Book machine looks to spark student growth
Published 12:45 am Wednesday, December 25, 2024
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Margaret Anne Gilchrist, DCSF Executive Director, cuts the ribbon to unveil what’s in the big blue box.
Mrs. Donald reveals Westside’s one of a kind Bookworm Vending Machine!
Adelia Strickland retrieving her book.
Lottie Fleming with her book.
Chase Stokes selecting his book.
L to R: 1 st grader, Chase Stokes, Kindergartener, Lottie Fleming and 2 nd grader, Adelia Strickland. These students were
randomly drawn from their grade levels to be rewarded the first books from the Bookworm Vending machine. These
student were rewarded for overall great behavior, showing the most growth on their diagnostics, or highest score on
their diagnostics.
When Westside Elementary School teacher Brittany Donald saw how much of a hit a pencil vending machine was, she thought the similar type machine would be exciting for the students.
“The only type of machine that Westside currently had for students to visit was a pencil machine,” Donald said. “Students would be so excited whenever they would bring a quarter for the pencil machine, and I just knew that they would love a book vending machine in our school.”
Now through a grant with the Demopolis City Schools Foundation, Donald’s dream has come true.
As an early Christmas present, Westside Elementary School unveiled its new Bookworm Vending Machine. The project totaled $7,340 and was funded by the Demopolis City Schools Foundation.
The machine was wrapped in wrapping paper as a gift to the entire student body. Once the present was unwrapped, three students got a chance to be the first to purchase a book with their golden coins.
Donald said. all Westside students have the opportunity to earn a book from the machine.
“These books will be earned through meeting personalized academic or behavior goals,” Donald said. “The students will work with their teacher or other faculty members to set goals and monitor their progress. Once they’ve met their goal, they will earn a gold token that can be used in the machine to choose a book to take home. Our goal is that this will help build libraries in the homes of our students while continuing to encourage setting and meeting personal goals. As a bonus, it will provide a more literacy rich environment for our future students as well.”
Donald said the machine was specifically designed for Westside using the school color scheme and everything. It even talks to them.
“It has our school’s name and motto, flashing multicolored lights, and a tiger reading a book complete with the DCS crest on the cover,” Donald said. “The machine even has a voice that congratulates the student and encourages them to keep up the good work whenever they receive their book. The machine is set up to only accept the gold tokens that can be earned by meeting personal goals. It will be housed in our lunchroom so that all of our students can see it every day. A variety of books have been purchased, and they have been placed in the machine so that each student will have a variety to choose from whenever they meet their goal.”
Donald said the machine was a hit.
“Our students were so excited at the ribbon cutting and reveal of our new machine, and I can’t wait to see how excited they are whenever they are taking their books home,” Donald said. “I hope that they share these books with their siblings, cousins, friends, and neighbors and develop a long-lasting love of reading together!. I am so thankful that we have the Demopolis City Schools Foundation and its director, board members and supporters to provide grants that allow for special opportunities like this for our students.”
Margaret Anne Gilchrist, DCSF Executive Director, said they are excited to see the students set personal goals.
“Once these goals are achieved, then they are rewarded with a token to the Bookworm Vending Machine,” Gilchrist said. “During the unveiling of the machine, the excitement on the student’s faces and the excitement from the teachers was so contagious! Moments like this are what make this position as Executive Director so rewarding! Without the continued support of our generous donors, this would not be possible.”
This post was originally published on here
