Indianapolis, Indiana – At an elementary school run by Indianapolis Public Schools, a recently installed vending machine is dispensing books instead of beverages.
Languages are taught by Colleen Turner at Meredith Nicholson School 96. “Students can put a golden coin in the machine and select a book and keep that book forever,” Turner said.
Through a variety of rewards, including meeting attendance and academic goals, students can earn coins. Teachers are hoping that this would encourage pupils whose learning was hampered by the outbreak to read.
“The third graders were hit hardest during the pandemic so we’re really pushing reading and giving them extra support,” Turner said.
According to recent IREAD data, one in five Indiana students are reading below grade level. Teachers anticipate that allowing children to keep the books will encourage them to learn outside of the classroom and enhance their reading skills.
“Reading opens the world,” Turner said.
The books are bought with money from the school’s budget, but gifts of brand-new books are welcome. In each primary school up the district, IPS intends to put in a book vending machine.
“It’s only going to help them down the road,” Turner said. “The goal long term is to graduate from high school and make a great choice about their futures. We know this is only going to help them keep going through the school system.”
To keep the initiative running, the school is now collecting donations of fresh books. You can give by emailing huffla@myips.org.
