If you think Woodland Elementary School can’t get any cooler, think again! Thanks to generous donations from a generous parent, students, and teachers, the school has just installed Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine. We can already feel that extra dose of excitement leading the kids towards the world of reading. It’s like a candy machine but way, way better because it dispenses BOOKS!

Token to Treasure: A Rewarding Reading Experience

With this marvelous book vending machine, students get to embark on a thrilling literary adventure. How, you ask? Well, all they need is a special vending machine token! These tokens allow kids to pick out a brand-new book to take home. The only requirement is they must have met their reading goals for the year. It’s like a treasure hunt for bookworms!

Principal Dr. Karen Reach Shares Woodland Elementary’s Excitement

School principal, Dr. Karen Reach, couldn’t be more thrilled about this new addition. She said, “We’re always celebrating reading. This was something new (to me). Something that I knew was completely new to the district. I didn’t know anyone who had access to a book vending machine or who had even used a book vending machine. So I was just so excited that it was a new pathway to reading and something to motivate children to read.” It’s not just about reading; it’s about making reading FUN!

Setting the Right Goals

Now, you might be wondering what kind of reading goals are we talking about. Well, here’s the cool part – the specific goals vary from student to student. And from grade to grade. Dr. Reach and her leadership team put their heads together. They decided a book vending machine was the perfect incentive.

The Ultimate Book Selector: Chris Simerly

Inside the book vending machine, you’ll find a diverse selection of books. They’re handpicked by library and media specialist, Chris Simerly. These books are carefully chosen to meet state standards. Most importantly, they cater to the interests and reading levels of all students. So, whether you’re into mystery, adventure, horror, or fantasy. When it’s time to redeem those tokens, there’s a book in there for everyone.

Keeping the Literary Feast Going at Woodland Elementary

Of course, keeping the machine stocked throughout the year is no small feat. As many as 40 students are potentially earning and redeeming tokens each quarter. But fear not! The Woodland PTA has already stepped up to the plate, committing to help the school keep the machine filled with fantastic reads.

A Culture of Reading at Woodland

For Principal Reach, the emphasis on reading has been a constant throughout her 11 years at Woodland Elementary School. She believes that “reading is so important because it permeates through everything that we do, whether we’re math problem-solving or reading content in science and social studies. So this is just another way to celebrate that.” It’s about creating a reading culture that lasts a lifetime.

The Trend Catches On!

But Woodland Elementary isn’t keeping this amazing idea to itself. The excitement generated by Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine has sparked interest in other schools around Johnson City. Fairmont Elementary, for example, is already in the process of getting a machine of its own. The goal is for every student can enjoy the magic of reading.

So there you have it, folks! Woodland Elementary School is taking reading to a whole new level with Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine. It’s all about fun, rewards, and encouraging our students to dive into the world of books. We can’t wait to see the smiles on their faces as they pick out their next literary adventure! Let the reading revolution begin!