Teen Texting Contest

1. Teen Texting Contest @ Your Library

2. How To Begin • Give Teens the Judge’s Cell Number – OR use cheap disposable cell from Wal-Mart or Target if you want to keep your cell # private. • Establish Ground Rules – - Keep it clean!! Acceptable library language only. - You can only submit one text per phrase/abbreviation

3. Scoring • First Correct Text – Three points • Second Correct Text – Two Points • Third Correct Text – One Point • **Increased point value for each new round. Contest consists of three rounds. The person with the most points at the end of Round Three WINS!!

4. Round One -- Abbreviations • Talk to you later = ttyl • Laugh out loud = lol • Falling down laughing = fdl • See you later = cul or cyl – both accepted • Be right back = brb • Too much information = tmi • Face to Face = f2f • Whenever = wenevr • And so on………. – I did 20 common abbreviations.

5. Round Two – SpecificsDouble Points • I made up 10 “mock messages” teens might text to parents. They had to text these with the full spelling of all words plus correct punctuation. • Examples: “At mall. Found perfect dress for Prom. Come quick! Please.” • “At Mark’s. Jen is drinking. Please pick me up.” • “Running late. Be home in 10 minutes.”

6. Round Three – By The BookTriple Points • I gave each teen a slip of paper with the following information: Call number of a book, chapter number, paragraph number and which sentence to text me. EXAMPLE: Young Adult – HOR Crocodile Tears Text me the first complete sentence in Chapter 7, paragraph 2. Teen was expected to find Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider, Crocodile Tears on the Young Adult shelves, go to chapter 7, paragraph 2 and text the first sentence to me.

7. Closing • I sent the following text to all of the participants: rmb: bks r lkrlylngtxts!