What is Battle of the Books?
The Battle of the Books is a reading program for 4th through 6th grade students. The students read from a selected list of 40 books and then compete over their knowledge of the books. Through the fun and excitement of competition, students improve reading skills, mature in their choice of reading materials, and acquire a broader knowledge base of classic and contemporary literature. Even during the height of competition though, students and coaches should remember that the goal is to READ and increase in knowledge, not necessarily to win!

How does it actually work?
Throughout the course of the next few months, students will form teams of four students each. We need parents to volunteer to be Team Coaches. These students will begin to strategize among themselves and their coaches on the best ways to conquer the Title List for the May 2009 Battle. Each month they will need to meet for practice and review what they have learned as a team. As the Battle grows closer, practice battles will be scheduled in order to give the teams a good sense of what the final battle will be like. In May, the process of elimination will begin with preliminary battles until we are left with the top three teams. The remaining teams will then take part in the Grand Battle until a single team is declared the victor.

How do I get more information?
Your campus librarian is the contact person and will be running the Battle. She can provide you with a book list and information about which titles are currently available in your campus library. You can also check the Life School website. There you will find the program details, permission forms and book list materials to assist you as you progress through the months of competition. We are very excited about our literary choices this year and know they will provide many hours of delighted reading for your family!