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End of the year fun: overdue book and fines

Posted by Julie Greller on May 6, 2011 at 4:46am

Has anyone come up with a great way to get students to return their books and pay their fines? I work in a junior-senior high school and have 1200 students. Administration will prevent students from attending the prom or participating in any activity, but the kids are very slow to act. I'm not new to the job, just frustrated with having to track down kids in their classrooms to "collect the goods." Anything work for you?

 

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Replies

  • Donna rose ritchie August 24, 2011 at 3:18pm

    Hi,

    I have found rewards and peer pressure works well.  I have a lottery draw bin so all students who are showing "all clear" are eligible for the draw I do the end of every week for the last month of school. I have lots of prizes donated from all over town (pizza certificates, free swim passes, scholastic book certificates, baseball caps, subway certificates.....). I also provide ice-cream cakes to the first three classes who are showing 'all clear".

    Seems to really bring those books and fines in!!!

  • Cyndi Bailey Morgan August 15, 2011 at 2:17am
    Our teachers help us get the books back by enforcing the policy that students will not receive their last report card until their books are taken care of...
    • cara delia > Cyndi Bailey Morgan August 15, 2011 at 2:32am
      ours too, but that doesn't seem to resonate with most kids.  They know their parents don't care, so they don't either.  It does work sometimes, but generally they will wait till the absolute last minute.
  • Pat Rideout August 10, 2011 at 8:23am
    I have student library workers and I send them out daily to collect books from each homeroom. Then when every student in that homeroom has returned or paid for their materials, I give them a popcorn or freeze pop party and announce that class on the intercom. This works for elementary kids but I am not sure if it would work for middle school.
  • Julie Greller May 15, 2011 at 7:37am
    Thank you both for the suggestions. Greatly appreciated!
  • cara delia May 14, 2011 at 1:26pm
    I work in a k-5 school but competition always works for me. It's hard not to be too condesending to older ones.  I would make an announcement for each grade every morning until cleared.  Like 9th grade still has out ___# of books.  Make it a competition between the grades to get them all in.  Each grade level tends to take pride in their grade as group....even for books!  See if you could offer a cool grade level reward for the first one to turn in all books.  Like a "free period", or something else that hits home with them.  Maybe even a pie int he principals face?
  • Suzanne Staub May 12, 2011 at 7:13am
    I post a colorful poster in each classroom which says "Tasty reward offered for all books returned or renewed by the end of term" I give a small sweet treat for each book returned or renewed. I guess you could give something for each batch returned if funds are limited! The books come back very quickly and everyone wins!
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