Hosting a Classroom Book Raffle

Motivation and enthusiasm for reading matter. One way we build excitement and passion for reading is a classroom Book Raffle!

Why a Book Raffle?

Launching a book raffle, it’s always very suspenseful and dramatic when I introduce new books to my kids. My kids do the whole finger/desk drum-roll, I slowly pull the books from a Scholastic or Barnes & Noble box, and read the book blurb in my best reading reading voice. (My kids tell me I have a fantastic reading voice) 😉 Basically, it’s one of my favorite things to do, and I have the kids eating out of the palm of my hand. (These graphic novels were from Donors Choose!)

How a Book Raffle Works

Book raffles – originally from Donalyn Miller’s The Book Whisperer – can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make them. Traditionally, I err on the side of plastic cups and scraps of notebook paper.

1. Students each receive 1 ticket (or scrap of paper) to enter into the raffle. If the raffle has been scheduled for several days, I will use it as an opportunity to reward positive behavior and choices. Still – everyone receives at least one entry, no matter what.
2. A plastic cup is placed in front of each book. Sometimes I set this up the morning of a raffle or earlier in the week, so students have time to look at the books and make their choices!
3. After I have dramatically introduced the books and convinced every kids they MUST read the new books, every hand shoots into the air wanting to read all the books at the same time. 😉
4. I set the timer on the board and students have ______ minutes to decide which book they want to enter to ‘win’.

The Small Details

So – the details? The students who ‘won’ each book has a week  to return the read book to me, so his/her friends have the chance to read the book, as well! I will keep the cup with tickets in it to decide who is ready to read it next. Students can only have one book “won” from a Book Raffle at a time. So, if a student’s name was called a second time, they would have a tough choice to make.

I really enjoy using this system for distributing new books. It keeps everything a little more fair, it build an excitement for reading, the new books are read quickly. The speed matters, so the books be shared with others, and the kids LOVE it.

Where To Get Books?

• Half Price Books – Learn about their educator program here!
• Goodwill or other thrift stores
• Scholastic Book Clubs 
• Donors Choose

• 8+ Ideas for Building Excitement for Reading
• Hosting a Tournament of Books
• Student to Student Book Recommendations 
• Hosting a Reading Celebration 
• Themed Book Shelves