Students to do Battle on April 18

“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.

“Each participating student must read 30 books from a pre-selected list,” 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 has received such enthusiastic responses in the last 11 years that this year, once again, the schools were clamoring for spaces, and it filled very quickly,” explained Matt Zuchowicz, director of educational technology services, the SBCEO department that conducts the Battle.

“Over 30 county schools, ranging from Santa Maria to Carpinteria, will each send a team of five students, grades 4-6,” he said.

“Once here, the teams will be re-blended so that no one school competes against another.”

Regardless of who wins the final Battle, no one goes away empty-handed. Zuchowicz and his staff will be awarding books and have created original certificates and T-shirts as prizes.

Further information is available from Rose Koller at 964-4711, ext 5222.