As a RIF volunteer, you select and buy inexpensive books for your RIF kids to choose during book distribution events—the heart of every RIF program. How you use these events to generate enthusiasm for books and reading is limited only by your imagination...and your budget. Since our founding, RIF has emphasized the importance of motivation in learning to read. Our goal is to create lifelong readers, not just distribute books.
Guidelines
- Book distributions should be held at least 30 days apart.
- Children must receive free books at no cost to them or their families.
- Children should be able to choose their books free of adult interference.
- Motivational activities must occur in conjunction with each book distribution.
- Children who are absent during a book distribution need to be given the opportunity to select a book at another time.
Before the Distribution
- Spread the word: Use letters, posters, or other forms of communication and outreach to notify parents and guardians about the RIF program.
- Recruit volunteers: Reach out to parents and other school volunteers to see if they can help. Draw on volunteers’ unique talents—an outgoing volunteer may wish to read aloud to children or an organized volunteer may be a big help at a book distribution, while a math-oriented volunteer can prove helpful with invoice paperwork. Make sure that fellow teachers are clear on how you would like them to help during the distribution.
- Engage parents: Parents should be as involved as much as possible in the book distribution process. Parents can help in the selection and ordering of books, the setup/planning of the distribution, fundraising, and other crucial components of the RIF program.
- Set the stage: Create an inviting and celebratory atmosphere by decorating the distribution area based on a theme with corresponding motivational activities. Provide refreshments if possible. Before the children arrive, arrange the books so that children can view them easily. Remove or cover up titles that are either too difficult or too easy for the age group being served at the time. The selection should be adequate in number and variety of titles. The last child selecting should have as much choice as the first child.
- Keep track: Create a system for recording the numbers of children who receive books, volunteers, and overall attendees. This information will come in handy for reporting back to the national RIF office.
During the Distribution
Inform the children about RIF and the importance of reading. Let them know that this day is a special one: They get to choose a book of their very own to read and enjoy forever! Have each child write his or her name on the inside of their new book. Volunteers might have to do this for younger children. You may also want to use a stamp to mark the book as a RIF book.
Allow the children plenty of time to make their selections. Adults should feel free to give guidance on titles that the children might like, but if the child wants another book, adults should not interfere with that choice. Sometimes children, especially older children, are unwilling to select a book at the distribution. Do not force them to take a book, but do try to provide them with other opportunities to be exposed to literature and read for pleasure. Or, encourage them to take a book that can be shared with a sibling or friend.
Encourage younger students to select books at their reading level by using the "five-finger" strategy. Generally, if the student cannot understand five or more words per page (never going past one hand's worth of fingers), comprehension will be strained and the book may prove too difficult for them.
After the Distribution
Send home one of RIF’s helpful handouts so that parents can continue to nurture their young reader.
Also ensure that books are made available to any children who were absent. Here are a number of strategies:
- Leave books out for several days so that absent children have the opportunity to take part in the distribution another day.
- Leave a box with a variety of books at a central location (school office, library reference desk, etc.) so that children can make a selection when they return.
- Give the teacher or parent several titles for the children to pick from when they return.
- Offer the absent children (or parent/teacher) a coupon.
- If you know beforehand that a child will be absent, make arrangements for the child to select a book at an earlier time.
- Hold a make-up distribution day for all absent children.
- Send thank-you notes to all who helped make your distribution a success.
Need Help? Call us now at 1-877-RIF-READ (743-7323).