The best reading programs don’t just get students through the required books. They make students want to pick up the next one. Sierra Madre Middle School used its PEF School Wide Grant to level up its tools for student reading engagement. With the grant, the school purchased a year-long subscription to Book Taco, an online learning tool for the whole school.
Book Taco pairs students keeping track of their reading goals with fun online activities. Its library includes more than 56,000 books covering many different genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Each book is paired with quizzes, vocabulary practice, writing practice prompts, and student book reviews. This method provides students multiple paths for showing off their understanding of their books. Reading also comes with big rewards: badges, unlockable avatars, contests, and Pookie, a virtual reading pet that gets more playtime the more students read. As a tool, Book Taco’s many features lined up with the new, student-centered reading program Sierra Madre Middle sought to integrate into the school’s literary curriculum.
To support the new Book Taco program, the school created the Taco Party reward system. Each class rotated through the library every two weeks. Students check out a book of their choice and work on Book Taco activities. Throughout the year, all students would then compete in quarter and semester challenges by reaching book, word, and quiz goals. Students who meet the monthly goal earn a spin on the Wheel of Wow. Prizes include free books, Hawk Bucks, snacks, gift cards, and surprises from the mystery box. Students who meet the semester challenge are invited to a Taco Party in the library.
After only one year, Book Taco has proven to be a valuable piece of a bigger effort led by Sierra Madre Middle’s teachers and library staff. Students are reading independently more often, finishing more books, and discussing the content of their books on a deeper level. The Sierra Madre Middle staff noted that with Book Taco’s contributions to their work, when students took the district-wide i-Ready Reading Diagnostic, they showed a 144% growth in overall reading level and progress toward grade-level standards. With Book Taco and the new Taco Party reward system in place, SMMS staff are excited to see students’ interest in reading keep growing.
Interested in supporting our public schools? Consider donating to our School Wide Grants.
