Battle of the Books
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 10, 2016
- All smiles at Elton Gregory Middle School.
These days no one would argue the importance of literacy in a child’s education. Knowing how to read is essential to academic progress, but inspiring kids to actually enjoy it can provide them with a lifetime love of learning.
Right here in Central Oregon, Oregon Battle of the Books is inspiring children not only to read for fun, but to also read diversely and make new friends in the process.
OBOB is sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries and began in Oregon in 2007 as part of America’s Battle of the Books national reading incentive program. It was picked up in 2008 in Deschutes County and has involved Central Oregon students ever since.
“I love being a part of it because it motivates students to read, while exposing them to a variety of genres and writing styles,” said Shelby Linn, the regional coordinator of OBOB and librarian at Pilot Butte Middle School. “Students read books they might not otherwise have chosen. They also get to work on teams and practice those skills necessary for successful collaborations, especially listening and oral communication skills.”
Involvement in OBOB is optional for students in third through 12th grade. Each fall those who sign up for the program form teams within or near their grade level, and are then assigned a list of books selected by teachers and librarians from across the country to read and discuss during regular team meetings.
As book lists usually contain between 10 and 30 titles, varying in style, length and complexity, each team is responsible for ensuring every book is read by at least one team member.
“At the meetings we do book talks and students share which of the OBOB books they are currently reading,” said Tara Wydra, a teacher who leads the OBOB teams at Three Rivers School in Sunriver. “It is very collaborative.”
Ultimately, teams compete against one another in “battles” that involve a series of questions regarding the content of the books they’ve read. The teams who show they’ve collectively retained the most information from every book on their list are declared the winners and move on to the next level of battles, which advance from individual schools, to a regional competition and then on to state.
Students not only benefit academically from participation, but also enjoy the program greatly. The battles provide a fun way for the students to showcase all of the hard work they have put in throughout the school year.
“I think OBOB is a great activity for me and other kids,” said Drake Walker, a fifth-grader at Three Rivers Elementary who has participated in the program since the third grade. “It really helps with your comprehension because you want to win battles, but it’s still fun even if you don’t win.”
“The competition aspect isn’t for everyone,” said Wydra. “Some students read a book or two and then opt out of being on a team and participating in the competitive side. That’s fine, too. Other students love the camaraderie of the team and are excited and motivated by the competition. Either way, we simply want as many students as possible to get excited about reading and discussing great books.”