Scholastic Book Fair was here on campus the last few days. Each reading classroom has had a friendly competition raising money to buy new books for the classrooms. 7th grade did an amazing job raising a couple hundred each class. Between 7th and 8th grade, the reading classes raised just over $800. The reading teachers were able to buy a good amount of new books to take back to their classrooms.

My students did not raise as much as the 7th graders did, but we did raise the most within the 8th grade reading classes. I decided to pitch in a few extra bucks to make sure I had 2 books to give away each 6 weeks, one for a boy and one for a girl. Students here take AR (Accelerated Reading) tests on the books they have read and earn points. I decided that for every 10 points a student earns, their name will go into drawing. At the end of each grading period, I will draw a boy's name and a girl's name and let them pick out one of the books that was purchased today.

So far the student's are excited and are looking forward to the friendly competition with one another. I may consider end of year incentives. Suggestions are welcomed.

Proxy

London, A. (2013). Proxy. New York, New York: Speak. Currently my students are reading Proxy by Alex London. Much like the dystopian society that many other books seek, this is the first that I have read that has a "proxy," someone of the lower class who pays the debts of their patron, someone of the elite class. Many of my students have finished the book and are onto book two, Guardian, which makes not only myself please that many students are reading more outside of class, so is my school principal. TweenReads was a few weeks ago and I was not able to attend due to prior arrangements with my son's Cub Scout activities. I'm not going to lie. I was a little bit bummed I did not get to attend TweenReads. Alex London was there and I did not get a chance to meet him or get my book signed. Maybe another day. 

Proxy is on the Lone Star list this year for my students. The Book Club's goal is to read adn complete AR test on at least 12 of the books by the end of the school year. The more the better. The goal is to get my kids to reach our and read more for pleasure. So far we are off to a good start.