Thanks to everybody who responded. There were so many wonderful
suggestions!!
For starters, many, many people suggested popsicles, or those
freeze-pops that come in long skinny baggies. Several suggested
raffles, or whole-class rewards. While I certainly appreciate the value
of peer pressure, I also don*t want to punish whole classes for one
recalcitrant student. However, I might raffle for additional prizes for
those classes who all bring their books back.
My favorite suggestion (although I*ll probably borrow some of the
others as well!) was this *carrot and stick* approach:
*I have a popsicle party! I buy the kind in the plastic sleeves that
you can freeze. You can buy boxes of 150-200 at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club
for about $6.50. When each class comes in, the kids who have returned
their books go over to the story-telling area to have popsicles, listen
to music, do floor puzzles, and read joke/riddle books. Kids who don't
have their books in, sit at tables and write a letter to their parents
asking for help to remember their books. I have done this for 4 years
now and the results are amazing. I have parents who come in the morning
of their child's party to pay for lost books because their child doesn't
want to miss the party!*
Other suggestions:
an extra 15 minute recess time or something like that
get to wear a special thing, like a hat that day (hats aren't allowed
at our school, so that would be a good thing
FOOD! Get them little candy bars, or little bags of skittles
How about a raffle? Kids get a raffle ticket for every book they turn
in by a certain date. Then you draw for 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes and make a
big deal out of it. Gift cards to Barnes and Noble?
A couple of times I have had book fair after books are due and they
have to have taken care of the overdue book to purchase. Boy, did that
ever work!
for everyclass that COMPLETELY clears their collective checkout records
(returned books, fines paid, etc.), we will have either a popcorn or a
popsicle party
Are you comfortable using the computer and do you have Print Shop? If
so, you can easily create cute, personalized stickers and print them out
on Sticker paper from Staples. ($10 for 30 sheets) You can fit about 12
stickers on a page, or more if you make them smaller. Make square
stickers so that you can cut them with the paper cutter. I made
stickers with our school name and mascot and the kids went wild!
Last year, I purchased a huge bag of mini tootsie rolls and a box of
red sweedish fish (both for about $10). If students have all of their
books returned on the last library check out day, they could choose two
pieces. All of the other kids were able to choose their "treat"
whenever they did return their books. For those few that seem to not
return books, I told them if their card was not cleared at the end of
the school year they would not "move up" the next year. Kids at my
school can check out a number of books equal to their grade. So, a first
grader that didn't return or pay for lost books at the end of the year,
would not "move up" to be able to check out two books in second grade.
They would stay at one. At my library, that "moving up" is a big deal!
I usually offer the incentive to the teacher whose class gets all their
books in - we do an extra reading time in the library while the teacher
gets extra prep time.
Seeds for planting? Bulbs? Maybe you could get the local gardening
store to donate some?
You could do a "Make your own bookmark" with blank oaktag and have them
create one with glitter, stickers, rubber stamps, hole punchers,etc?
Have you considered nutritious snacks? If you have a Sam's Club or
Cosco membership, they can be reasonable.
Also -- gel pens are still a big hit. Again a bulk purchase may be
within your budget.
Have you talked to the fast food merchants? I told them my goal and
they donated older toys from their kids meals.
Our Dairy Queen ha
s $1.00 gift certificates, it's not cheap, but it
could an entry into a raffle -- return a book and get a chance for a 5
$1.00 gift certificates.
After school fun time -- water balloon toss, etc. more an activity
time.
What about jacks, simple card games, ink pens with florist tape
wrappeed around a flower. These are big hits with our girls.
You could make up grab bags and raffle them -- keeping it a mystery
what is in what bag-- but having some for boys, different ones for
girls.
We rely on local restaurants and businesses to help us with that. Our
local grocery store has HEBuddy bucks the children use in their machine
to earn points that can be used to earn prizes at graduated levels (the
more points the better the prize). Several of our fast food restaurants
help with free burger coupons, free fries, free kids' meals, etc. You'd
be surprised at how generous they can be if it is something that will
also generate business for them.
One thing I do is the day all library books are due I have a
storyteller come and tell stories. Their "payment" to attend is to
bring in their library books.
What I do is that I only allow 1 book check out the last month to
cutdown on the number of books going out.
This is my reward for returned books. 2 weeks before school is out I
have centers set up around the library: color by number, make a book
mark, puzzles, etc. However, those that didn't bring their books back
or owe me money for damaged/lost books don't get to participate. They
sit at a table and "read" a magazine. Then I tell them that next week
they get prizes to play games if they return their books. Usually they
do so promptly.
Then the next week I play Bingo during library time. The game goes on
depending on how many prizes I have. If I don't have too many I "drag
it out". I hand out posters I've collected during the year (especially
the ones that announce the book fair - I just cut off the bottom part
with the dates), pencils, erasers, trading cards (the ones that come in
my
magazines that I pull out), old magazines, McDonald's toys, thrift
store finds, party favors, dollar store stuff, etc... Again, no books =
no play. By this time only a handful haven't returned their books. Of
course, not everyone gets a prize but they all get to play - which they
don't get to do very often in my library - so this is a reward unto
itself.
I try to get stuff during the summer and continue to save stuff up
during the entire school year so I don't have to spend any money at the
end of the year. The most I've ever spent was $20 dollars.
I'm sitting in a dunk tank on Field Day...if the students do not have
any overdue materials, they get a ticket that will give them the
"chance" to dunk me. The dunk tank rental is being paid for by the
PTSA, so other than embarrassment, no cost to me!
Last year I did snow cones during lunch, the year before I did French
fry coupons from
Burger King (not a wise choice, I had several parents complain that
they "had" to take their children to BK).
Could you do something like a chance to go outside for 20 minutes and
give out freeze pops? or something like that? Outside air is free and
the freeze pops are very cheap!
May I suggest that you give a prize to the ones with the clear records
first. Be sure to reward the ones who take care of business
Why not give a reward to the students who are completely cleared? Ask
a local grocery to donate and give out cones or ice cream Sundays.
Often times PTSA will assist in purchase.
Something that I have always done, is when students came to library, I
asked them to use my phone and call home to leave a message on
answering machine reminding them to put book in backpack.
I also ask the teachers to assist by having a desk and locker clean
out.
I've gotten tootsie pops and handed them out to those who have all
bookschecked in on the final due date.
Bookmarks; pencils
I used to bake "home made" cookies for the first class (or 2) that
goteverything return
ed!
I have done Brownies for Books, but this is very labor intensive.
Do you think you could find a neighborhood restaurant that would be
willing to give you a coupon for free dessert w/purchase of dinner? The
kiddos probably don't get a dessert when they go out, so this would help
the parents and treat the kids, as well as bring in a sure revenue to
the restaurant.
Or look around town for other "free" coupons you could pass along---a
swim pass, a free ice cream cone.
Would there be a book store that would be willing to go in on a joint
venture? A pizzaria? Does a local grocer have a "neat" deli that would
give a free hot dog with drink purchase? Would a Chuck E. Cheese store
offer you tokens/coupons to give out?
At one school where I worked, I offered a "treat" to the first class
that was totally clear. Teachers got into it and "encouraged" the
kids...I gave the winning class several boxes of the "all natural" fruit
popsicles. That seemed to be a hit. At my most recent school it was a
long standing tradition that report cards were not released to kids who
were delinquent. The parents came to get the report cards and paid at
that time. That worked very well, too.
What about pencils, buttons, bookmarks, or stickers from Demco,
Brodart,
Oriental Trading Company, etc.?
I know, I know - but I use CANDY - jolly ranchers and starbursts. I
offer alternatives to students who can't have candy - bookmarks, free
donated book, or sugar free candy. I also get on the phone and "nag"
the parents.
My standard class reward is to invite the kids to bring their lunches
into the library to eat and then I give them brownies with whipped cream
or ice cream for dessert. They love it! They hate eating in our
cafeteria, which has all the appeal of refugee center and love coming to
the library and sitting at tables like civilized human beings. I get
around all the USDA food rules because I'm not feeding them sweets in
the cafeteria. In fact they eat more of their lunch with me since I
won't let them have a brownie till they have finished their milk! I
tell them it's a Mom thing.
I don't reward everyone - I normally reward the first 4 classes to
clear their records - it's amazing what a little peer pressure and a
brownie will do! I get giant economy size boxes of Giradelli brownie mix
at Costco.
We have used a special assembly for those students who have all books
returned and fines paid. You have to have the cooperation of the
teachers who will keep the students who don't qualify. We have a
teacher who has a tai kwan do demonstration team that will do a hour
show for free. Of course, cost is a big issue. We have also given out
tiny Toostie Rolls. I can't say that either has been tremendously
successful.
How about giving coupons - for ice cream in the cafeteria at lunch or
cookies at lunch - maybe even a "get out of class" early coupon - I even
gave 2 free copies from the xerox machine (we charge a nickel per copy).
The kids loved it!
This doesn't exactly fit what you are wanting, but here's one thing
that we do. It works fairly well. I give each teacher a class set of
coupons on Monday. Throughout the week, the students turn in their
"lottery" tickets. We will only let the student turn in the ticket if
the library record is clear. Then on Friday, I draw out a certain
number of names for prizes. We re-check each child's name to make sure
the library record is still clear. If not, we draw out another name to
replace the one who has fines/overdues. Then we give out prizes such as
dollar store coloring books, playing cards, etc. This way, I don't have
to give out a huge number of prizes, but it does encourage all students
to participate. They then have a chance of winning.
Well I collect paperbacks from my bookfairs and books left over from my
reading clubs. The first class to get all books in gets a free book for
each student.
Pencils are good
If you use planet http://planetreport.com/Site/form.html and get their
free stuff you
can use that. I have done brownie explosion parties-I
make brownies, they add whip crème and sprinkles.
I have a bucket of games-they can have game day.
Homemade cookies.
Popsicles.
Pop popcorn and give out in coffee filters (the cheapest container
there is)
Kristina Detmer
Library Media Specialist
Russell Boulevard Elementary
Columbia, Missouri, USA
kdetmer@columbia.k12.mo.us
When I get a little money, I buy books; and, if any is left, I buy food
and clothes."
~attributed to Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus
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