How Book Vending Machines Solve Two Common School Challenges at Once

What do an elementary school in Nebraska and another in Pennsylvania have in common? They've both found a new solution for two ongoing educational problems. It promotes good behavior and increases student interest in reading. Their secret weapon? Book vending machines that transform good behavior into the gift of reading.

The Double Impact: Behavior and Books

At both Dodge Elementary in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Ross Elementary in Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania, administrators faced familiar challenges: How do you motivate students to maintain positive behavior while simultaneously encouraging them to read more? The answer came in an unexpected form – Inchy's Bookworm Vending Machine.

The Proven Formula

Both schools discovered a winning combination and here's how it works:

- Good behavior earns rewards (golden tokens)

- Tokens provide student choice in book selection

- Students build home libraries

- 100% participation ensures no child is left out

Two Schools, Same Remarkable Results

Dodge Elementary's Guaranteed Access Approach

In Grand Island, Nebraska, a creative partnership between Read-Nebraska and Teammates has revolutionized their approach to reading motivation.

Principal Angie Eberle explains their inclusive strategy: "Our plan is, at each student's birthday or half birthday, they will get a token and they'll be able to purchase a book from the vending machine. That way we guarantee every student at Dodge will get a book this year."

The impact has been particularly significant as it expands beyond just reading. Melissa Almond, Program Coordinator of Teammates, shares her observations: "It's awesome because Grand Island has historically mentored middle school through high school for the Teammates program. Adding the elementary fifth graders to this has been exciting to see them light up when they see the books. They get to pick a group of books that they're really interested in and that's been kind of exciting and I'm excited because the kids are excited."

Ross Elementary's Behavior-Based Success

At Ross Elementary, reading specialist Amanda Plisko emphasizes the behavioral aspect: "That human element of being kind or working toward a goal can get a student a gold coin." Their goal is ambitious but achievable: "Our goal is have students get a book and create an at home library, be able to get books take them home and that's their book to keep," Plisko explains.

The students' enthusiasm is palpable in their own words:

• "I think it's really good because it makes us better people," says Cynthia Peiffer, a sixth grader at Ross Elementary.
  
  
• "I really like it. There's a lot of chapter books. I get to take it home and read to my brother," shares Juliann MacCullough, a third grader.
  
  
• "I like how you get to choose books because it wasn't here last year," adds Lawson Cooney, a first grader.
  
  
• "I really like it, it's so fun I get to read books to my mom and stuff," exclaims Ryker Rawkoski, a first grader.

Why This Matters for Your School

The parallel successes of these two schools, despite their different approaches, demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of book vending machines in:

Solving Multiple Challenges

1. Behavior Management

  - Creates positive reinforcement systems

  - Provides immediate, meaningful rewards

  - Motivates continued good behavior

2. Reading Engagement

  - Generates excitement about book ownership

  - Allows students to choose books they're interested in

  - Builds home libraries for continued reading

3. Equal Access

  - Ensures every student can participate

  - Removes economic barriers to book ownership

  - Creates shared experiences among students

Implementation Strategies That Work

Both schools found success through:

Sustainable Funding Solutions

• Government grants (like Read-Nebraska's substantial $3.5 million program)
• Local sponsorships
• PTO/PTA support
• Educational partnerships (like Teammates mentoring program)

Strategic Placement and Selection

• Prominent locations (school lobbies) for high visibility
• Diverse book selection (approximately 300 books)
• Age-appropriate options from picture books to chapter books
• Popular series to maintain interest

Making It Work in Your School

The success stories from both Dodge and Ross Elementary prove that regardless of your school's size, location, or specific challenges, book vending machines can create positive change through:

1. Customizable Implementation

•   Birthday-based systems like Dodge Elementary
•   Behavior-based rewards like Ross Elementary
•   Or a combination of both approaches

2. Measurable Outcomes

•   100% student participation
•   Increased positive behavior
•   Greater reading engagement
•   Enhanced home-school connection

Beyond the Vending Machine: Creating a Complete Reading Culture

While the vending machines serve as exciting centerpieces, schools are integrating them into broader literacy initiatives:

• Active participation in local library reading programs
• Neighborhood book-sharing initiatives
• Integration with existing school reward systems

Take the Next Step

These two schools demonstrate that whether you're in Nebraska or Pennsylvania, urban or rural, the combination of behavior rewards and reading incentives through book vending machines creates a powerful tool for educational success. Their stories prove that with the right implementation, you can:

• Improve student behavior
• Increase reading engagement
• Ensure equal access to books
• Create excitement about reading
• Build home libraries for every student

Ready to join schools like Dodge and Ross Elementary in transforming both student behavior and reading engagement? Contact us for information about Inchy's Bookworm Vending Machine. Learn how you can implement this proven solution in your school.