Nothing beats a dosage of healthy competition, especially when motivating students to continue reading outside of the classroom. Educators in the South Bay Union School District provide children with the opportunity to engage in Battle of the Books, a voluntary incentivized reading program. Nicoloff School has offered the program to students in grades 4-6 for 3 years now, fostering an environment for students to read and share findings with their peers.
According to the most recent Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), white students outscored Latino-American students in reading literacy. However, these trends may be reversed when school districts approach reading the way South Bay Union has. Research has linked the alarming gap in literacy achievement to students’ engagement with reading, measured by the amount of students seeking books for pleasure and enjoyment. When given the opportunity to read books out of pure interest, rather than through school assignments, students are able to exponentially expand upon their literacy capabilities.
Simply put, genuine interest in a topic is extremely powerful motivation for a student to continue reading and enjoy the content while doing so. This engagement has a profound impact on a student’s overall academic performance. In fact, PISA found evidence that highly engaged readers from low socioeconomic backgrounds scored equally as well as less engaged readers from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Battle of the Books has been a positive step in closing the achievement gap and providing more resources for students of the school district.
Students can have fun while strengthening their reading abilities. Specific information about the rules and regulations can be found on the Nicoloff School Battle of the Books website here.
About the South Bay Union School District:
The South Bay Union School District proudly serves over 7,500 students in Imperial Beach, San Ysidro, and south San Diego. The District is comprised of twelve campuses, including nine K-6 schools, two K-8 charter schools, and one Preschool. South Bay offers several specialized programs including Dual Language, Instrumental Music, Visual and Performing Arts, and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Academy.
Media Contact
Company Name: South Bay Union School District
Contact Person: Amy Cooper
Email:Send Email
Phone: (619) 628-1605
Address:601 Elm Avenue
City: Imperial Beach
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: http://www.sbusd.org/pages/SouthBayUnion
