HIT->Reading Incentive Programs

[Gretchen Baldauf <Gbaldauf@AOL.COM>]

On 8-8-96 I posted the following message:
>I am a Library Media Specialist in an elementary school (Grades K-6) of
about 650 >students.  I would like to TARGET-> reading incentive programs for
elementary >schools, because our school has run the "Book It' program,
sponsored by Pizza >Hut, in the past but the teachers now feel interest is
waning.  We would like to >rejuvenate an incentive program and wondered what
other elementary schools were >doing along these lines.  It does not need to
be a commercially sponsored program.  >Please respond directly to me and if
there is enough interest, I will post a HIT.  TIA >to all LM_NET members who
take the time to respond, positively or negatively.

 Thank you to all who took the time to respond.   Here are the results I
received:

***We were in the same boat with the "Book It" program, and I decided to go
the route of networking the Electronic Bookshelf program for our school.  It
took me about 18 months to put together the funding (PTO, grant, library
budget) but we will begin this program in the fall.  We have not come up with
incentives for this program but hopefully it will be something good.     from
"Bookheart"
***With the Count on Reading initiative, all of us should be running some
reading incentive programs.  I am thinking about doing a Battle of the Books
program with 4th grades.  I also purchased two new books (recommended when I
was at ALA in July) . . . . I am also tired of Book It although it really
worked last year.  I know that World Book has a program (you get sponsors,
pledges, etc.) and the children read a certain number of books.
 Additionally, if your school earns a certain amount of money, they will
match it and you can get a set of encyclopedias free.  I don't particularly
like this idea because I don't want the kids to go door to door looking for
pledges. . . . I think Battle of the Books could be a really dynamite program
and you can do it with gr. 3 and up.  There are a few books that have been
written about this program.     from Marjorie Schor
***Doesn't World Book have a Reading Incentive Program?  Also Count on
Reading for AASL . . . . Of course, there is also Accelerated Reader (costs a
lot though).     from Roberta Moecker
***I've done several things over the years, with the emphasis being on a
group total (either pages or minutes read), each grade level deciding their
goal.  We've allowed approx. 6-8 weeks for the programs.  The key has been
support from both teachers and parents, allowing for reading to children as
well.  If a teacher reads to the class, they could multiply the number of
pages (or mins.) by the number of students and add this to the weekly tally.
 We kept a "thermometer-type" chart in the hall, marking the minutes, pages
read each week by the school.  If we reached our ending goal, then the
principal got into the act.  Some past themes:  "Reach for the Stars with
Reading" (space rocket theme for the chart; principal sat on the roof for the
day, brought up a desk, fake computer, etc., cooked hotdogs for faculty on
the roof, supervised playground from roof, wearing Superman costume; TV and
radio coverage and a great time was had by all), "Up, Up and Away with Books"
(hot air balloon theme for the chart; hired a hot air balloonist to give a
scientific talk about ballooning, principal climbed in and was hoisted up in
the air), "Read into the Future" (timeline divided by centuries and into the
far-reaching future; held drawing, including all readers who finished their
reading goal, to see who would be principal for the day; TV coverage and also
enough small prizes for every kid who finished the program).  I am now in the
middle school, where we participated in reading program with the Kane County
Cougars ball team.  They earned free tickets to a game, food coupons and
prizes.  We also sold tickets to the whole school, but gave the best seats to
the kids who finished the reading program.     from Carol Sturz
***In the school where I am teacher/librarian I found many of the students
would or did not like to read. So what I did was that every student that
signed out a book would receive a paper in the shape of a bookworm body.
 They were told that once they read the book they had to put their name,
author's name and a very brief summary of what the book was about.  When they
returned to the library, I checked their pages and then they were allowed to
put the body onto the bookworm.  I also kept a list of all students and the
amount of books read.  At the end of 2 months I would hand out certificates
to students who read 8 or more books in that time.  At the end of the year,
the top 3 students received a certificate at awards day.  This type of
activity really encouraged students to read, as they would come in just to
see how long the bookworm was.  Simple but effective.  This year I made a
huge thermometer and marked it from 0-1300, using digits of 5.  As the class
reads the thermometer will go up.  At the end of the year, the top 3 students
will have an afternoon of swimming.  Also, fiction and non-fiction books were
worth more points so in order to achieve more points for prizes they would
start reading these instead of easy books.     from Karen Agecoutay
***Our school does Book It also, but in addition we run an annual school-wide
reading incentive.  We vary the theme each year and it has been very
successful.  In general:  my LMC is surrounded by glass panels that are great
to decorate.  They border the main hallway and are visible to everyone moving
through the school.  We have had several themes thus far, sometimes
coordinated with an author visit.  For example, we did "Read through the
Rainforest" when an environmental author was visiting.  We also did "Dive
into Good Books" and are going to do an outerspace theme this year.  The kids
all take home a packet explaining the activity.  They have a sheet for their
parents to sign as they read books.  For every one they fill in they color
something to add to the window display (rainforest leaf or animal, fish or
other sea creature, etc.)  Each fifth book gets some special item to add.
 Each grade level decides how to count the books.  Example, grade 2 usually
says 20 pages count as one book, grade 5 must read the whole book.  The kids
love seeing the display grow.  To finish off the contest, I have everyone
guess how many items were added to the display (i.e. the number of books
read) and give prizes by grade level for best guesses.  It is lots of work,
but I have teachers who are willing to help me and I think it is worth the
effort.  We've gotten lots of compliments and of course, the parent who says,
"Jimmy was not reading anything until you started the activity.  Now he's
reading a couple of books a week."  Yippee!     from Cathy Rae
***I did a reading program last year that went quite well and really got the
students to read, read, read.  I entitled it "We love literature" and it took
place over 2 months (too long, it should have been only 1).  I had the
students compete by grade level (preK-8) and the grade that read the most got
a pizza/movie party (pizza supplied by cafeteria, movie was rented).  Each
grade level had a certain amount of pages per book to read.  When they
completed a book, they wrote the title, their name, homeroom and date
finished on an index card and turned it into me.  I had never seen them so
excited about reading.    from Michelle Moravec
***I use the Pacific Northwest Library Assn's Young Readers' Choice program
with great success with students in grades 4-6.  I'm sure there must be a
similar program in New York or the eastern states.     from Dorothy Cousins
***Our school has often run our own incentive called "Lift off into Books."
 In the program each student has a target number of books across a range of
genres and styles.  For each book completed they get so many points.  The aim
is to read the target number of books and after that you get more points for
bonuses.  The class tally of points is then used to create a competition
between classes for the ultimate prize.  We do it for a short term (4-8
weeks).  The winning class then gets a Mystery Excursion to somewhere like
Seaworld.  It works especially well when each class has a plane or hot-air
balloon or something on the chart which charts progress.     from Colette
Alexander
***Why don't you contact AASL and participate in Count on Reading?  Each
state, hopefully, has a representative, but you can register individually.
 Kentucky has challenged our citizens to read 20 million and we are off and
running.     from Lynda Short
***Our intermediate school (grades 3-5, about 600 kids) recently completed
the World Book program called Partners in Excellence where students get
pledges and read in order to earn World Book products for classrooms.  As a
result of this successful 7 week program, we were able to earn a World Book
Encyc. for EVERY classroom (25) and the LMC received a set plus the
electronic multimedia Information Finder (network version) plus many other
World Book products (atlases, etc.).  It was a great way to update everyone's
encyclopedia and parents, staff and kids were very supportive.  World Book
provides gold medals and posters that were great incentives for the kids,
plus all the communication to students, staff and parents.  We also have
Accelerated Reader program (renamed Ravenous Reader) in which about 75% of
our kids choose to participate.  I like this because it is an all year
program.  We find this type of motivational reading program works well with
our age group.  There is more accountability for their reading rather than
the programs that they read "so many minutes or so many pages."  More about
this program at our site that we just got up this spring which is part of our
hometown page:  http://www.struct.com/Midlakes/index.html     from Jan Wright
***For intermediate students, I give "Book Bucks" for every page read.  I
have tried titles and minutes and feel pages is the fairest way to count.
 Students turn in a Library Reading Record Card - small, green, known as a
"green slip" which has title, author, date, pages and adult signature (not a
teacher, as this is for at home reading).  We used to have an auction at the
end of the year to spend book bucks.  However, because we have a turnover of
over 50%, I keep a "Book Buck Store" stocked with simple and more elaborate
prizes for "purchase" for ongoing reward.  I also have a monthly drawing for
free books for all who turn in slips.  Primary students also turn in green
slips and receive a small treat and bookmark monthly; at the end of the year
all who have turned in slips every month (while attending school) receive a
free book.  This is funded by bonus books from book fairs I hold and by the
PTA who budget money for prizes.  It rewards reading for those enthusiastic
readers and does work as an incentive for more reluctant readers.  Yes, I
know there are arguments against rewarding students for something they should
do anyway; however, the argument doesn't hold up in real life.  I love being
a library media teacher and being paid to do it doesn't diminish my
enthusiasm or enjoyment.     from Jane Snibbe
***Accelerated Reader software is excellent.  It tests reading comprehension
and awards points.  My kids cash points in for small prizes and top readers
will get a pizza party or a lock-in.  In Ohio, we celebrate Right to Read
Week.  You could use National Library Week . . . pick a theme, hold contests,
have speakers, whatever.  We also have Buckeye Book Awards,  Kid across the
state vote for certain books in appropriate age categories.  You might want
to hold a Vote for Books near election time.  I recently read on LM_NET of
such a thing . . . kids selected a party (author/illustrator), held primaries
(a selection of books), then voted for the candidate.     from Lorrie Miller
***We use Read to Succeed which leads to a free Six Flags ticket for one day.
    from Deborah Kay Cavitt
***The PTA has a good program called PARP - Parents as Reading Partners.
 They have put together a looseleaf of ideas that have worked in different
schools - lots of themes, sample letters, booklists, tips, etc.  Check with
your PTA president or state PTA.  I think I paid $15 for the book at a PARP
conference.     from Pauline Herr
***For the past 4 years, we have used the Jog America theme for reading.  Our
school has around 350 K-4 students.  We have a large USA map painted on our
wall in the hall.  8 different states are designated as stops as we jog
across the map.  Each student has a small sneaker with their name on it
(different colors for each grade).  There are 2 boxes in the LMC, one with
forms to fill out with books read (15 books) and one for collecting the
finished sheets.  To complete a form, the student will read and list 15
books.  If the student reads a long book, he may count each 25 pages as a
book.  They may include magazines, books read to them, comics, anything
except textbooks.  The forms need to be signed by a parent or teacher before
turning them in.  Forms are collected at the end of the week and recorded.
 During library classes, students are given a reward for each form turned in
the week before and they move their sneaker a state for each form returned.
 A piece of candy is usually given for the first form.  Pencils, note pads,
book covers, book marks and sneaker erasers were some of the other rewards.
 If a student completed the job, which ended in Arkansas, he received a
certificate and a reward.  This is a year long project.  In May all students
who jogged across America one or more times were given a cool whip pie for
each trip.  The first year, I let them hit me with the pies.  The next year,
they could hit themselves or choose an agreeing friend who wanted a pie in
the face.  The pie in the face is a hit with our students.  Not all
participate but the majority do.     from Nancy Wooldridge
***We use a thematic approach to an all school reading incentive.  The first
year we did a frequent "readers" mileage approach to read our way around the
world.  The next year, we read to be pages, squires and knights with
individual quests finishing the year.  Last year it was Oceans of Opportunity
with kids reading to become crabs, octopi, marlins and great white sharks.
 This year we are planning a mining theme using coal, copper, silver and
gold.  We set the requirements for emergent and independent levels - 50 books
and 500 pages to meet basic requirements for recognition each marking period.
 Enrichment levels are also provided.  We have a big all school celebration
at the end of the year.     from Ellen Jay

I hope everyone gets inspired by these ideas.  I can't wait to present such a
variety of creative ideas to my committee.  Thank you again to all who wrote
in such detail.
Sincerely,
Gretchen Baldauf
Gbaldauf@aol.com
West Seneca, New York