Michigan Elementary School Uses Book Vending Machine to Encourage Reading
Bark River-Harris Elementary School in Michigan is fostering a love of reading by rewarding students with books dispensed from a vending machine.
The school installed the book vending machine at the start of the school year to help students build personal libraries and recognize positive behavior. Students earn a “Golden Horseshoe” Award for academic achievements or demonstrating good conduct, which they then exchange for a token to use in the machine. “The big thing for me is to get books in the hands of kids, and then for kids to have those books at home as well,” said Principal Kelly Erdody. “So, that’s a nice addition and also recognizing the positives our kids are doing each and every day.”
Third Grade Teacher Paige Welch noted the program’s impact on student enthusiasm. “It’s hopefully going to set an example for how exciting reading can be and having kids excited to not necessarily get a toy or a prize, but that getting a book is an exciting thing and encourages them to improve their reading,” Welch explained. Access to books is a key factor in childhood literacy, and programs like this aim to address potential inequities. You can learn more about the importance of literacy rates and challenges from Reading Rockets.
One book title has already sold out, and school staff anticipate the program will continue through the end of the current school year. The initiative builds on existing efforts to promote reading comprehension, a critical skill for future academic success, as detailed in recent National Education Association resources.
School officials expect to continue monitoring the program’s success and replenishing the machine with new titles as needed.
