LM_NET: Library Media Networking
- Subject: HIT: Accelerated Reader "Prize Store" Ideas
- From: Deidre Richard <UTGRAD1990@AOL.COM>
- Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 20:37:53 EDT
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Thank you for the great responses. I hope this will give everyone some great
ideas! Ü Deidre
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<HTML><PRE>Subj:=09 Re: Target: Accelerated Reader "Prize Store" Idea
Date:=0999-08-13 19:29:59 EDT
From:=09jscibal@bmd.clis.com (Scibal)
To:=09UTGRAD1990@aol.com
This is really funny. We are trying the point clubs this year instead of a
store! We have always done the store, but it became prohibitively
expensive. I did the store for 1 day only; each class signed up for a time
slot of 20 minutes. Get lots of 1, 3, 5 point items; you'll need less of
the larger point items. Our biggest prize was a CD player (250 points). I
ordered lots of stuff from Oriental Trading magazine/catalog and got lots
from clearance racks at various discount stores (WalMart, KMart, etc.). I
separated stuff by point value on tables. As the kids entered, I told them
how many points they had to spend. We had check out folks with lists of
names by class with point totals next to them. Kids that were absent had to
come the next day and pick from the leftovers, and there weren't many things
left.
I hope this helps. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Rhonda Scibal
Media Coordinator
Smyrna Elementary (PreK - Grade 8)
Smyrna, NC
jscibal@bmd.clis.com
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***********************
Subj:=09 AR store
Date:=0999-08-13 22:16:30 EDT
From:=09annb@hartcom.net (Ann Bender)
To:=09UTGRAD1990@aol.com
This past year was our first with AR and I decided it would be fun to
trade in points for prizes - all sorts of prizes. I made regular trips
to Wal Mart, Dollar Tree, Sam's etc. I fixed up a premanent counter in
the Video Distribution room. Every other Friday was a store day - wild,
crazy, fun. The kids loved it.=20
I however, just about did myself in. I didn't do anything wrong - just
did too much. On those weeks we had AR Store - I spent one afternoon
shopping, spent all Thursday afternoon pricing and arranging, and spent
all day Friday selling. You may ask how I continued to run the library -
well it didn't get "run". I had kids checking out and shelving and I had
kids taking in points and I had kids checking on the lab and I
supervised everything! At the end of the day I would collapse and not be
able to move. You can imagine several hundred students coming in to swap
points, taking their time looking over the store and of course there was
always the problem of running out of the good stuff arond fourth period.=20
I do not advise a store unless you have dependable, reliable, help that
will completely manage the store for you from the buying, pricing,
selling, to the cleaning up afterwards - and there's always the crowd
control.
Ann Bender
Hart County Middle School
Hartwell, GA 30643
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************************
Subj:=09AR store
Date:=0999-08-14 00:23:31 EDT
From:=09WRMcMahan
To:=09UTGRAD1990
<FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D3>This is my 3rd year in the LMC and the firs=
t year we did a store. The kids loved it and. It's alot of work. Last yea=
r we got two new administrators who believed that kids would be motivated in=
trinsicly. HA! This year I'm in a new school (yeah!) and they've been doing=
a carnival in the spring and want to add a store in the fall. The kids lik=
e little trinket things that their moms see at junk. I use $.05=3D one poin=
t and round to fives and tens. I will be sending a suggestion form around f=
or the 5th graders to give me ideas of what they like. Some schools put eve=
rything on tables and use volunteers to help monitor while the classes get 1=
5 minutes to "shop" and spend their points. I don't like to take them out o=
f class and this was mass pandamonium in my opinion. I put a display of pri=
zes in the front hall where the kids could see what they were working toward=
. Then I made up an order sheet listing each item available and the "price" =
plus a place for the teacher's name, student's name and the number of points=
they had available to spend. The teacher wrote in the points ahead of time=
off a report and the student made their selections. I filled the orders wit=
h help from PTA volunteers and sent them back to the teachers in bags with t=
he order slip attached. We did this on Friday and sent the goodies back at =
the end of the day so the prizes wouldn't be a distraction or get lost. Als=
o, at the bottom of the form I put a place for their name and the number of =
points actually used. We cut this off and used it to keep track in the AR c=
omputer for the next time. Prizes range from pieces of candy and stickers f=
or 2 pts. to basketballs or radios for 200 points. I usually fill the 5th g=
raders bags first and then work my way down. Just have a strategy, write it=
down, then use it consistently. =20
Good Luck!
Robin McMahan
Heather Glen Elem, Garland,TX
WRMCMAHAN@aol.com=20
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****************
Subj:=09 AR incentives
Date:=0999-08-14 08:30:37 EDT
From:=09jacquec@web-access.net (Scott Childress)
To:=09utgrad1990@aol.com
Hi Deidre!
We use "incentives" to entice the kids to read more. I know it probably
sounds silly, but I'm very careful not to call them prizes because kids,
teachers, & parents tend to try to "match" their worth to the amount of
reading a child has done. With that said, we don't really have a "store" as
such, but at the beginning of the year we put out a chart listing what you
can spend your points for...OR they can accumulate their points and not
spend them at all until the end of the year for bigger incentives. This
year, we're going to try something new in hopes that it will cut down on the
traffic and hassle for the days they want to redeem their points. Teachers
will have a form which they fill out telling the child's name, how many
points he wants to spend and will circle the incentive they'd like to have.
That way, we don't have to go through the list ourselves (me & the techy) to
see how many points they can spend. We're hoping it works! We don't give
really big prizes (oops, incentives), but they seem to be sufficient. We
range from 5pts =3D pencil or eraser to 250 =3D $50 savings bond. If you'd
like a complete list of our incentives, let me know. At the end of the
year, we will have one big "Ribbit Reading Riot" (our theme is frogs) for
all kids who reached their personal goal which is set during the 1st 6
weeks. Some of our teachers set their own class goals and reward them as a
class-only with popcorn parties, ice cream, or having the teacher crow out
loud in the cafeteria :). Our motto is "We're reading by leaps & bounds"
and we will have a traveling "trophy" which is a stuffed frog that goes to
the class with the hightest percentage of tests passed in a 6 week period.
Our AR program was really successful last year and we hope it is again this
year.
Jacque Childress, Librarian
Cross Plains Elem. Library
Cross Plains, TX
jacquec@web-access.net
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************************
Subj:=09 Re: Target: Accelerated Reader "Prize Store" Idea
Date:=0999-08-14 09:33:49 EDT
From:=09STEVEBOLING@prodigy.net (Steve D Boling)
To:=09UTGRAD1990@aol.com
Deidre,
I do a "store." It reminds me of the book fair, without money.
I am in an elementary school of about 800, and access to the library is
limited (i.e., non-existent) during the 3-4 days we do the store. We clear
all the chairs out and place the tables around the room. Then we try to
"group" like-priced items together (i.e., 5 point table, 10 point table,
etc.). We choose an ending date for the points (for example, we tell the
students "at the May 3, 4, 5 AR store, you will be able to spend points that
you have earned through 2 p.m. on May 2.") Then we print class lists for
the teachers and along with the lists, we give them a stack of vouchers.
The teacher fills out the voucher for the number of points each student has
and then gives it to the student. When the student comes to the store with
his/her class (I have a sign-up sheet), he/she shops for something within
the "point-range" - oh, and we limit each student to TWO items. That was my
clerk's idea, and it has worked SO well. Otherwise, you might have "Joey"
buy 10 items that cost 1 point each. This way they must choose if they want
to spend ALL points at that time or save them. AND you still have some 1
point items for those students who might only have 2 points. I thought the
students wouldn't like this procedure, and some did not. But now they are
used to it. We have volunteers "work" the "cashier" table - they collect
the vouchers. My clerk and I work the floor replenishing when needed.
As far as pricing, we use this rule of thumb: 1 point =3D 10 cents, so an
item that has cost us $1.00 would be priced at 10 points. By the way we
have spent lots of money on these stores. Last year, we only had two
stores - one in March and one in May (because we really got AR off the
ground in Jan). This year we will have three (at the end of each nine week
grading period). For two stores last year we probably spent $700 in
addition to all the things we had donated. The PTA gave us $100 and the
rest came out of book fair profits. We're asking the PTA to give more this
year. We bought most of our stuff through Oriental Trading and at local
dollar stores.
I will say that it is work - alot of work. I have a great clerk who helps
tremendously and a handful of volunteers who are great! I keep reminding
myself how much the children LOVE it. They do seem to enjoy "spending"
their points - even if they only have 2!
One thing I will change this year - we will round up the point value to the
nearest half because we always have half point items (i.e., if the child has
.8, he/she will have 1; 1.2 would go to 1.5). Another thing I am going to
try to do this year is have a chart to try to teach the concept of adding
the points together (this would be mainly for first grade, but why miss a
teachable moment!).
Hope this helps. I'd be glad to answer any other questions you might have.
Good luck, and if you receive some good suggestions, please pass them along.
Donna Boling
Atlanta
STEVEBOLING@prodigy.net
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**********************
Subj:=09 AR store
Date:=0999-08-14 10:15:44 EDT
From:=09nellfernandez@mindspring.com (Nell Fernandez)
To:=09utgrad1990@aol.com
When I first heard about AR, it seemed that everyone had a store where the
kids could spend their points. We did not do it last year, but we're going
to try it this year. PTA offered to do it, and here's what I suggested:
open the store once a week, maybe for three hours.
have a variety of items, but not too many
be sure you have something for kids who have read ten books(at our level in
primary school, that would be five points) I think that prize should be
about 25 to 50 cents, and
be sure you have some big stuff for kids who want to pile up lots of points
and save them. Last year our biggest readers in first and second grade had
75 to 100 points for the year. That would require a $10 prize at the top
end, if you keep the 10 cents per point, etc. We have 500 students, and I'm
guessing that this will cost $1000 for the year. Remember, we have
kindergarten and they won't have lots of points.
I'm telling you about something I haven't tried yet, but other media
specialists have told me that this can run into lots of money and a real
management headache. So be warned.
Good luck!
Nell Fernandez
Sawnee Primary School
Cumming, GA
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********************
Subj:=09 Re: Target: Accelerated Reader "Prize Store" Idea
Date:=0999-08-14 11:20:28 EDT
From:=09sanfords@bellsouth.net (Sarah Sanford)
To:=09UTGRAD1990@aol.com
Deidre, I have moved to a middle school this year who has used AR for a yea=
r.
They did a store concept last year and the amount on the prizes was determin=
ed
by so much per so many points. I can't remember that figure right now. The
store was a disaster because they opened it once a month and had moms run it
but the problem was that so many kids came at a time. There was a lot of
theft. We are going to try a catalog this year, have kids fill out a form a=
nd
turn it in and then have student council students fill the orders to be give=
n
to the homeroom teachers. Another problem in the store was that some kids t=
old
the moms they were other people and used other student's points. Sarah
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*******************
Subj:=09 Re: Target: Accelerated Reader "Prize Store" Idea
Date:=0999-08-14 11:22:59 EDT
From:=09bosburn@InfoAve.Net (bosburn)
Reply-to:=09bosburn@InfoAve.Net
To:=09UTGRAD1990@aol.com
Hi,
I have tried the store with A.R. I would open the "store"
(actually, my office) at the end of each 6 weeks. I bought a wide
variety of prizes from Oriental Trading Co. that I thought the kids
would enjoy working toward. One of the problems I had was students
pocketing prizes they did not earn. Another problem was that I was not
able to supervise the kids in the class(library) while I was doing the
store in my office. Another thing, the kids would often "buy" a lot of
the 1-5 pt. items even though they had enough pts. to "buy" 25-50 pt.
items. This sometimes depleted my supply of items for students who only
had 1-5 pts. to "spend". Also, I could not control what they did with
the items after they purchased them. They would give them away to kids
who did not earn any pts. thus demeaning the system of rewards for
achievement. In my opinion, this involved a lot of time purchasing and
storing and organizing the prizes and a lot of stress when things did
not turn out as I had thought it would. I would not do it again!
=09Most recently, we allowed students to accumulate points for an entire
semester and those who reached certain levels were allowed to attend a
skating party. At the skating party, the top ten from each grade level
were recognized. We gave a limited choice of similar priced
items(plastic water guns, small lego sets, etc.) to those students who
reached their personal reading goals which were set with teacher
guidance. This was very successful and a lot of fun. The party was
held immediately after school with transportation provided to the
skating rink. Parents picked up their child(ren) between 5-6 pm. They
were supervised by several teachers and parents during this time, and
because we had over 100 kids, we were allowed to rent the skating rink
as a private party to avoid any outsiders.
=09Best wishes, Charlotte Osburn, LMS
<FONT COLOR=3D"#0f0f0f" BACK=3D"#fffffe" SIZE=3D3>**************************=
************************************************************************
Subj:=09AR Prize Store
Date:=0999-08-14 22:48:42 EDT
From:=09BePope
To:=09UTGRAD1990
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D3>Hi! I have directed the AR program =
at our school for almost 5 years and have the prize store in the M.C. It is=
open all hours since I have a full-time assistant. I buy small prizes at t=
he Dollar Tree and candy at Sam's Club. My "store" is actually housed in a =
wood cabinet with sliding glass doors on the front and glass shelves. =20
I issue "book bucks" to all the teachers and the students receive their b=
ook bucks as they earn them. They may come to spend them whenever is conven=
ient with their teacher. My items range from 2 for $1 to $20. I put the s=
mall items (pencil cap erasers, stickers, book marks, pencils, small candies=
, etc...) in plastic candy containers on the top of the prize case and then =
I have each shelf marked a different price ( $5, $10, $20) inside the case. =
=20
This system has worked well for me, although I seem to spend more and mo=
re money each year....I am thinking of asking our Parent Service group to he=
lp out this year! It also takes quite a bit of shopping time every few week=
s!
We use this store and point level awards such as t-shirts, certificates,=
end of year field trips, plaques, etc...
Good luck!
Belinda Pope (BePope@aol.com)
Media Specialist
Seminole Presbyterian School
Tampa, Fl.
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**********************
Subj:=09 AR store
Date:=0999-08-14 22:52:05 EDT
From:=09jmgeorge@bmi.net (Jackie George)
To:=09UTGRAD1990@aol.com
Dear Deidre,
I have had an AR store at the elementary level for at least three years
now. It is not set up permanently, in fact, after the first year I went to
a yearly store rather than a monthly store. We get donations, use freebies
from bookfairs, request support from parents and the community, all kinds of
things to come up with items for the store. Toward the end of the year, I
have the teachers come down and help me "price" the items. For instance,
Beanie Babies were 40 points, paperback books were 5, 10, 15, depending on
level, etc. We also use prizes left from Carnival for store items, many of
these are 1, 2, or 3 points, depending on what it is. The students do
receive certificates and pencils or bookmarks at each of the point levels,
5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, etc. I have had individual students with over 500
points, and quite a few with 200+ the last two years. With just 2nd-5th
participating, approximately 300 students, there were more than 10,000
points to spend at the end of the year last year. The students love the
store! Each year it seems to grow a bit - this year I hope to have some
really big prizes available for those students who go over 200 points - we
will see what develops. I would be happy to send other information should
you have specific questions.
Jackie George
Books won't crash in Y2K!</PRE></HTML>
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