This elementary school fills their vending machine with books instead of candy
"Anything that encourages reading is a win in our book."
A Florida elementary school is offering reading material, rather than sweets, to students who frequent the vending machine.
"It's been a success," said Diane Dwyer, principal at Umatilla Elementary in Umatilla, Florida. "It has created excitement and joy around reading and anything that encourages reading is a win in our book."
Dwyer told "Good Morning America" that the idea behind the book-filled vending machine was that of Susan Caldwell's -- the school media specialist.
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From there, the school began gathering books via Scholastic Book Fair points, donations and purchases through school staff.
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The children, grades kindergarten through 5th, are able to swap "Bulldog Bucks" for coins to buy books at the machine. "Bulldog Bucks" are tokens earned in exchange for committing a kind act, or working hard on an assignment, Dwyer said.
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The vending machine was unveiled Monday as part of literacy week and Dwyer said they already had to restock the books.
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"It would be wonderful if we can partner with local businesses to donate more books because it's been a hit," Caldwell told "GMA."
It has created excitement and joy around reading.
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Dwyer and Caldwell said a local church recently donated a second vending machine to the school. The plan is to have one machine dedicated to a kindergarten to 2nd grade reading level and the other for grades 3 to 5.
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