Outlined in the new consultant handbook

Program where the kids collect pledges to read & the money collected is used to buy books for the school & incentive awards

Work-intensive on your part, but can be highly successful

FTP files available to download and chat logs for RFTS on the consultant website

If you have a name to drop (teacher, parent, PTA/O, another principal):

“Hi ……….. This is …………….with Usborne Books.  I recently met/talked to ……………. (at……….) and he/she thought you would be interested in hearing about the reading-incentive challenge we sponsor for schools.  I would love to stop by for 15 minutes and tell you more about it and answer any questions you have.  How does Thursday late morning look for you? (if yes) how about 10:30 then (if busy) how does next Tuesday afternoon look for you?  (if not looking to add another program at this time) No problem.  How about I call you in June when school is out and see how I can help.  Thanks for your time!”

If no name to drop: (teacher, parent, PTA/O, another principal):

“Hi ………...This is ……….with Usborne Books.  We sponsor a highly rewarding reading incentive challenge for schools called Reach for the Stars.  We have been running the program with great success in other schools.  I would love to stop by for 10 minutes to give you some information on the Reach for the Stars and answer any of your questions.  How does Thursday afternoon look for you?”
 

• 30 minutes a night for 2 weeks is the recommended amount in the Home Office RFTS paperwork.  Is this a good amount for this school?

• Would it be possible to get class lists of students to assist with tracking of pledge dollars and minutes?

• What day does communication go home with the students?

• Could we have a kick off assembly for the entire school, several grades or one grade at a time?

• What is the best day/time for me to make copies here?  (usually the school is happy for you to make copies at their copier if you bring you own paper)

• What is the school's system for handling money that comes in from the students?  (sometimes the teacher has to count and record it, sometimes it simply goes to the office)

• Could we use the bulletin board to help promote the RFTS?

• Might the principal be interested in doing something crazy or interesting if the students meet a certain goal?  Ideas...paint face like a tiger for a day, pajama day for the school, dye hair green for a day, read a book to students from on top of the school, etc.

• If we provide a list of suggested comments, would someone mention RFTS during the morning and/or afternoon announcements?  Who should we give the list to?

It's usually handy to write some announcements for the principal or announcement team of the school with notices of the RFTS.  These are nice to have announced every day or two, if that works for the school.  Some schools have TV announcements and welcome guests! You could be a guest - these are usually VERY short spots, so be brief and excited.  You could show 3-5 books and remind them to bring their pledges in.

I have a 9x13 manila envelope for each classroom
I have a class list for each classroom that the secretary prints out for me
on that class list, I indicate how much $'s each child brought in, so Mrs. Smith's class might have $430 and on the list of her students I write how much each one brought in
Johnny Jones  $56
Tabitha White  $12
Sam Combs $5
I try not to count the money over and over again
I count it and record it carefully by that child's name.  I make sure the money I have is equal to the amount they marked on the envelope or sheet, if they indicated an amount.  Once I count it and record it, then it goes in 1 big pile.  :-)  If I loose my class list, then I'm sunk!  Sometimes a school representative is available to help with the money counting.

Sometimes I enter the kids into a data base in Excel instead of recording the amounts on the class lists.  I still like having the class lists though to help find who's classroom someone is in, incase they forgot to write down that information.

After the money is in and it's time for them to select books, I take 1 of each book I want them to pick from and set it up in the hall or library or extra room somewhere for 2 days.  During that time each class comes for about 20 minutes

When Mrs. Smith's class comes, I get her 9x13 envelope - in there I have her class list and a voucher for each child who brought in money.  Those children select that amount in books, with the help of volunteer parents, myself and usually their teachers.

When you have a large RFTS, it might be helpful for you to break down the orders and place several orders, rather than one big one.  Maybe you could place an order for the 1st grade classes or for Mrs. Smith's class or for the 3rd and 4th grades.  Each order needs to be at least $750 in books to work:  2/3 of the books will be ordered as retail, 1/3 of the books will be ordered as free.  It's easier to sort the books upon arrival from the smaller orders.  Many RFTS are in the $3000-$6000 range, some are over $10,000 and I've heard of a couple over $20,000.  The VERY large RFTS's I would certainly recommend dividing into smaller orders by class or grade.  In the address box of the order you might have:  Attn:  Mrs. Smith - 1st Grade, Evendale Elementary, 123 School Road.  Or you could have the boxes shipped to your home to sort and then deliver to the school.  If you're having the delivered to the school, arrange ahead of time with the staff where the books will stored and sorted.