Connecting Through Competition

How to successfully run a school and district-wide Book Bowl

using award nominated titles

​

History

• 1940’s radio show
• Alaskan Battle of Books
• Name change -Book Bowl (less competitive, more collegial)
• New Haven- National Library Power Program
• Region 15-school to district

Dunn, Diane Weaver. "Competition Increases Student Reading." Education World, 2007. Education World , www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr211.shtml.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Promotion

• Attend Book Bowl as 4th graders
• Book talk/Book trailers to increase excitement
• Nutmeg Website
• Book Chats (one book a week) during lunch

Kickoff

• Kickoff Slideshow -- meet as a grade level

-review rules

-start forming teams

• Nutmeg webSite Discussion Questions for students to review

​

​

​

​

​

​

Question Creation

• Google form to gather questions (include page #)

-In which book did…

-In which book is there…

-In which book does a character…

Answer is always a book title

​

• Spreadsheet responses highlighted by round

​

• Google Doc with questions by round

​

​

​

​

​

Group Test

• Google form team test in library

​

• Team captains log into Google Classroom to access the team test

​

• Top four scoring teams compete in live round to determine school champion team which will go on to compete at the district level

​

• Timestamp can be used as a tie-breaker

​

​

​

​

​

​

School Book Bowl

• Study/teamwork sessions
• Invite 4th graders as audience
• Collaborate with public library
• Need scorekeepers (2), timekeeper, announcer
• Team Signs, microphones, programs
• Team captain states full title

of book as answer to each question

​

District Book Bowl

• Consider venue (different school each year)
• State both author and full book title when answering question
• Needs: one copy of each book on display
• Microphones, chairs, balloons, water for each team member

​

Miscellaneous Things to Consider...

• Team dynamics/commitment
• how to choose a team
• Compromise as a team
• Parent communication-initial, commitment letter, moving on letter, family invitation to book bowl
• Team T-Shirts
• Book bowl celebration

​

If interested in joining us…

Crowdsourcing questions through this form.

Region 15 elementary library media specialists:

Christine parker-email: cparker@region15.org TWITTER: @cparkerlms

Stephanie robinson-EMAIL: srobinson@region15.org TWITTER: @mrsrobinson229

Christina o’NEILL-EMAIL: coneill@region15.org TWITTER: @Christinaotweet

Kristyn MASTROPIETRO-EMAIL: kmastropietro@region15.org TWITTER: @peslibrary1

​

​

​