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Frequently Asked Questions

Many of your questions should be answered here, but if you have a question that is not answered, please use the information on the "Contact" page.
How do I get students involved?

 

Start with your own class, or with literacy teachers for the grade level(s) you want to work with.  Tell them about the contest and ask them if they would let you visit their literacy class for 10-15 minutes one day to tell the students about the contest.  You can use a handout like this one to easily share information with students and parents.

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You can also use email, announcements, intercom, website, etc. to get the word out.  Once you have participated in the contest, word of mouth is also excellent advertising!  You could have an older student visit younger grades (or make a video) to invite them to participate.

How do I find time to meet with students?

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This will depend on your position and your building's schedule, of course. Here are some ideas of times you might be able to meet with students:

  • during intervention time

  • during TAG

  • during literacy time (pull out from regular classroom)

  • before school

  • after school

  • during lunch

  • during study hall

 

If you absolutely can't find a time to meet with a large group of students, you could meet individually with students according to their schedule.  Or, you could communicate with your group primarily through email, Google Classroom, Edmodo, etc.

Can students on one team be from different grade levels?

Yes.  Participants must be in 5th-8th grade, but teams can include any or all of those grades.

Do students have to say the whole book title?  What about the whole author's name?  What about a book with two authors?

 

Students do not have to give the whole subtitle when answering, just the main title (ex. "Bomb" is sufficient; you don't have to say "Bomb:  The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon").  However, students should say the whole main title of the book (ex. "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry").

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Students should answer with the author's name that is listed on the cover of the book.  The authors' full names are listed on the Book List page of this site.

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If a book has two or more authors listed, both/all author names should be given.  Illustrators' names are not required.

What about pronunciation?

 

Pronouncing an author’s name wrong does not mean a team cannot earn points;  however, the moderator must be able to determine that the team said the correct first and last name.

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Here is a pronunciation guide to some of the authors, found in author videos online and on TeachingBooks.net  (This is a great resource for author information and other resources - please check with your AEA for login information):

Sheinkin = SHEN-kin

Kwame = KWAH-mee

Stead = STED (rhymes with shed)

Entrada = en-TRAH-dah

Margot = MAR-go

Gratz = rhymes with pats

Raina = RAY-nuh

Telgemeier = TELL-guh-my-er

Gemeinhart = guh-MINE-heart

Knowles = NO-uls

Auxier = OX-ee-ay

Mitali = mit-TALL-ee

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Do students get time after the timer rings to give an answer?

 

After the 30-second timer rings, students will have a few seconds (at moderator's discretion) to give an answer.  This also applies to a steal.

What will the contest schedule be like?

 

The final schedule will be released a few weeks before the contest, after official team registration is complete.  Our tentative schedule follows.  You can plan to arrive at Winterset Middle School BEFORE 8:45am.  We will read the rules in the gym at 8:45.  Pool play will be from 9am-noon, then we will have half an hour to break for lunch & get the PM tournament set up, then the tournament rounds will be from 12:30-3:00pm and awards will be around 3:00.  Please note that the morning WILL NOT move any faster as we'll be using all the same questions for concurrent rounds, so we can't get ahead.  However, the afternoon will LIKELY move faster if teams finish rounds quickly, since those rounds will use different questions.  Therefore, awards may happen before 3:00.

We have participated in Winterset's Battle of the Books before.  What's new that I need to know about?

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Team registration will be increased to $15 per team this year to cover the cost of trophies and ribbons, as well as custodial staff who are working throughout the contest day.

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We will need to cap our registration at 64 teams due to space and volunteers.  We may not reach that number, and in that case, all teams will get to participate.  Whatever number of teams we have register, teams will take an online placement quiz to determine which pool they will be placed in for the tournament.  This quiz will be sent to coaches on 3/13/19 and will be due on 3/27/19.

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Questions that are submitted to use in the contest MUST follow the format on the "Question Submissions" tab OR be submitted through the Google Forms link.  If page numbers are not included, the question will not be used as it takes too much time to verify these questions.

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Continuing the practice we started last year, the final question database will NOT be shared with students this year.  As a coach, it is your choice if you want to collect the questions your own students have written and allow other students from your district to practice using those questions.  The final question database will be shared with coaches to allow for proofreading and group practice, but should NOT be shared with students.

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The following changes were implemented in 2017 and are listed here as a reminder of those changes:

 

  • Be sure to check out the "Timeline" tab to keep up with important deadlines.  These deadlines will be enforced.

  • Registration for coaches and teams will be done online.  If you haven't registered as a coach, please do so through the "Registration" tab.  You will get an email with the link to register teams.  Registration fees must be sent in advance, and will not be refunded if teams do not participate.

  • Teams will earn 3 points for a correct answer, 2 bonus points for the author, and steals will be worth 3 points.

  • Teams will not be given "PASS" cards and will not be allowed to challenge questions.  Instead, coaches will be given access to the question database and will be encouraged to offer feedback on questions to assure the quality of questions and fairness to all.

How do I get access to the main question database?  What do I use it for and who can I share it with?

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Coaches who have registered (see "Registration" tab) will get access to the main question database once enough questions have been added to make it worthwhile (usually sometime in January).  This database can be used during practice sessions, but please DO NOT share the link to the database with students.

I don't like/understand one of the questions in the question database.  What do I do?

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Use the information in the "Contact" tab to give feedback on questions.  Please include specific information about the question you'd like to edit.  All edits must be submitted by 4/1/19.

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During the contest, students will not be allowed to offer feedback about questions, challenge a question, or pass a question.  That's why it's important to offer feedback before the deadline, so the questions are as fair as they can possibly be.

Are parents or spectators allowed?  Is there an admission charge?

 

Parents or spectators are welcome to attend!  There will be no charge for admission.  Students may also watch other teams while they are on a break.  We do ask that spectators enter a room during a break between rounds so we don't interrupt a round already in progress.  Cell phones should be on silent.

Will there be a concession stand available?

 

We will have a concession stand that will offer breakfast and lunch items, as well as snacks throughout the day.  Students are allowed to bring their own food or parents could go pick up food from a local restaurant.

What should participants wear to the contest?

 

There is no dress code.  Teams may want to dress alike wearing a similar t-shirt or shirt color, hats, scarves, or something else, but it is not required.  All attire should be appropriate for the school setting.

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