Why did we create BattleQuestions.com?
As experienced media specialists, we yearned for a site that
would:
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Create quizzes to assess prospective team
members
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Allow us to select any number of books and
create questions
-
Create flashcards for students to practice
independently or collaboratively
-
Offer tried-and-true methods of practice that
will prepare teams for the North Carolina Battle of the Books–––
-
Continuously create NEW questions and NOT repeat
until all are exhausted
What is our experience with North Carolina Battle of the Books?
Members of our creative team have participated in the North
Carolina Battle of the Books competition since 2009. Using the methods
described within the COACHING SUPPORT tab, members of the
BattleQuestions.com team have won county and regional championships. We understand that media specialists serve
their schools in many capacities and the NC Battle of the Books competition
goes above and beyond our normal day-to-day responsibilities. For this reason, we have strived to alleviate
some of that burden by creating a resource that will allow teams to be
successful, while giving the necessary tools and support.
What sets BattleQuestions.com apart from other preparatory
sites?
QUESTIONS DO NOT REPEAT UNTIL THE ENTIRE DATABASE IS
EXHAUSTED! This functionality is EXCLUSIVE to BattleQuestions.com. The inability of other sites to provide this
functionality was the impetus for BattleQuestions.com to be created. Time is such a precious commodity and
repeated questions waste that precious resource.
Also, BattleQuestions.com readers and question generators
are required to read ALL 27 books for each season before creating
questions. In this way, members can be assured that the answers to the questions will
be accurate for one and only one book.
What other coaching techniques are offered to create a
successful North Carolina Battle of the
Books team?
Please be sure to visit our BattleQuestions.com YouTube
channel. There you’ll see videos of
actual lesson and practice activities.
PREASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE TEAM MEMBERS FOR BATTLE OF THE
BOOKS TEAM MEMBERS:
Many coaches are lucky enough to have an overabundance of
interest in the Battle of the Books competition. Unfortunately, the coach must be able to
assess the applicants and choose the top 12.
We recommend choosing five books for the prospective members and then
using a generated quiz for assessment.
The students with the top 12 scores make the team.
Some activities are
student-led:
-
Students use flashcards for a mock battle. Two teams work collaboratively while one
student acts as the moderator. The
moderator has flashcards that have been provided by the coach.
-
Students work in pairs and quiz each other with
the use of the flashcards. Students keep
track of correct answers with tally marks.
Discussion is encouraged.
-
Students use the flashcards to practice
independently in preparation for the next day’s practice activity.
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Students separate into two teams and use the
flashcards to call out IWB questions to each other.
Some activities are teacher-led:
-
Coach uses the PowerPoint template and transfers
questions from a generated Excel spreadsheet.
The activity can then be administered in a mock battle format,
individual students and volunteer answers, pairs can confer with each other,
etc.
-
Coach uses flashcards to serve as the moderator
of a mock battle with two teams conferring.
-
Coach may choose to use a randomized Excel
spreadsheet that has been generated with his/her choice of books and number of
questions for mock battle or individuals responding.
-
Coach can use generated Excel spreadsheets to
create interactive Jeopardy games and/or Whack-a-Mole games from
SmartExchange.com.
Some activities are
structured for pair learning:
-
Use generated flashcards to call questions to a
partner. Encourage discussion.
-
Provide generated Excel spreadsheets.
Some activities are for
independent practice:
-
Use generated flashcards for kids to practice at
home.
-
Use generated flashcards for kids to prepare for
an upcoming mock battle. Simply make two
copies: one for the kids and one for the battle after their practice.
-
Use generated tests to have students complete
and return upon the next day’s practice.
-
Assign quizzes for students to practice on-line
with their student accounts.
What is the timeline of events for the North Carolina Battle
of the Books 2013 competition?
Beginning of School – October 1st
Kids
that are interested meet with the coach and expectations are outlined. The coach will then reveal the five books
needed to be read for the initial assessment and selection of team members.
Mid-October
Students
are given the initial assessment with the generated quiz. We recommend five of the books that are on
that year’s North Carolina Battle of the Books list. Completing a test of 25 IWB questions should
be adequate to ascertain which students were adequately prepared and will be
able to contribute to your team’s success at the competitions.
March – County Battle of the Books Competition
Your
county-wide competition will be scheduled some time within this month. When your team successfully outwits all
others, you’ll then advance to the regional competition.
April – Regional Battle of the Books Competition
North
Carolina’s Battle of the Books competition is separated into nine regions:
The winners of these competions will meet in May to compete
for the North Carolina Battle of the Books State Championship.
Visit the North Carolina School Library Media Association
website at http://www.ncslma.org/bob-regions.html
For the BEST coaching support and thousands of questions for
the North Carolina Battle of the Books Competition, please visit http://www.battlequestions.com/
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