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Battle of the Books
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The Battle of the Books is a reading competition for deaf and hard of hearing students in grades 5-8. Students across the nation read the same assigned books and then compete against each other by answering true or false, short answer, multiple choice, and presentation style questions about the books they read. The competition promotes literacy among deaf and hard of hearing students and is rooted in a spirit of academic competition and sportsmanship.
There are three divisions to accommodate participants’ varied reading levels. The Bison division is reserved for 3rd and 4th grade reading levels; the Blue division is reserved for 5th and 6th grade reading levels; and the Buff division is reserved for 7th grade reading level and above.
The competition includes preliminaries, the playoffs, and the national competition. In the preliminaries, teams compete with rival schools and programs around the nation, providing an excellent opportunity for these students to meet other deaf and hard of hearing students their age who enjoy reading as well. The top performing teams advance to the playoffs where the presentation round is introduced. Of these, six final teams from the Buff and Blue divisions (and the Bison championship team) are invited to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. for the national competition. All transportation, lodging, and meals for the National-bound teams are covered by the Gallaudet University Youth Programs office.
2023-2024 competition timeline is as follows:
BOTB Registration Period: September 13, 2023 at noon EST – September 15, 2023 at 6 pm EST
BOTB Preliminary competition: Week of November 13-17, 2023
BOTB Buff and Blue Playoffs: Week of November 27-December 1, 2023
BOTB Bison Finals: December 5 – 7, 2023
BOTB National competition @ Gallaudet: April 5-8, 2024
We would like to recognize and thank our main sponsor for the 2023 National Battle of the Books, Sorenson!
Friday, March 31st 4:00 p.m. Teams Arrive/Registration @ LLRH6 4:15 p.m.-5:00p.m. Team pictures @ Chapel Hall 5:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m. Icebreakers/Chaperones’ Meeting @ LLRH6 5:45 p.m.-6:45p.m. Dinner @ Cafeteria 7:00 p.m.-8:30p.m. Rock Climbing/Games @ Field House 8:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m Opening Ceremony @ Elstad Auditorium 10:00 p.m....
California School for the Deaf, Fremont California School for the Deaf, Riverside Georgia School for the Deaf Heathlands School for Deaf Children (U.K.) Hawai'i School for the Deaf and Blind Indiana School for the Deaf Kansas School for the Deaf Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (D.C.)...
California School for the Deaf, Fremont California School for the Deaf, Riverside Haggard/Plano (TX) Heathlands School for Deaf Children (U.K.) Homeschooled/Mainstreamed Team Kansas School for the Deaf Kentucky School for the Deaf Marie Philip School (MA) Maryland School for the Deaf-Columbia Maryland School for the...
California School for the Deaf, Fremont California School for the Deaf, Riverside Heathlands School For Deaf Children (U.K.) Homeschooled/Mainstreamed Team Indiana School for the Deaf Kendall Demonstration Elementary School Maryland School for the Deaf-Columbia Maryland School for the Deaf-Frederick Metro Deaf School (MN) Marie Philip...
National Competition Winners Year Buff Division Blue Division Green Division 2012-2013 Texas SD Kansas SD Texas SD 2014 Kendall Demonstration Elementary Kentucky SD Illinois SD and Louisiana SD 2015 Phoenix Day SD Wisconsin SD CSD Fremont 2016 Phoenix Day SD CSD Fremont Rhode Island SD...
Year Buff Division Blue Division Green Division 2012-2013 Texas SD Kansas SD Texas SD 2014 Kendall Demonstration Elementary Kentucky SD Illinois SD and Louisiana SD 2015 Phoenix Day SD Wisconsin SD CSD Fremont 2016 Phoenix Day SD CSD Fremont Rhode Island SD 2017 CSD Fremont...
Number of Schools in the Preliminary Competition: 54 Number of Teams in the Preliminary Competition: 94 Website: 2019 BOTB Nationals National Competition teams (Buff): CSD Fremont Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (DC) Marie Philip School (MA) Nebraska North Metro Deaf School (MN) Rocky Mountain Deaf School...
Number of Schools in the Preliminary Competition: 42 Number of Teams in the Preliminary Competition: 84 Buff National Competition teams: CSD Fremont Phoenix Day SD Wisconsin SD Illinois SD Maryland SD Oklahoma SD Florida SDB New Mexico SD Blue National Competition teams: CSD Fremont Sussman...
Number of Schools in the Preliminary Competition: 45 Number of Teams in the Preliminary Competition: 85 National Competition teams (Buff): New Mexico SD Texas SD Oklahoma SD Wisconsin SD CSD Fremont CSD Riverside Florida SDB Western Pennsylvania SD National Competition teams (Blue): Phoenix Day SD...
Check out the list of signers below for the BOTB competition. Year Prelim & Playoff or Nationals Division Book Title Author Book Signer 2022-2023 Nationals Buff The Giver (Graphic Novel) Lois Lowry Tyler Furtzland 2022-2023 Nationals Buff I Know Your Secret Daphne Benedis-Grab Jared Herman...
Heathlands School for Deaf Children (UK) Kansas School for the Deaf Marie Philip School (MA) Maryland School for the Deaf, Frederick Rocky Mountain Deaf School (CO) Sequoia Deaf School (AZ) TOPS K-8 (WA) Venado Middle School (CA)
To Be Announced on April 11th
California School for the Deaf, Fremont California School for the Deaf, Riverside Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (DC) Nebraska East Nebraska North Rocky Mountain Deaf School (CO) TOPS K-8 (WA) Wisconsin School for the Deaf
CSD Fremont L-R: Zoe Bell, Gabriella Bibb, Faith Brune; Front: Chaperone Scott O'Donnell CSD Riverside L-R: Abbie Barrett, Jaden Gamache, Anthony McFarland-Smith; Front: Chaperone Lisa Chute Indiana School for the Deaf L-R: Sarah Walton, Gianna Wheeler, Michelle Eicher; Front: Chaperone Teri Paulone Kendall Demonstration Elementary...
During the first year, we hosted the Preliminary competition in October 2012 with 17 schools participating. The Buff Division was the only division to have a national competition which was held at Gallaudet in December 2012, with only 4 schools participating. Number of Schools in...
For the 2013-2014 school year, the Preliminary competition was held in December 2013, with the Playoffs in January 2014. The top 8 teams from the Buff, Blue, and Green Divisions, were invited to the national competition held at Gallaudet in March 2014. Number of Schools...
Number of Participating Schools in the Preliminary Competition: 36 Number of Teams in the Preliminary Competition: 66 National Competition teams (Buff): CSD Fremont CSD Riverside Illinois SD Indiana SD Maryland SD Montgomery County Public Schools Phoenix Day SD Texas SD National Competition teams (Blue): New...
Number of Schools in the Preliminary Competition: 45 Number of Teams in the Preliminary Competition: 85 2020 BOTB Nationals National Competition teams (Buff): CSD Fremont CSD Riverside Indiana SD Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (DC) Marie Philip School (MA) New Mexico School for the Deaf TOPS...
Gallaudet's Battle of the Books was established in 2012. Its roots can be traced to the Battle of the Books competition amongst several deaf schools across the nation. The original contest in 2007 had four participating schools: California School for the Deaf, Fremont led by...
Rules and Guidelines Registration period: Monday, September 12 @ 12:00pm EST to Wednesday, September 14, 2022 @ 4:00pm EST Preliminary Competition: November 15-17, 2022 Buff Preliminary competition: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 Blue Preliminary competition: Wednesday, November 16, 2022 Bison Preliminary competition: Thursday, November 17, 2022 Playoff Competition: December 5-15, 2022 Buff...
Number of Schools/Programs in the Preliminary Competition: 34 Number of Teams in the Preliminary Competition: 69 National Competition teams (Buff): California School for the Deaf, Fremont California School for the Deaf, Riverside Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (DC) Nebraska Regional Programs, East Nebraska Regional Programs, North...
Buff Division The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart Blue Division Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed The Running Dream by Wendelin...
May 4th-7th, 2020 Please check Facebook for updates!"
2020-2021 Battle of the Books Playoffs January 25-February 5, 2021 Buff Participating Teams Blue Participating Teams Green Participating Teams Buff Playoffs Bracket Blue Playoffs Bracket Green Playoffs Bracket
2020-2021 Battle of the Books Preliminaries Preliminary Competition Dates: January 11-15 Buff Participating Teams Blue Participating Teams Green Participating Teams
April 5-11, 2021
Buff Division Final Rankings Champions: Indiana School for the Deaf Second Place: Wisconsin School for the Deaf Third Place: Kendall Demonstration Elementary School Fourth Place: TOPS K-8 Most Outstanding Player Michelle Eicher Indiana School for the Deaf All Stars Abbie Barrett California School for the...
Blue Division Final Rankings Champions: Wisconsin School for the Deaf Second Place: TOPS K-8 Third Place: Kendall Demonstration Elementary School Fourth Place: California School for the Deaf, Fremont Most Outstanding Player Robert Paul Wisconsin School for the Deaf All Stars Cindy Rodriguez Venado Middle School...
Green Division Final Rankings Champions: Kendall Demonstration Elementary School Second Place: Madrona K-8 Third Place: Venado Middle School Fourth Place: Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Most Outstanding Player Akina Watson Kendall Demonstration Elementary School
2019 National Battle of the Books Competition March 27-30, 2019 2019 Participating Teams 2019 Nationals Books 2019 Weekend Schedule 2019 Nationals Pools 2019 Buff Match Schedule 2019 Buff Division Results and Awards 2019 Blue Match Schedule 2019 Blue Division Results and Awards Note: We will...
Buff Pool Blue Pool
Buff: Nathie Marbury Pool Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Total Kendall Demonstration Elementary School 49 42 45 136 Nebraska North 40 32 38 110 Rocky Mountain Deaf School 45 38 46 129 Texas School for the Deaf 39 36 29 104 Buff: Agatha Tiegel...
Buff Division Teams: CSD Fremont Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (DC) Marie Philip School (MA) Nebraska North Metro Deaf School (MN) Rocky Mountain Deaf School (CO) Texas School for the Deaf Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Blue Division Teams: CSD Riverside Indiana School for the...
Friday, March 29th 4:00 pm - Teams Arrive/Registration @ GUKCH 5:00 pm-5:45 pm - Icebreakers/Chaperones' Meeting @ LLRH6 5:45 pm - Dinner @ Cafeteria (Upper Level) 7:00 pm-8:00 pm - Opening Ceremony @ MPR 8:00 pm - Social Activity @ Field House 10:00 pm -...
Number of Schools in the Preliminary Competition: 42 Number of Teams in the Preliminary Competition: 84 National Competition teams (Buff): Metro Deaf School Rochester SD CSD Riverside Wisconsin SD Texas SD Phoenix Day SD CSD Fremont Northwest Maryland National Competition teams (Blue): Phoenix Day SD...
Youth Programs Coordinator