For Jennifer, a K-3 school librarian with 26 years of experience in education, inspiring young readers has always been at the heart of her work. But like many educators, she faced a growing challenge: how to shift her students’ focus from assessments to a genuine love of reading.
Through Jennifer’s innovative approach using Beanstack, her school has embraced a culture of reading for fun, boosting students' fluency and stamina along the way. Here’s how she made it happen.
Shifting Focus From Assessments to Reading for Enjoyment
For years, her school relied on programs like Accelerated Reader (AR) and Reading Counts!, which focus on levels and assessments. While these tools had their merits, Jennifer saw an opportunity for change.
She envisioned a reading program that prioritized joy over pressure—where students could pick up books they genuinely loved and read at their own pace. She emphasized fluency and stamina to instill a lifelong love of reading in her students.
Discovering A Game-Changer for Reading Culture
Jennifer first encountered Beanstack at the School Library Journal Summit, where she participated in a focus group that sparked her interest. She immediately saw how the platform could align with her school’s SMART goals, particularly motivating independent reading and building solid habits.
“It wasn’t just about logging minutes,” she shared. “It was about finding a tool to make reading exciting and accessible for every student.”
3 Strategies to Engage Students
Using Beanstack, Jennifer brought her vision to life with a blend of creativity and strategy:
- Monthly Challenges: She introduced bite-sized goals like reading for 30 minutes to earn a badge, making success achievable for all students.
- Interactive Visuals: Hallways became showcases of progress, with colorful badges and leaderboards tracking individual and class achievements.
- Personalized Recognition: Milestones were celebrated school-wide, with top readers announced during assemblies and on digital displays, creating a buzz around reading.
These efforts transformed reading into a fun and inclusive activity, motivating even reluctant readers to join in.
Motivating Teachers to Participate
Early on, Jennifer recognized that students take their cues from teachers. To ensure buy-in, she introduced monthly challenges for educators, offering prizes like books and classroom supplies donated by community partners.
“Once teachers got excited about logging their reading, it had a ripple effect,” Jennifer explained. “Students wanted to follow their lead.”
Celebrating Success with a Community Approach
The impact of Jennifer’s efforts extended beyond the classroom:
- The Beanstack Store: Students could exchange logged minutes for books and supplies, reinforcing the value of their efforts.
- Parent Involvement: By introducing QR codes and student-specific numbers, Jennifer made it easy for families to log reading at home, turning it into a shared activity.
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School-Wide Challenges: With ambitious goals and collective celebrations, the school rallied around the joy of reading.
Building a Sustainable Reading Culture
Jennifer’s strategies not only boosted participation but also inspired remarkable success stories. One reluctant reader logged 800 minutes a month while her school approached 100% participation across grade levels.
Her secret? Ensuring every student felt included, whether through personalized encouragement or accessible challenges that met readers where they were.
Lessons for Every Educator
Jennifer’s journey illustrates the power of rethinking how educators approach reading. She transformed her school by creating a thriving reading culture focusing on enjoyment, engagement, and community.
If you’re ready to make reading fun, accessible, and rewarding for your students, explore what Beanstack can do for your school. Learn more about getting started and discover tips inspired by Jennifer’s success.