- SecondaryELA - lists.uen.org

INFO: Join StoryCon & Share with your Students!
by Naomi Watkins 05 Oct '26

05 Oct '26

[cid:08dbe986-638a-419d-88ad-d340116c208e] (Request printed materials by October 9) (Print your own here<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OYpknhu9YOdvJM4mhTefhf-tchdnd6iL?us…>) Hello, beloved educators! Every year at StoryCon, a kid walks into a class with a published author, feels like their ideas and their potential are taken seriously, and walks out transformed. Reading and writing stop being schoolwork and start being something that belongs to them. That shift is the whole reason we do this, and it tends to stick for life. There are students in your classes right now who need exactly that. You know who they are. We don't, and we can't reach them without you. THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER A SCHOOL GROUP FOR STORYCON! We offer deep discounts and one free educator ticket for every ten student tickets. Check out our Educator Success Toolkit at storycon.org/schoolgroup<http://storycon.org/schoolgroup> for prewritten funding request letters, promotional templates, and planning checklists. Equitable access is central to what we do: we scholarship 20% of attendees from Title I schools, so if you are looking for a first time scholarship to StoryCon for a group of 10 students, please email contact(a)operationliteracy.org<mailto:contact@operationliteracy.org> to apply. PLEASE SHARE STORYCON WITH YOUR STUDENTS StoryCon is Utah’s largest book event, combining the energy and passion of a national book festival with the professional education of a serious writing conference with dedicated tracks for teens, tweens, and educators. Brandon Mull is our headlining keynote, and he's bringing an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Fablehaven movie for attendees only. Also keynoting: T. Kingfisher, Maggie Stiefvater, and poet Amber McBride, with Caldecott winner Dan Santat keynoting the tween day. Neal Shusterman, Kiera Cass, Tricia Levenseller, Kathryn Purdie, and dozens more authors and publishing professionals will be teaching classes. Full lineup at storycon.org/presenters. Here is a link to printable posters and flyers<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OYpknhu9YOdvJM4mhTefhf-tchdnd6iL?us…>. Please share these with any student you feel would benefit from StoryCon programming–the ones writing in notebooks under their desks, the ones who reread the same three books, and the ones who haven't discovered yet that they love reading. A student who hears "I think you would love this" from their own teacher is far more likely to participate than a student who walks past a poster. That one sentence from you is the most valuable thing in this whole email. Students with financial need can apply for individual scholarships at storycon.org/scholarships. WANT US TO SEND YOU PRINTED MATERIALS? REQUEST BY OCTOBER 9TH Last year we mailed printed packets to every school in Utah. This year printed flyers, posters, and bookmarks will be shipped to you upon request. Email contact(a)operationliteracy.org<mailto:contact@operationliteracy.org> with: - Your name and school - A mailing address - the number of student flyers you'd like A SATURDAY-ONLY TICKET, AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH THE QR CODE ON YOUR EDUCATOR FLYERS Plenty of families can't pull a student out of school on a Friday. For those students we have a discounted Saturday-only teen ticket that is not listed on our public ticket page. It is available only through these flyers, which means your students can't find it unless you tell them about it. THREE WAYS TO BUILD READING AND WRITING ENERGY NOW * Read Your Way to StoryCon 2027: a reading list with one featured title from every visiting author, with a prize for students who read five books on the list. It makes a great group reading list for a class or a book club, and it's especially fun if several students from your school are attending and can compare notes. Find the list at storycon.org/readtostorycon2027. * Teen Readers' Choice Awards is the only national book award nominated and decided entirely by teens. Voting is open now at storycon.org/vote, and winners are announced at StoryCon. * Our contests cover fiction, poetry, cover art, film scripts, songwriting, playwriting, and more. Two things to know: entries require a fee, and only registered StoryCon attendees may submit. That said, the prompts make excellent class assignments on their own. Assign one to everybody, let the whole class get the benefit of the writing, and then the students who are attending can decide for themselves whether they want to enter what they wrote. Prompts can be found at storycon.org/contests. FOR YOU AND YOUR LIBRARIAN The educator track runs February 5-6 and costs $199. Gordon Korman, author of more than 100 books for kids and teens, is giving the educator keynote. Your ticket also includes all adult track classes, every keynote, the exhibit hall, and the chance to earn up to 5 SUU graduate credits. Details at storycon.org/educator. We're holding one Educator Book Banquet this year, with author speed dating and a signed book from every author at the event. This event fills up quickly, so reserve your seat today at storycon.org/bookbanquet. If you do nothing else, print the flyer and hand it to the three or four students who came to mind while you were reading this. We deeply appreciate your helping us ensure access to these programs for the students who need them most. Questions of any kind can be addressed to contact(a)operationliteracy.org<mailto:contact@operationliteracy.org>. We would love to hear from you. We can't wait to celebrate story together in February. The Operation Literacy Team [cid:366e706d-f428-4fce-9b3e-812b8d6dc867] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:093dca42-564e-44ee-82f8-96ff4a4778a9]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> virtually Request professional learning, training or technical assistance through the USBE Learning Portal<http://bit.ly/usberequest>. LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.

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Nominate an ELA Teacher of the Year!
by Naomi Watkins 05 Oct '26

05 Oct '26

Know an outstanding Utah ELA teacher who expands minds and worlds? Nominate them for Utah English Teacher of the Year! Awards recognize BOTH middle and high school teachers in five categories: • Student Teacher/Intern • First-Year Teacher • Early Career (2–5 years) • Experienced (6–20 years) • Expert (21+ years) Self-nominations and nominations from colleagues or administrators are welcome; submit the quick nomination form and a letter of support HERE<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPx820Aj2j_k2NJCbSCAtu2kGTmLqE9u2…> by December 15, 2026. Winners will be honored at the UCTE Annual Conference on February 19, 2027. Questions? Contact Dr. Lisa Arter at lisaarter(a)suu.edu<mailto:lisaarter@suu.edu>. Help us celebrate excellent teaching across Utah; share this email with your school and colleagues!

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Fw: Battle of the Books / Book Buzz
by Naomi Watkins 30 Sep '26

30 Sep '26

Exciting news everyone! The Utah State Library has added Battle of the Books book sets to Book Buzz, their free book club lending program. I have attached the flyer and a link to the blog post<https://library.utah.gov/empower-your-students-free-battle-of-the-books-set…>, which includes instructions on how to check out the sets. [Battle of the Books flyer (1).png] [cid:e89d4692-9407-4b55-ab15-3dd36af8650d] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media>

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Fw: New titles to be removed from Utah public schools
by Naomi Watkins 29 Sep '26

29 Sep '26

Dear Colleagues, Please excuse any cross postings. I wanted to make sure you receive this information below. I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions. [cid:a5983b58-daf6-4d13-a2c0-ca2adaac4bbb] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:f998a46f-c8ca-4c48-aecb-fe766149475a]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> virtually Request professional learning, training or technical assistance through the USBE Learning Portal<http://bit.ly/usberequest>. LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives. ________________________________ From: Davina Sauthoff <Davina.Sauthoff(a)schools.utah.gov> Sent: Monday, September 28, 2026 4:58 PM Subject: New titles to be removed from Utah public schools Dear LEA-appointed representatives for reporting sensitive materials, We appreciate all your efforts in the implementation of §53G-10-103 and Board Rule R277-628. As required, this email serves as communication by USBE to all LEAs that the following titles have met the statewide threshold and should be removed from student access in all Utah public schools. * House of Earth and Blood — Sarah J. Maas * Identical — Ellen Hopkins * Kingdom of the Cursed — Kerri Maniscalco * Me and Earl and the Dying Girl — Jesse Andrews * Perfect — Ellen Hopkins * Storm and Fury — Jennifer L. Armentrout * The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue — V.E. Schwab The entire list of titles to be removed from Utah public schools, along with additional resources, can be found on the USBE library media webpag<https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/librarymedia>e under the "Sensitive Materials" tab. It will be updated regularly as any additional titles meet the statewide threshold. Please work with district leadership and all appropriate personnel to communicate this information to all educators and staff who this may affect. I encourage you to reach out any time if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, [cid:c53168fe-38cb-4845-bbd2-537b9b8fd60d] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:8c956cc7-b605-48be-89da-9e742746979e]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> virtually Request professional learning, training or technical assistance through the USBE Learning Portal<http://bit.ly/usberequest>. LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.

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INFO: Statewide Read-a-Thon
by Naomi Watkins 24 Sep '26

24 Sep '26

Statewide Read-a-Thon Utah schools are invited to join the statewide Read-a-Thon on Friday, October 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The goal is to provide students dedicated time and space to enjoy reading. While optional engagement ideas are available, schools are encouraged to participate in whichever way best fits their schedule. Governor Cox will host a livestream welcome message to kick off the event at 9:30 a.m. Schools, libraries, businesses, and community members are invited to tune in. Access the Governor's welcome livestream link HERE<http://youtube.com/live/tX9kh7qi4kU?feature=share>. To feature your school or classroom during the broadcast, please submit photos via one of the following methods: 1. Advance Submission: Email a group photo of participating students along with your school name and location to hbronson(a)utah.gov prior to the event for livestream recognition. 2. Live Event Submission: Submit photos during the event for potential inclusion during the broadcast. A customizable event flyer is attached to support your promotional efforts. Thank you for helping us make reading a celebration across Utah. We can't wait to see students throughout the state pick up a book and read together! For questions, contact Sarah Allred at sarah(a)showuputah.org. You can also complete this form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_LsnzOa48-kaeRXNtIqsvyoBrKgvzv_cGtm3RZaeTh…> to receive more information. [cid:06504f5f-b659-4d90-ae87-7eedddabd9a0] Subscribe to the Secondary ELA Newsletter<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/admin/secondaryela>

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Fw: Join Us! Help Write Questions or Join the UBOB Steering Committee 📚
by Naomi Watkins 14 Sep '26

14 Sep '26

[cid:77ed1d5e-0353-4fb7-9466-538f2c811034] Subscribe to the Secondary ELA Newsletter<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/admin/secondaryela> ________________________________ From: UBOB via K-12-library-media <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Sent: Friday, September 11, 2026 4:56 PM To: library-media(a)lists.uen.org <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Subject: [Utah K-12 Library Media] Join Us! Help Write Questions or Join the UBOB Steering Committee 📚 Hi everyone, Utah’s Battle of the Books is gearing up for a fantastic season, and we need a little extra help to pull it all off! We are looking for a few more passionate individuals to join our Question Writing Committees or our UBOB Steering Committee. If you are looking for a high-impact, manageable way to get involved, we would love to have you onboard. Here is where we could use your help: 1. Question Writing Committees (Grade Bands: 2–3, 4–5, 6–8, 9–12) * The Commitment: Read 1 or 2 books from the official list, draft questions using our template, and attend 1 or 2 short virtual meetings to review and finalize the questions. * Support Provided: We provide clear guidelines, sample questions, and a simple template to make the process smooth and quick. 2. UBOB Steering Committee (1–2 Positions) * The Commitment: Join our core planning team to help shape the direction of UBOB, coordinate regional efforts, and make key decisions for the season. * Support Provided: Work alongside an amazing team dedicated to making this statewide program a success for Utah students. Whether you can read a couple of books or want to help guide the bigger picture, your voice and time will make a huge difference for our readers. Interested? Reply directly to this email by Friday, September 18th and let us know which committee (and grade band, if applicable) you're interested in! Thanks for all you do to support student literacy! Warmly, [cid:36f71034-21ef-4306-8967-f622dbb9628a] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:898c75b0-80b8-4532-bc5e-c9996e0526d1]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.

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Fw: Scrible is Replacing Utah Compose & Train the Trainer Opportunities!
by Naomi Watkins 01 Sep '26

01 Sep '26

See below. Note that this opportunity is specifically for district leaders, instructional coaches, tech directors and RESA personnel — not for classroom teachers. [cid:84949dac-b5c0-4179-9ffe-55d91f547636] Subscribe to the Secondary ELA Newsletter<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/admin/secondaryela> ________________________________ From: Shilpa Duvoor <shilpa(a)scrible.com> Sent: Monday, August 24, 2026 4:55 PM To: Shilpa Duvoor <shilpa(a)scrible.com> Cc: Emily Shank <emily(a)scrible.com>; Victor Karkar <victor(a)scrible.com> Subject: Scrible is Replacing Utah Compose & Train the Trainer Opportunities! Hello! As you may have heard, Scrible is officially stepping in as Utah's all-in-one writing platform following the retirement of Utah Compose. This fall we're rolling out a major set of updates — richer feedback tools, a sharper Outline Editor, automated scoring for argumentative essays, and more — and we want to make sure district and school leaders like you are equipped to support your teachers through the transition. To help with that, we're offering a two-part Train-the-Trainer series designed specifically for district leaders, instructional coaches, tech directors and RESA personnel who train teachers or coordinate PD. You'll get an early, in-depth look at each round of new features so you can turn around and support your teachers with confidence. Session 1: September Release Deep Dive Covers Rubrics and Reviews, the updated Outline Editor, the Bibliography Editor, and Rese controls. Register for one of the following: * Tuesday, September 22nd at 3 pm MT <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3s8HQDq6ROSvUOzoxpmg5Q> * Thursday, September 24th at 9 am MT<https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bfMlhRX_SHStiV-ZWJuF_g> * Monday, September 28th at 12 pm MT<https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kMK9zhlYRKehGaTG1pb9WQ> Session 2: October Release Deep Dive (these are the features that replace Utah Compose) Covers automated scoring for argumentative essays, personalized "glows and grows" feedback, and the new prompt library (grades 3-12). Register for one of the following: * Wednesday, October 21st at 3 pm MT<https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bXzoTjAzQJi1_GgRgAgYYg> * Thursday, October 22nd at 9 am MT<https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Trh9jgN7RA27gMjBVLEkDQ> * Monday, October 26th at 12 pm MT<https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vTQfZZI7SIyh1ciDvdtiyQ> Each session will be recorded and paired with a short trainer's guide you can reuse for your own staff PD. This training is NOT designed for classroom teachers. This is intended for leaders and coaches who will be supporting teachers and librarians in the classroom. We are actively working with USBE to provide Fall webinars that any educator can join to get trained on Scrible. Stay tuned! If you'd like a dedicated training session<https://drive.google.com/file/d/18IYDScutM9E5E--IZjMXDX9IEEwWA-Jr/view> tailored to your district or for your faculty specifically, book a check in with me<https://calendly.com/shilpa-scrible/30min> — I’m happy to work with you directly. Please feel free to forward this to leaders or coaches in your district. Folks who might be especially interested include librarian leaders, ELA department heads or district personnel, and SS department heads or district personnel. Looking forward to partnering with you this year! Best, Shilpa -- Shilpa Duvoor Head of Customer Success, Scrible<https://www.scrible.com/> shilpa(a)scrible.com<mailto:shilpa@scrible.com> 650-268-4047 [https://outlook.office.com/mail/id/AAkALgAAAAAAHYQDEapmEc2byACqAC%2FEWg0ARA…]

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Fw: New title to be removed from Utah public schools
by Naomi Watkins 19 Aug '26

19 Aug '26

FYI [cid:53fe414d-1d1d-4674-95b6-033a06f61daa] Subscribe to the Secondary ELA Newsletter<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/admin/secondaryela> ________________________________ From: Davina Sauthoff via K-12-library-media <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 1:47 PM To: library-media(a)lists.uen.org <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Subject: [Utah K-12 Library Media] Fw: New title to be removed from Utah public schools Dear Colleagues, Please excuse any cross postings. I wanted to make sure you receive this information below. Over the summer break we had two additional titles that met the threshold tto be removed statewide. I didn't want to bother you during summer break. 🌄 Lucky, by Alice Sebold Different Seasons, by Stephen King Push, by Sapphire I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions. Warmly, [cid:d9066ca7-06a1-4a1c-b79b-353d9dca7973] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:c051e514-67c6-45c3-9219-19f2aab8e5ec]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives. ________________________________ From: Davina Sauthoff <Davina.Sauthoff(a)schools.utah.gov> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 1:17 PM Subject: New title to be removed from Utah public schools Dear LEA-appointed representatives for reporting sensitive materials, We appreciate all your efforts in the implementation of §53G-10-103 and Board Rule R277-628. As required, this email serves as communication by USBE to all LEAs that the following title has met the statewide threshold and should be removed from student access in all Utah public schools. Push, by Sapphire The entire list of titles to be removed from Utah public schools, along with additional resources, can be found on the USBE library media webpage under the "Sensitive Materials" tab. It will be updated regularly as any additional titles meet the statewide threshold. Please work with district leadership and all appropriate personnel to communicate this information to all educators and staff who this may affect. I encourage you to reach out any time if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, [cid:1408ed94-87eb-4be6-8820-fac8d976a2e7] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:48b25e4f-0a41-4552-9891-a244b8b76afd]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.

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Fw: Utah's Statewide Battle of the Books (with LINK 😊)
by Naomi Watkins 19 Aug '26

19 Aug '26

See below on information about Utah Battle of the Books. [cid:353f79f7-b655-4547-b657-be98844ad1fe] Subscribe to the Secondary ELA Newsletter<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/admin/secondaryela> ________________________________ From: Davina Sauthoff via K-12-library-media <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 2:14 PM To: library-media(a)lists.uen.org <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Subject: [Utah K-12 Library Media] Utah's Statewide Battle of the Books (with LINK 😊) Hello Librarians, Utah Battle of the Books (UBOB) statewide competition is coming this spring, and we're excited to see students across the state discover great books and join the competition! This is a friendly reminder that if your school/district is planning on participating in the statewide competition and would like to request supplemental funding to help purchase official UBOB book sets for your teams, please be sure to complete the UBOB Interest and Funding Request form<https://forms.gle/Wtba2b8Vr1cLZN5Z6>. The deadline to submit funding requests is September 4, 2026. We encourage interested schools to submit the form before the deadline so requests can be reviewed and processed in a timely manner. More information about Utah Battle of the Books, including resources and program details, can be found on our website<https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/librarymedia/battleofthebooks>. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. [cid:24e68588-2410-426f-80d5-8f26efbbf34d] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:e258f1a1-a66d-4277-9378-68762c29bcff]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives. ________________________________ From: Davina Sauthoff <Davina.Sauthoff(a)schools.utah.gov> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2026 8:05 AM To: library-media(a)lists.uen.org <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Subject: Announcing Utah's Statewide Battle of the Books Dear Schools, We are excited to announce Utah’s Battle of the Books (UBOB) - an annual reading competition for students in grades K-12 across the state. UBOB encourages students to read great books and provides an opportunity to have fun while working with a team and competing with peers. Students will read books from a carefully selected list of titles and then participate with their team in a "direct question" format competition. The list of books assigned to each grade level is currently posted on the USBE website<https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/librarymedia> under the Battle of the Books tab! We encourage you to start advertising these books now, so students can have a jump start on reading over the summer. Please feel free to download these posters<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A3i5JpgtWaFoKOYBZc8X7I4fpQzxAz-b?us…> for use in your schools. At the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, please start recruiting students to form teams of 3-5 students. Remember, students do not have to read all the books in order to participate. Battles at the school level will begin in February/March 2027, and some teams will be selected to continue to Regional and State Battles. Join Our Informational Meeting We are hosting an upcoming informational session to discuss the organizational structure, the book selection process, and the 2026-27 timeline. This is the perfect opportunity to see how UBOB can enhance current or future literacy initiatives within your district or charter. * Date: May 11, 2026 * Time: 4:00 pm * Location/Link: Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/236011758856672?p=2fk508hKwLS30meMMP Meeting ID: 236 011 758 856 672 Passcode: SS9Gr33D To set you and the students up for success, a General Handbook has been created and will be shared at the informational meeting, that includes the rules, responsibilities, and forms you will need. These state-wide initiatives would not be possible without your dedication and support. Please do not hesitate to contact the UBOB State Committee @ubob@schools.utah.gov<mailto:ubob@schools.utah.gov> if you have any questions. We look forward to partnering with you to celebrate literacy across Utah. Thank you and happy reading! [cid:e0386999-89b9-4713-9e51-68e96b57e3e5] [cid:b2c4c7e3-282f-4b88-ae31-33f0aad775e3][cid:6d2da457-a6d0-4db7-9575-776b558e0186] [cid:48556d49-5677-4fc9-ad63-304e8b983c59] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:ebdddd3a-8b31-4d14-99d8-e3ccf6536ba5]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.

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FW: Announcing Utah's Statewide Battle of the Books
by Naomi Watkins 04 May '26

04 May '26

See below. [cid:image001.png@01DCDBB4.A7E3C270] Subscribe to the Secondary ELA Newsletter<https://mailchi.mp/schools/u75jpwz58v> From: Davina Sauthoff via K-12-library-media <library-media(a)lists.uen.org> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2026 8:05 AM To: library-media(a)lists.uen.org Subject: [Utah K-12 Library Media] Announcing Utah's Statewide Battle of the Books Dear Schools, We are excited to announce Utah's Battle of the Books (UBOB) - an annual reading competition for students in grades K-12 across the state. UBOB encourages students to read great books and provides an opportunity to have fun while working with a team and competing with peers. Students will read books from a carefully selected list of titles and then participate with their team in a "direct question" format competition. The list of books assigned to each grade level is currently posted on the USBE website<https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/librarymedia> under the Battle of the Books tab! We encourage you to start advertising these books now, so students can have a jump start on reading over the summer. Please feel free to download these posters<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A3i5JpgtWaFoKOYBZc8X7I4fpQzxAz-b?us…> for use in your schools. At the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, please start recruiting students to form teams of 3-5 students. Remember, students do not have to read all the books in order to participate. Battles at the school level will begin in February/March 2027, and some teams will be selected to continue to Regional and State Battles. Join Our Informational Meeting We are hosting an upcoming informational session to discuss the organizational structure, the book selection process, and the 2026-27 timeline. This is the perfect opportunity to see how UBOB can enhance current or future literacy initiatives within your district or charter. * Date: May 11, 2026 * Time: 4:00 pm * Location/Link: Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/236011758856672?p=2fk508hKwLS30meMMP Meeting ID: 236 011 758 856 672 Passcode: SS9Gr33D To set you and the students up for success, a General Handbook has been created and will be shared at the informational meeting, that includes the rules, responsibilities, and forms you will need. These state-wide initiatives would not be possible without your dedication and support. Please do not hesitate to contact the UBOB State Committee @ubob@schools.utah.gov<mailto:ubob@schools.utah.gov> if you have any questions. We look forward to partnering with you to celebrate literacy across Utah. Thank you and happy reading! [cid:e0386999-89b9-4713-9e51-68e96b57e3e5] [cid:b2c4c7e3-282f-4b88-ae31-33f0aad775e3][cid:6d2da457-a6d0-4db7-9575-776b558e0186] [cid:48556d49-5677-4fc9-ad63-304e8b983c59] Join the USBE Library Media list serve<https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media> [cid:ebdddd3a-8b31-4d14-99d8-e3ccf6536ba5]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c9b4eddcdf24487d978ef6960a4bc233…> LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.

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