Hawthorne Elementary and the Keokuk Middle School will once again participate in Battle of the Books, which is a literacy initiative sponsored annually by the Great Prairie Area Education Agency (GPAEA). Students will read a prescribed list of books and then compete in a Quiz Bowl style setting against other Southeast Iowa teams.
“It’s a fun competition for students who like to read and it has a number of educational benefits as well,” Martha Marsot, KCSD K-12 Teacher Librarian, said.
Marsot explained that participating students demonstrate improved literacy skills, ability to work in teams and collaboration skills, confidence, and additional support in achieving educational goals. The competition also encourages reading for pleasure.
Participants will also be part of a virtual author visit with Danica Davidson, author of gamer-themed books, “Escape from the Overworld,” “Attack on the Overworld,” and “The Rise of Herobrine,” which all three are on the elementary and middle school reading lists for the competition.
Each school can sponsor up to two teams, with a cap of six members per team. The teams travel to Fairfield, Iowa, to participate and the competition will be on May 5.
