address: _________________________________________________________________ City __________________________________________ State ___________ Zip _______________ School Phone Number _____________________________________________ Coach Name _____________________________________________________ Coach Email Address ______________________________________________ Battle of the Books Team Name __________________________________________________________ Number of students on team (maximum 6)___________ Send this FORM AND PAYMENT OF $30.00 PER TEAM (CHECK OR PURCHASE ORDER) to: Barb Schroeder, Administrative Assistant AEA 267 Educational Services 3712 Cedar Heights Drive Cedar Falls, IA 50613 TO ENSURE RECEIPT OF REGISTRATION, PLEASE DO NOT SEND TO THE AEA 267 BUSINESS OFFICE. THANK YOU! Resource provided by AEA 267 © 2011 — Permission granted to educational organizations to copy and use http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/ 4