Photo by Richard Hurd
MMSD Launches “Mad for Reading” App to Spark Student Engagement
MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has launched the Mad for Reading App, powered by Beanstack, giving students and families a new way to celebrate and track their reading.
The app makes reading fun and interactive for students of all ages. By logging their reading, students can earn digital badges, participate in challenges, and build streaks by reading and tracking their progress on a personal virtual bookshelf. Any kind of reading counts—fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, articles, audiobooks, even being read to by a teacher or family member.
“Our goal is simple: to get students reading more and enjoying it,” said Maegan Heindel, MMSD’s library services coordinator. “By providing all kinds of literacy connections and entry points, we’re helping kids discover and read what they love while building a lifelong habit.”
The district has set a shared goal of 2.6 million minutes read this school year. Every student’s reading contributes toward that total, reinforcing the idea that individual efforts add up to collective success.
“Reading is the foundation of learning, and this app helps us meet students where they are,” Heindel added. “Whether a child is just beginning their literacy journey or already devouring books, the Mad for Reading App makes it easy to recognize their growth and celebrate it with their family and school community.”
Getting started is simple. At school, students are able to log in through their device using Classlink. At home, families can download the Beanstack mobile app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, using their student’s Classlink username (ID number) to connect reading minutes between home and school.
The launch of the Mad for Reading App aligns with MMSD’s districtwide literacy priority, building excitement and accountability around reading while engaging families as partners.
For more information about MMSD’s ongoing Mad for Reading initiative, please visit the district’s website.
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About the Madison Metropolitan School District
The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.