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More than 200 students in grades 4 to 6 from 34 public schools will
do battle starting at 9 a.m. on March 12 at the third annual Battle
of the Books at the Santa Barbara County Education Office auditorium.
“
More than just another competition, Battle of the Books is a great
reading incentive program,” explained County Superintendent Bill
Cirone, whose office coordinates the event.
“
A state committee of librarians compiles a list of 30 books that each
participating student must read,” he explained.
Two teams composed of six students apiece compete against each other
by answering 20 comprehension questions based on those books.
The students must agree upon and offer their answers as a group, which
emphasizes teamwork rather than individual ability.
“
The event received such enthusiastic responses in the last two years
that this year again the schools were clamoring for spaces, and it
filled very quickly,” explained Matt Zuchowicz, director of instructional
media services, the department that conducts the Battle.
“
Thirty-four county public schools, ranging from Santa Maria to Carpinteria,
will each send a team of six students, grades 4-6, for a total of 204
students,” he said.
“ Once here, the teams will be re-blended so that no one school competes
against another. The top six winning teams will go on to compete at
the state level again this year.”
Regardless of who wins the final Battle, no one goes away empty-handed.
Zuchowicz and his staff will be awarding pins and have created original
certificates, magnets, and t-shirts as prizes. QAD, a Carpinteria-based
business, has graciously donated book bags for all participants as
well.
Further information is available from Zuchowicz at 964-4711, ext 5222.
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