At a time when screens dominate leisure activities, Rim Rock Elementary in Fruita is taking bold steps to reignite children’s love for reading. With innovative programs and a lot of enthusiasm, one librarian is showing that books can still be magical.

Pizza Parties That Turned Into a Movement

When the school year began, librarian Candis Ingalsbe had one goal: inspire her students to read. She launched a straightforward initiative—a pizza party for the first class to read 100 books.

“I thought it would take a while,” Ingalsbe admitted. “They had to prove they’d read the books, either by sharing details or writing short reports.”

What she didn’t anticipate was the overwhelming response. Within weeks, she had hosted 14 pizza parties as students raced to meet the challenge.

The Birth of the “Book Worm War”

Realizing she needed a more sustainable way to maintain the momentum, Ingalsbe introduced a new initiative: the “Book Worm War.”

This program uses a points system, much like an arcade reward scheme. For every book read and book report submitted, students earn points they can redeem for prizes. The prizes range from small tokens to larger rewards for those who save their points.

“Every morning, kids line up to hand in stacks of book reports,” Ingalsbe shared. “It’s amazing to see their excitement about reading.”

The system has become so popular that it’s created a buzz throughout the school.

Students Find New Motivation

The students at Rim Rock Elementary aren’t just reading for prizes—they’re finding deeper reasons to pick up books.

• Caedence, one of the school’s top readers, explained, “I don’t just read for the prizes. I read for my class and because I love supporting Mrs. Ingalsbe.”
• Stella, a fourth grader, said, “I have a really deep love for reading. Knowing I get rewarded for something I enjoy makes it even better.”

Their enthusiasm underscores the program’s success in making reading a communal and rewarding activity.

A Community of Readers

The impact of the “Book Worm War” has been transformative. Students now line up daily to check out books, eager to contribute to their classes and personal goals. Since the start of the school year, the program has inspired students to collectively read nearly 3,000 books.

Program Highlights:

• Initial Incentive: Pizza parties for classes reaching 100 books.
• Evolved System: Points for books and reports, redeemable for prizes.
• Impact: Nearly 3,000 books read schoolwide.

A Legacy in the Making

For Ingalsbe, the joy of watching her students discover the power of reading is priceless. “Seeing their excitement and watching them achieve their goals—it’s all I could have ever asked for,” she said.

With plans to continue the program for years to come, the “Book Worm War” promises to inspire a new generation of avid readers at Rim Rock Elementary.