Jacksonville Teacher Digging Deep to Teach

A Jacksonville teacher digs deep to encourage her English students to read, but she and her husband are digging even deeper into their pockets, to make sure her kids have what they need to get it all done.

Over the years, the traditional way of keeping students engaged has changed.

In order for Mrs. Evelyn House to keep up with the times.

"My husband and I are adamant that these children, have the best technology and advantages we can over them."

So she and her husband bought a nook (an electronic reader ) for each student in her class.

"We decided it was time for us to step up and make a difference."

"She inspired me to read, said Tyrik Slater."

Slater also changed his ways, after Mrs. House, introduced him to the Bluford series, books that relate to high school issues and sends positive messages.

"Like school and being a bully and all...you used to be a bully? yes mam."

Kimberly Shipman, likes to read and now she's being rewarded for it, getting to take home a new coat.

"I've been reading a long time, and I've read the hunger games already, and I took a test on those and I got lots of points."

It's apart of Mrs. House's 'Reading Will Keep You Warm Campaign.'

"We thought this was an opportunity for kids to learn and earn, said House."

Along with the coats, there is a table full of items to earn points for.

"We want them to be lifelong learners, we want to see them go as far as they can, and we know we have college material here, said House"

Mrs. House and her husband pay for all of this out of their pocket.

They've spent about $7,000 on the colored nooks that stay in class.

They've also bought the nook touch in black and white for $1500, the students can check those out on the weekend.

They spent over $1,000 on coats.

And $1200 dollars on a classroom set of chairs.

They provide the school supplies all year long.