Gallaudet University
Who We Are
Our Work
Overview
News & Stories
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Upcoming Events
April 20, 2024
University Wide Events
No Communication Compromises
Areas of Study
Schools
Programs
Changing the world
Research
Community & Innovation
Research Experiences & Services
Our Global Presence
Global at Home
Global Learning For All
Global Engagement
Your Journey Starts Here
Admissions
Financial Aid
Explore Our Campus
Connect
Discover
Influence
Directories
Popular Keywords
Explore
Quick Links
GU
/
Youth Programs
Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books History
Peet Hall 412
(202) 651-5000
Email Us
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 Beth Kunze, Metro Deaf School led by Lisa Ewan, New Mexico School for the Deaf led by Jennifer Herbold, and Texas School for the Deaf led by Leslie Hussey. The competition’s brainchild was Leslie Hussey who gained inspiration from one of her TSD students, Maggie Kopp. Maggie Kopp is the same person who wrote the article at the bottom of this page.
The first competition had only one reading group, but in 2008, the competition was expanded to include readers from four different groups. In 2009, Maryland School for the Deaf and Phoenix Day School for the Deaf joined the competition. In 2012, an agreement was reached to allow Gallaudet to take over the competition and expand it so that other programs for the deaf and hard of hearing could join.
The first annual Gallaudet’s Battle of the Books was held in the fall of 2012 as a pilot competition. 105 students on 35 teams from 17 schools participated in the competition. Texas School for the Deaf won the first Buff group national competition. Kansas School for the Deaf won the first Blue group national competition, and Texas School for the Deaf also won the first Green group national competition. Lydia Kopp of Texas School for the Deaf won the first Most Outstanding Player award. Bryan Yun of Earle B. Wood Middle School, Jared Herman of California School for the Deaf, Riverside, Claude Martinez-Krohn of Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, and Malvana Ramborger of Texas School for the Deaf were also recognized as All-Star Players.
Article written by Margaret Kopp, a Texas School for the Deaf senior, in the fall of 2012:
Six years ago, I moved from Columbus, Ohio to Austin, Texas to attend the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD). When my mother and I met with my sixth-grade English teacher, Leslie Hussey, we flitted with the idea of having a Battle of the Books competition at TSD. The Battle of the Books idea came from my experience at Huy Elementary School in Columbus. Human memory is faulty and not always precise, but as far as I can remember, we had about seven or eight books to read. Several subsequent matches were held in my fifth-grade class to determine the final four players who would be on the team. I was the only deaf student in the classroom, and I made the team. We competed against a neighboring elementary school. Our team lost the match, but I genuinely enjoyed the experience and wanted to participate again at my new school.
Leslie embraced the idea of having a Battle of the Books competition at TSD and consulted the teacher at Huy Elementary School. She did a wonderful job selecting books, composing questions, and coordinating the event. That first Battle of the Books competition at TSD was fairly small. We only had one team composed of middle school students from various grades. Videophone matches were held with only a few other deaf schools, but it still was a significant change for me; I didn’t have to rely on an interpreter to communicate with my teammates.
Back then, I never imagined the competition would become as widespread as it has today. With every consecutive school year, the number of interested participants steadily grew. Compared to the first competition in the fall of 2006, there are now more teams, far more matches, and a greater variety of books to read. At the most recent competition this past fall, there were 35 teams from 17 schools! This year, my little sister, Lydia Kopp (an 8th grader), is one of three players representing TSD at the Gallaudet competition, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. I hope the Battle of the Books will continue to provide an opportunity for stimulating competition that will ultimately foster students’ love for literacy.
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...
Resource Type: Archives & Exhibits
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...
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...
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...
Resource Type: History
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...
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 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...
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...
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 -...
May 4th-7th, 2020 Please check Facebook for updates!"
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...
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...
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...
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...
April 5-11, 2021
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
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...
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...
To Be Announced on April 11th
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 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 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...
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
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)
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...
Learn ASL