Take a look, it's in a book vending machine. This school is rewarding students for positive behaviour

This school is rewarding its students with free books from a very cool vending machine

5 months ago

Duration 2:15

Brookside Intermediate has a new initiative to get kids excited about reading and reward their good behaviour. The CBCs Mike Moore visits the school to see the new book vending machine for himself.

Brookside Intermediate in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's has a new vending machine filled with rewards for students on their best behaviour. But instead of candy or chips, the machine is packed with books.

It's the first of its kind in any school east of Saskatchewan, says Jennifer Adey,the school's reading specialist, who began spearheadingthe new initiative two years ago.

The machine is tied to "positive behavioural supports," said Adey. That means students who do good deeds, show sportsmanship, helpteachers and work hard earn a booster. That booster can then be traded for school swag or a special token that can be used for the purpose-built vending machine.

"I just feel like we need to excite kids about reading again. Video games and things like that are exciting but we need to get books exciting, too," Adey said.

The book vending machine was officially unveiled Monday, complete with a ribbon-cutting, and students lined up to take a look at the new additiontheir hallway.

Books of all genres are neatly lined up inside, and, if a student doesn't see a title they're interested in, they can opt for a $5 Indigo gift card.

For more on Brookside Intermediate's new initiative watch the video above.

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