Here are the respones I received regarding using incentives during your book fair.
Thanks to everyone who responded.
I too did some of the same things you mentioned. At my spring fair this past year,
I had a reading olympics (borrowed from a website) and all who completed the
olympics were given a $5.00 certificate to spend at the fair. The children loved
being able to come in and subtract $5 from their total. Also, there were some who
would not have been able to "purchase" anything at the fair without that
certificate. I have also had a genre read before a fair, similar to the olympics
but they had to read a book from different genres. My first fair I did a countdown
to the fair with reading. (I'll do anything to get the kids to read a book,
especially our boys).
I too have a drawing for all staff for $5 off at the fair. I find they almost
always spend more than that! Since we have our Book Fair at conference time I also
have entry blanks for each teacher to give parents at their conference for the
chance for their child to win a free book. They have to drop the entry off at the
library -- that gets them in the door.
Good luck!
In my school, because we have a lot of poverty among the families, we had
drawings for lower grades and one for upper grades. Rather than give only
one prize for each group, we lowered the $$ amount of the prize and gave
more prizes. If a child won the drawing, that child's teacher also got to
pick books in the same amount. We allowed every child in the school to
enter the drawing, because some kids would NEVER be able to buy a book.
That gave all the kids some hope!
I have used it to provide books to children who are unable to afford a
book. Most recently, I have used it to provide prizes for my reading
programs, usually a $6 certificate to those kids who have completed the
program.
I made a "spin-the-wheel" game. I printed out color pictures of book covers (9) and
placed them around the wheel. Each day I posted a "featured book" that were all
book fair highlighted books (Eggs, Swindle, etc.). When the kids made a purchase
they got to spin. If they got the featured book they won a small prize (pencils,
etc.) Otherwise all kids got an entry for a bigger prize (books, t-shirts, etc.)
regardless what book they landed on.
I have had success with 2 things. To get parent volunteers, I make a volunteer
signup sheet that goes
home with every student. If the student returns it - whether the parent can
volunteer or not - the student
is entered into a drawing for $20 worth of free books. This gets the kids to show
their parents and even though
I get a lot of no responses, I also get new parents in that never have volunteered
in the school before. On the sheet,
it also states that for every two hour shift the parent volunteers, they get a $5
credit in books. This is how some families
get books for their children - mom works 4 hours and can split the $10 credit among
her 3 kids, etc. So that one form
signs kids up for the $20 drawing and gets me my volunteer base.
The other thing I just started is I let students know ahead of time that there will
be a free book contest BUT only those
who have shown responsibility with their library books - no "lost books" get to
participate.
I discovered this is a perfect opportunity to try to reward those who do as they
should. Some books do get found or
paid for during this time. Last fair, I had 6 - $10 worth of books winners. So as
not to point anyone out, I have everyone in the class write
their name on a piece of paper. Then my aide or myself go through that class's
names later and
pull out anybody who has a book 6 weeks or 2 months out (one they are not still
reading). The "responsible" names go
into a basket and sometime during the week of the bookfair - I announce the
winners. I did it the last day last time and that
wasn't a good idea. These are two ideas that I've tried and had a LOT of student
interest and excitement about.
We have drawings for gift certificates for students who come to the family event
night. 2 names are drawn and they receive a $20 gift certificate to the book fair.
Our school is 3rd and 4th so I have a contest for the teachers to decorate a box to
go go with the theme of the book fair. One teacher from each grade level receives a
gift certificate to the book fair. Then they put the books they would like for
their classrooms in it and students/parents may purchase those for the classroom.
I gave each teacher that came to a sneak peak and filled out a wish list a coupon
good for a 3.99 or less book.
One year I used it as an incentive for teachers. I designed & printed up a gift
certificate & attached it to the announcement/invitation for the Sneak Preview. I
gave only $3.00 to those who attended the sneak preview and purchased more that
$10.00, but they LOVED it. One time I also included a drawing for a big basket of
Clifford stuff; other times I've used it for teachers to use for any student who
could not afford to shop for a book.
I use the money to provide scholarships for students who can't afford books. I let
the teachers know how much I have available and let the students choose a $3.99
book and tell them it was a special award. You should see the faces on some of
these kids.
Something my kids looked forward to every book fair was a drawing. It sounds
complicated, but it's really not that bad in practice.
I put one book per grade level (at least) on the wall in a ziploc bag with
brown lunch bag under each one. I put the title of the books on the lunch bag and
the cover showing in the ziploc. I printed "entry blanks" for every student in the
school. They just had lines for first/last name and teacher's name (see below). I
usually printed them on bright paper to avoid "extra" blanks being added. I put
them in the teacher's boxes the Monday before book fair.
The teachers just need to make sure the kids fill them out and drop by the
library some time during the week. (the Kindergarten and sometimes first grade
teachers usually do them for the kids) Usually they just bring them when they come
for class, but it only takes a couple of minutes. Each student picks the book
they'd like to win and puts their entry blank in the appropriate lunch bag.
During the week of book fair we have a drawing for one of the books each morning
during announcements. The principal drew the name and announced it with great
fanfare. Even the turkey principals liked being the one to do this!
The kids love it, the teachers didn't mind because I either offered them a free
paperback for showing the video or gave discounts and we got lots of advertising.
I used some to give the parent helpers who worked the bookfair money toward
purchses they might like to make for their children.
I don't know if this is the case in your school, but in mine there are many
students whose families can not afford to buy them books. In the past, we have
quietly distributed a form to the teachers asking them to recommend children who
they feel fall into the "can't afford to buy a book" category. We enter only those
children into a secret drawing and then send a certificate to that child's homeroom
to let them know they have won a book worth $5.00 or less from the bookfair. There
is no big formal announcement and no announced time for them to select their book
so they do not all appear at the same time and their confidentiality is respected.
The smiles on their faces are priceless! Sometimes, after witnessing the kid's
excitement, we will have volunteers ask if they can sponsor a child so that even
more children can receive free books.
I always hold a family night event during the Book Fair. Throughout the event I
have drawings for $5.00 Book Fair gift certificates. I do the smaller amount so
that more students have the opportunity to win a free book but you could do larger
amounts.
First of all, you are right, they do give you a certain amount for give aways. I
never thought those give aways had to be during the book fair. Keep somethings to
use for other projects, like Read Across America.
Second, I do doorprizes for my family night. Last time I made three baskets - one
with superhero stuff, one with princess stuff and one with pet stuff. I gave a
ticket to each student that came during family night. The kids had to write their
name on the ticket and put it in a bag in front of the basket they wanted. When the
night was done I chose three winners. I announced them the next morning.
I use some of that money, or even some of my profits to give kids who
can't buy books a $5 certificate to buy a book (must be a book - no smelly
markers etc.) I run it through the guidance counselor - she contacts each
classroom teacher and asks for the name of the neediest child/child whose
parents won't give them money but they'd benefit from a book. Then we
create little certificates and put on them they are from a friend. If you
try it you will be rewarded with the goodwill you receive from
teachers/guidance and the happy faces of the children who can take home a
book.
I like to give my volunteers books too!
We have a riddle each day on the morning announcement that has to do with
whatever the theme of our bookfair is. We make the riddle easy enough that
everyone has a chance to get the answer and we allow K and 1 teachers to help
their students. We put a basket in the office for the answer slips that must
contain student name and teacher name and the correct answer. At the end of each
day we draw a winner who gets a five dollar gift certificate to the book fair. At
the same time, we do a daily teacher drawing. We still have enough certificates to
give away for a guessing jar our family night. I love to give these incentives
away because I feel like they boost interest in the bookfair and increase our
sales. The kids love the riddles too! They talk about them all day!
Sounds like you already have some good ideas on this subject. I've done the
following that's been pretty successful. Every time a student came to the book
fair, they were allowed to enter a drawing for themselves and their teacher to win
$25.00 in free books. It was an incentive from two different angles. The teachers
publicized the book fair and the kids wanted to win the free books. I don't know
how Scholastic does Florida book fairs, but for me the worst case scenario would be
I would have to spend $25.00 of my profit to do this. I think the percentage is
now 60-40.
I give every teacher who fills out a wish list a $5.00 book.
I divide up the incentive money and do 20 drawings of $5.00 gift certificates for
the kids. I call these names over the intercom.
I have also done a "book walk" like a cake walk where kids march around to music
and when the music stops the winner gets a $5.00 book.
Did a $25.00 gift certificate for the kid who guessed the number of cars in the jar.
Occasionally I will pre select some books to give away and read a blurb about them
over the intercom, then draw a name from the appropriate age group to win the book.
If you host a parent "night" then you can have the kids put their name
in the hat for a $10-25 drawing. Gets a great number of kids to drag
their parents in for the event, then they are more apt to make a
purchase. I also have given teacher who fill out wish lists early a
surprise of a free $3.99 book of their choice if they are not purchased
for them by a parent. I had only one teacher try to take advantage of
that situation and I just didn't give her one of the books on her list.
Paying the taxes on books for kids who can not goes over well in low
economic communities, by setting aside say $25 of the $100 we are
offered for this purpose and keeping track on a sheet next to the
register of the amounts. Especially those little $1 kids that is all
they have and they have found a book for a $1!
If you get some really good $1 or so books you can also give them away
for awards to correct answers to trivia questions on the PA in the
morning message. You could also give them a $5 gift certificate instead
or as well.
Marcie Shendok
Media Specialist
Partin Settlement Elementary
Kissimmee, FL
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