What started as a simple reading incentive has become a full-on quest for many Wolf Ranch Elementary students determined to earn a book from the book vending machine. “This is her number one goal, to have her name drawn so she can get something from the vending machine,” says Heather Hutto, a Wolf Ranch teacher and mom of first-grader Hana. In March, Hana’s wish came true when her name was chosen from a raffle that students can enter by turning in their reading logs each month. While students have the whole month to finish their logs, Hana usually finishes hers in two or three days. “She absolutely loves reading. She’s very passionate about her reading logs. For me, as a parent, whatever incentive works to help her read and keep her reading.”
After choosing a picture book about chameleons, Hana says, “It’s really fun to get a new book you can’t really get in the library, and it’s really fun being echosen to have it.”
BOOKWORM BONANZAS
All the excitement over reading and book ownership is thanks to GISD’s director of Digital Learning and Library Services, Amy Heil. Inspired by her goal to instill a love of reading in students and grow their home libraries, Amy applied for a grant from the Georgetown ISD Education Foundation for the district’s first book vending machine while serving as Wagner Middle School’s librarian. She had become fascinated with research on “book deserts,” areas where the majority of households have fewer than
100 books. “I found that over the years, the number of book deserts in the United States has – and still continues – to increase,” Amy says. “When I learned of schools incorporating book vending machines into their libraries, I felt it could be a fresh way to address the issue right here in Georgetown.”
Five campus libraries are now home to book vending machines – Wagner Middle School and Wolf Ranch, Williams, Carver, and Ford elementaries. At Wolf Ranch, younger students can turn in reading logs for a chance to win a free book from the vending machine, while older ones can complete reading challenges such as checking out an audiobook or e-book and submitting a written blurb about something they learned. Joanne also allows teachers to establish their own criteria by nominating a student who has made the most academic progress or read the most in the previous month.
Known as Wolf Ranch’s most avid reader, Keira Hambrick has won multiple books from the vending machine. “It’s cool how you can get rewarded with a book. You’re proud of it.” Another student, Jake Vogel, was excited to get a book from the vending machine, saying, “I felt special.”
“And you get to keep it forever,” Wolf Ranch Librarian Joanne Smith adds. “It’s yours, you earned it! Good job girl. Keep reading!”
Joanne loves seeing how excited students get when they visit the vending machine. Each one gets a coin to insert just like a regular vending machine, only this one comes with encouraging messages like “Here comes your book – keep reading!” or “Keep up the good work!”
LITERACY CHAMPIONS
The book vending machine initiative isn’t the only program with a mission to boost children’s literacy in Georgetown and surrounding areas.
Since 2005, the Sun City Kiwanis has visited elementary schools in GISD to read to students in pre-k through second grade as part of its Literacy Initiative. After enjoying story time with volunteers, students are gifted free copies of the book to take home. Each year, the Sun City Kiwanis reads to 3,200 GISD students and hands out more than 6,000 books.
Students in need of extra reading practice are matched with trained reading volunteers from Education Connection, who spend 15 minutes reading with students each week throughout the school year at several GISD campuses.
Through the Pet Partners Read With Me program, students who need extra reading practice get to read with trained therapy dog teams. While GISD’s Pet Partners teams had to discontinue their visits this year because of health issues, the organization is always looking for more therapy dog teams to support students’ reading journeys. petpartners.org/contact
The Assistance League of Georgetown Area’s Reading and More program serves children north and northwest of Georgetown. Each week, volunteers visit three elementary schools in Jarrell and one in Florence to read one-on-one with students whose reading skills need a little extra help. These reading buddies listen as kids read through a book of their choice, offering support whenever they get stuck on a difficult word or concept. Program Coordinator Sue Vaughn enjoys seeing their progress over the school year and moments of comprehension when they learn something new. “It’s like a light bulb goes off – it’s neat to see that happen. You say, ‘Look what you’ve done, you read this word right! Last week you didn’t know it and now you do. That’s great!’ ” The Assistance League hopes more volunteers will come on board and allow them to expand the program to Georgetown ISD. [email protected]