Charlotte Public Schools issued the following announcement on Sept 17.
New vending machine at Washington Elementary dispenses books to reward good behavior
If you were to walk through the front doors of Washington Elementary in Charlotte, you would see an amazing new vending machine. This is not your typical snack vending machine; this machine holds books for students! The machine’s location is ideal as students walk by it every day, often several times a day.
The vending machine, called Inchy the Bookworm, is manufactured by Global Vending Group out of Buffalo, New York. They provide traditional vending products, but they have combined learning and vending by repurposing machines to hold and dispense books. The process of ordering the vending machine began in March. Funds from recent Hungry Howie’s fundraisers paid for the machine, and Scholastic points purchased the initial book supply selected from a list of “top picks” given by teachers. A committee of students in 1st - 3rd grades will help advise the selection of future books. The Bookworm does not take quarters to operate; it uses Inchy Golden Tokens and holds 200-300 books. The books presented are chapter books and picture books covering a variety of subjects, genres, and reading levels so it offers the prospect for students to select books they know they can read, or inspire students to select a more challenging title.
Staff members at Washington Elementary give out tokens at their discretion when they catch a student engaging in a great behavior such as an act of kindness, responsibility, meeting a reading or other goal, or a variety of creative opportunities to get a new book into the hands of a student! As educators, it is gratifying to see the Bookworm emphasize reading as a treasure rather than a task.
Inside the cover of each book selection is a nameplate stating: “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader! This book belongs to future leader, _____.” Kids have asked, “I get to keep this book? Forever?” and they are excited when told “of course!” Many, when given the choice, choose the Inchy token as a reward pick. The moment the student places the token in the slot, presses the code for their personal book selection, and retrieves it from the book slot at the bottom of the machine; the smile and light in their face shows promise of enduring appreciation for reading!
Thank you to everyone that made this investment in reading a possibility! Go Orioles! Oriole Pride!
Original source can be found here.
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