Something to Brag About

School:: Golden Terrace Elementary
Subject:: Language Arts
Teacher:: Joyce Cordell
Students Impacted:: 540
Grade:: Pre K - 5
Date:: August 4, 2016

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Suncoast Credit Union - $280.50

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 200

My goal to promote Reading Counts and increase student participation has been a huge success this year! The students love earning the Brag Tags and other incentives! They are so motivated to read and are so excited to share their progress! Everyday students come into the library to collect badges and prizes. Second graders, first graders, and even kindergarteners are reading and taking quizzes. Each milestone is rewarded with a tag to add to their library lanyard and a spin on the prize wheel. Students earn prizes, books, lunch in the library, and even a “super reader” t-shirt. Students meeting an end of the year goal are invited to a reading celebration. I have given out over 600 tags so far this year. At the end of last year, students earned a total of 2200 points. Already this year, students have earned over 8000 points! I am so proud and so grateful to be able to offer this incentive program to our students.

grant photo

Original Grant Overview

Goal

My goal is to motivate students to increase independent reading time which will result in improved skills. I want to create excitement about reading by celebrating our students' efforts in Scholastic Reading Counts.

What will be done with my students

Reading Counts is a computerized program that allows students to take quizzes on books that they have independently read. Students earn points for the quizzes they pass. Each time students reach a predetermined goal they will come to the media center to be recognized and receive a different "Brag Tag" to display on their library lanyards. They will also get to spin the wheel to win prize! At the end of the year, students receive a ball chain so they can wear all of the tags they have earned. Along with the Brag Tags students will qualify for additional incentives as they earn more points. For example, at ten points students will have their picture taken for our Star Reader Powerpoint which loops throughout the year. The more they read, the more tags and rewards they earn. Other incentives include bookmarks, books, lunch in the library, reading t-shirt, and an end of the year party!
This is our second year using brag tags and incentives. The students loved it! Excitement and participation grew throughout the year. Our book circulation increased and reading scores improved! Our plans are for this year to be even better!

Benefits to my students

Research has proven the importance of independent reading. As little as fifteen minutes a day can have a big impact especially for struggling readers. Reading Counts motivates students to read and builds confidence! It reinforces comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency skills. It also celebrates success, promotes independence, and accountability. Our Brag Tags and incentives help to motivate even our most reluctant readers to Read! Read! Read!.

Budget Narrative

This is our second year with this program. The budget includes replacement Brag Tags for ones that students earned and were able to keep at the end of the year..

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	350 Brag Tags (different styles)	$80.50
2	Incentives and prizes	$75.00
3	Reading T-shirts	$75.00
4	End of the year celebration	$50.00
	Total:	$280.50

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