Recognition of the 2007 District Elementary Battle of the Books Champions (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

We would like to recognize the 2007 District Elementary Battle of the Books Champions and area winners.

Battle of the Books Area Winners
Bellamy, Brooker, Clark, Lithia Springs, Lomax, Roosevelt, and Yates Elementary Schools

Battle of the Books Champions
Clark Elementary School

The Elementary Battle of the Books began implementation 14 years ago with a pilot of 6 schools. Over the past 14 years it has grown from 6 schools to last year's Battle of 131 elementary schools. During the 2007/2008 school year we are expecting 138 elementary schools to participate.

All schools read the 15 books that are selected for the Florida Sunshine State Young Reader's Award book list as the core list of reading. The additional 3 books are selected by a select committee of elementary media specialists. Criteria used to select these additional books is genre, reading level, publication date, and interest level. The schools and community usually have the list of 18 Battle Books by July 1.

Our goal is to have as many fourth grade students read these books as possible. It is important to have all Grade 4 students involved in the Battle at some level. Approximately 14,000 fourth graders are involved in the Battle. In many instances the schools purchase a set of Battle books for each fourth grade class in addition to having them in the media center.

The culmination of the Battle of the Books is the District Battle. The 7 teams representing all 7 areas are on stage and compete in front of an audience of 500 students and adults. All schools can send students and the District Battle finalist teams can send a bus load of attendees. There are pre-Battle festivities before the Battle begins to build up lots of excitement! Special questions are created for this Battle. At the end of the Battle the team with the highest points is the District Winner and receives many awards including a Traveling District Battle Trophy.

Goal 1 - The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of five percentage points.

This Agenda Item is for recognition of student successes and has no financial impact to the District.