Ruffin Writers

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Ruffin Writers

• Training for Question Writers for
• CCSD Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

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Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

• Started in DeKalb County
• http//www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/hrrb/georgia.htm
  l
• Georgia Book Award chapter book nominees
• http//www.coe.uga.edu/gcba/
• Expanded to middle school using the Georgia Book
  Award chapter book nominees
• Expanded to high school using Georgia Peach Teen
  nominees
• http//glma-inc.org/peachaward.htm

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Meet ..

• Helen Ruffin, retired media specialist Sky Haven
  Elementary, DeKalb County

• Dr. April Ruffin, relative of Helen Ruffin who
  attends the CCSD HRRB

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Competition Format

• 6 rounds
• 10 questions per round
• 5 members on each team
• 2 teams each round (rotate)
• Team members respond individually
• 10 points for each correct answer
• Cumulative Score for all 6 rounds determines 1st
  and 2nd place

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Winners

• Everyone who participates is a winner!
• All teams receive a participation trophy!

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Advancing to the Regional Bowl

• Top 2 scoring teams in each division receive
  first and second place trophies
• These teams are determined by cumulative scores
  for all 6 rounds

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Room Volunteers

• Moderator
• Reads rules each round
• Reads questions
• Determines if answer is correct
• Makes sure rules are followed
• Console Judge
• Operates the lockout device
• Recognizes student who buzzes in first
• May assist moderator in determining if answer is
  correct
• Score Keeper
• Keeps score on board
• Completes score sheet
• May assist moderator in determining if answer is
  correct
• Time Keeper
• Uses a watch with a second hand to track 10
  second time limits
• Task may be assigned to score keeper or console
  judge

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As you write questions remember

• The competition should be fun
• The room volunteers have not read the books
• All possible versions of an answer should be given

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Always start questions
In the book ltbook titlegt, For exampleIn the
book Elsewhere, what are Observation Decks?
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Indicating answers .
p. , answerFor examplep.64, places where
you can see all the way to Earth
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Things to think about

• Is the question based on facts?
• Is the question clearly stated?
• Does the answer have too many parts (beyond 3
  parts is too many)?
• Can the question be answered differently
  depending on the point in the story?
• Do not use Yes/No and Either/Or type of questions

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Things to think about

• Is a full name required or will just the first or
  last name suffice? (Liz Hall or just Liz)
• Moderators and other volunteers have not
  necessarily read the book so list all acceptable
  answers (i.e. Mein Kampf or My Life or My
  Struggle)

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In the following slides

• Read the question and answer
• Determine if the question is
• Good acceptable for reading bowl
• Bad needs to be rewritten for clarity before
  being used for the reading bowl
• Ugly wrong facts correct facts and rewrite or
  throw out and try another question

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Good, Bad, or Ugly?

• In the book Green Angel, what are the three
  colors of stones and what did each represent?
• p.27, black for her mother, silver for her
  father, and pure white for her sister

• Good!!!

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Good, Bad, or Ugly?

• In the book Notes From the Midnight Driver, what
  book did Alex bring Sol for Hanukkah?
• p.92, Monk

• Bad!!!
• The question should read what is the title of
  the book that Alex brought Sol for Hanukkah?

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Good, Bad, or Ugly?

• In the book Phineas L. MacGuire Erupts!, who are
  the authors?
• title page, Frances O'Roark Dowell and Preston
  McDaniels

• Ugly!!!
• Frances ORoark Dowell is the author and Preston
  McDaniels is the illustrator.

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Questions from the whole book!

• The 10 questions for each book need to cover the
  entire book, beginning to end
• Total Pages 10 section
• Then make 1 question from each section of the book

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Tending to Grace has 176 pages!

• 176 10 17.6 or 18 pages
• Sections
• 1-18, 19-36, 37-54, 55-72, 73-90
• 91-108, 109-126, 127-144,
• 145-162,163-176

Now determine the sections of your book(s).
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Now its your turn -

• It is highly recommended that you read the entire
  book before writing questions
• This will alert you to possible questions that
  could be answered differently at different points
  in the story
• So go ahead and read your book ENJOY!

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Now its your turn -

• Reread the first 2 sections of your book (see
  previous 2 slides)
• Write 1 question from each section
• Send your 2 Peach Teen questions to Kate Lyons at
  k9lyons_at_yahoo.com
• Send your 2 Chapter Book questions to
  renee.crumley_at_cobbk12.org
• Wait for a response before finalizing any
  questions and submitting your question file
• Do not write an author question as these
  questions are already in the database

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Enter your 10 questions into the Question
Database file
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Email your question database file (Peach Teen and
chapter book) to Kate Lyons at k9lyons_at_yahoo.com
This should be done no later than Pre-Planning in
August.
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Final Words

• Books borrowed from Osborne or Kate Lyons must be
  returned no later than Pre-Planning in August
• The Reading Bowl should be fun!
• The Reading Bowl cannot happen without your help!
• THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!