Fostering a Love of Reading with a Book Vending Machine at Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep

Riley St. Marie, Principal, Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep

At Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep, we believe that fostering a love of reading should be fun, engaging, and rewarding. This year, we’ve been able to take something as simple—and fun—as a book vending machine and transform it into a tool that motivates our students to become lifelong readers.

It’s an exciting time for our school, and I’m proud to share that Rocketship Fuerza was recently honored with Distinguished School Status from the California Department of Education—our state’s highest honor. While we’re thrilled with this recognition, the heart of our school’s success lies in our focus on creating meaningful experiences that inspire our Rocketeers to grow, learn, and thrive.

One of the most exciting (and yes, fun) additions to our campus is our book vending machine. This isn’t just any vending machine; it’s filled with books—books that encourage reading for fun, exploration, and excitement. But beyond being a novelty, the book vending machine plays an important role in motivating our students to reach their academic goals.

Making Reading Fun with Rewards

Last year, we introduced the book vending machine as part of our Rocketship Reads initiative. The concept was simple: every time a student got “caught reading” during the day—whether in class, during independent reading time, or at home—they earned a signature on their bookmarks. After collecting three bookmarks, the students earned a gold coin, which they could use to “purchase” a book from the vending machine.

This strategy worked wonders in promoting the idea that reading is not just a task—it’s something that can be rewarding, exciting, and fun. Seeing our students eagerly pick out their new books created a sense of pride and accomplishment, which, in turn, fueled their enthusiasm for reading even more.

Aligning with Academic Progress

This year, we’ve taken it up a notch. While the book vending machine still promotes reading for fun, we’ve adapted how we use it to align more directly with students’ academic progress. For example, students will now receive a coin when they reach important milestones like passing a reading level or mastering their letter names and sounds.

In addition, we’ve continued to use the vending machine as an incentive for academic achievements. This year, students who met their winter NWEA MAP goals were rewarded with a trip to the book vending machine. This reinforces the connection between academic success and reading, reminding students that hard work in the classroom can lead to exciting rewards.

Expanding Our Collection

This past year, we used funds from our Scholastic Book Fair sales to purchase new books for the machine. We’re thrilled that these books are helping to diversify our collection, offering something for every student, from picture books to chapter books. With our upcoming book fair, we’re preparing to fill the vending machine with even more exciting titles, ensuring that every student has access to books that will fuel their imagination and inspire their love of reading.

Looking Ahead

Next year, we plan to continue aligning our book vending machine with our students’ reading progress, specifically by tying it to their success on their reading levels, which are part of our new reading assessment system. We know that providing access to books—and making reading feel rewarding—is key to encouraging literacy growth. By creating a system that celebrates small wins and academic achievements, we’re not only motivating students to keep reading, but also reinforcing the idea that reading is an important, lifelong skill.

In the end, the book vending machine may seem like a simple concept, but it’s had a profound impact on our students’ enthusiasm for reading. It’s a perfect example of how small, creative solutions can help nurture a growth mindset and instill a sense of excitement about learning.

As we continue to build on this initiative, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on how the book vending machine is helping our Rocketeers reach new heights in their love of reading—and their academic journeys.

Here’s to many more books, coins, and moments of discovery for our students!

Published on May 7, 2025