Scholastic Book Clubs provide a structured program for educators and families to access affordable books while earning free classroom resources. The program operates primarily through paper and digital flyers distributed to students, who then share them with parents or guardians. These flyers feature a wide selection of books at various price points, and orders placed through the program generate bonus points for the teacher. These bonus points can be redeemed for free books and other classroom materials. The process involves teachers receiving flyers, sending them home with students, collecting orders, and entering them either online or via paper forms. Parents can place orders using a specific class code, often through an online portal that accepts credit card payments. To encourage participation, teachers often use editable letters and forms to communicate program details, deadlines, and class-specific information to families.
Understanding the Scholastic Book Club Program Structure
The Scholastic Book Club program is designed to facilitate book purchases for students while providing benefits to teachers and classrooms. According to source material, the program functions by having students and parents shop from paper flyers or place orders online. For every dollar spent, the teacher accumulates bonus points, which can be used to acquire free books and classroom materials. Scholastic frequently runs special promotions to maximize these bonus points.
Teachers receive multiple flyers for different age ranges, and occasionally extra flyers featuring specific themes like holiday books or blockbusters. Upon receiving the flyers, the teacher's responsibility is to distribute them to the students. To streamline the process, Scholastic has moved toward online operations, eliminating the need for handling checks or paper flyers for many transactions. Parents can place online orders using a class code provided by the teacher, paying via credit card. Teachers can also enter student orders online, where the system saves the orders and allows for the addition of new orders as they come in. The online system provides a summary of all student orders and allows for separate teacher orders.
Accessing and Distributing Flyers
Obtaining the necessary materials is the first step in the process. Approximately six weeks before a book fair, the designated "book fair chairperson" receives a large box containing promotional materials, including flyers. These flyers are full-color and designed to showcase items available at the fair. The quantity of flyers provided by Scholastic is based on school enrollment data. However, it is noted that additional flyers often need to be requested.
For the Book Club program specifically, teachers receive flyers that can be sent home with students. To encourage family participation, teachers often attach informational letters to the front of the flyers. These letters serve to explain the program and provide necessary ordering details. Some teachers use pre-made templates, while others create custom letters. The goal is to ensure parents have all the information needed to place orders, including the class code and due dates.
The Ordering Process for Teachers and Parents
Scholastic offers two primary methods for ordering: paper forms and online entry. While paper forms were traditionally used, the source material strongly recommends using the online system. Teachers can enter student orders into their online account as they are received. The system allows the teacher to associate orders with specific student names and tracks the running total. Teachers can review orders to see a summary before finalizing.
Parents also have the capability to place orders directly online. This requires the teacher's class code, which should be included on any slips or letters sent home. Online ordering offers the convenience of credit card payment for parents. Teachers can also place their own orders to redeem bonus points for free classroom items. These teacher orders are kept separate from student orders within the system.
Strategies for Maximizing Participation and Benefits
Teachers have developed various strategies to increase family participation and maximize the free rewards available through the program.
Communication with Families: Sending home flyers without accompanying information often results in low participation. Teachers use editable letters to bridge this gap. These letters typically include: * An explanation of what Scholastic is and the benefits of the program. * The specific class code required for ordering. * The link to the teacher's class page or the main ordering website. * Order due dates. * Instructions on how to navigate the website if parents need assistance.
Some teachers use seasonal-themed letters for each month of the school year (August through June). Others provide an introductory letter along with special letters for specific times of the year, such as December, to encourage ordering as holiday gifts. The letters are designed to be attached directly to the front of the flyers.
Student Engagement: Getting students excited about the flyers is a key strategy. Teachers often have students create "Wish Lists" by browsing the catalog. This not only engages the students but also serves as a preview for parents. Additionally, teachers use the flyers for educational activities, such as sorting book images by author's purpose (informative or entertaining) or using the flyer text for sight word practice during literacy centers.
Managing Logistics: Organization is crucial for smooth monthly orders. Teachers use various tools to stay organized, including: * Parent letters explaining the program. * Monthly flyers in two sizes to staple to student copies. * Reminder notices for due dates. * Lists to track what students ordered each month. * Teacher wish list sheets.
Some teachers enlist parent volunteers to help assemble flyers and packets to send home.
Earning Bonus Points: The bonus point system is a major incentive. Every dollar spent generates points. Scholastic runs monthly specials that can significantly increase the number of bonus points earned. Teachers are advised to pay close attention to these monthly offers to maximize their free resources. The points are used to purchase free books and classroom materials. Some resources, such as decodable readers or sight word practice materials, may be available for purchase, but the core benefit is the accumulation of points from student purchases.
Receiving and Distributing Orders
Once orders are placed, Scholastic ships a book box to the teacher. Teachers typically sort through the box after school to ensure students receive the correct books they ordered. It is common practice to label the free books earned through bonus points and organize them into the classroom library. The arrival of the book box is often celebrated as an event to maintain student interest.
Conclusion
The Scholastic Book Club program offers a comprehensive system for getting books into students' hands while providing free resources for teachers. The process relies on the distribution of flyers, clear communication with families via editable letters, and the use of the online ordering system for efficiency. By utilizing student wish lists, tracking orders, and taking advantage of monthly bonus point promotions, educators can maximize the benefits of the program. The program supports literacy development and classroom library growth through the redemption of bonus points earned from student and family purchases.