Douglas County School System elementary and middle school students are using a new interactive digital reading platform to turn pages into points while sparking a love of literature.
Beanstack, which was introduced over the summer as part of a pilot program in DCSS, uses competition and games to motivate and grow a community reading culture.
Students log their reading sessions using Beanstack via the ClassLink Portal and on apps available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
“The primary goal of Beanstack is to motivate students to read as they log minutes and ‘compete’ in classroom, school, and district challenges,” said Dawn Taylor, Director of Literacy for the Douglas County School System.
A unique feature of Beanstack is that it allows students to self-select reading materials, Taylor said. Beanstack replaces the quiz-based Accelerated Reader program in DCSS schools.
As part of the summer Beanstack pilot program, DCSS students were encouraged to read and 
log 100 minutes per week for five weeks. Taylor said 99 students completed the summer challenge and were rewarded with a DCSS water bottle filled with goodies. Several students at Factory Shoals Middle School were among those who completed the summer challenge and recently celebrated in the media center.
Currently, the District Back to School Challenge requires students to log 100 minutes per week for five weeks.
The elementary school and the middle school with the highest percentage of students meeting the challenge will take hold of the Beanstack Challenge trophies for the next nine weeks of school, Taylor said.
She added that as new challenges are created and met, the Beanstack Trophy will travel from school-to-school during the 2024-2025 school year.
DCSS’ Community Goal for the school year is to read 2.5 million minutes as a district, Taylor said.
Ten elementary schools in the county were recently recognized by Beanstack with the Reading Culture Trailblazer award for having over 75% of students logging reading through Beanstack — Annette Winn, Arbor Station, Beulah, Bright Star, Chapel Hill, Dorsett Shoals, Holly Springs, North Douglas, South Douglas and Winston.
Schools can even get creative within the Beanstack platform. South Douglas Media Specialist 
Ana Leibbrand worked with Principal Brad Corbett to make a special 60 Minute Principal Challenge and Badge.
At Holly Springs, students met the Community Reading goal of 50,000 minutes in less than a month, earning a visit from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Polar Patrol ice cream truck. Holly Springs now has a higher reading goal of logging 500,000 minutes by May, Media Specialist Kerry Harbin said.
Harbin added that students can also have individual reading goals within Beanstack.
“I really like earning badges when I log my minutes,” Holly Springs fourth-grade student China Onwughalu said. “I like to be able to see my achievements. In the future, I can always look back and remember all the books I have tracked in Beanstack.”
Onwughalu’s teacher, Dr. Ashley Lindeman added: “Beanstack adds a layer of friendly competition. Students look at what their friends are reading and at the leaderboards and it encourages them to read more.”
Harbin said students who meet their goal of logging 750 minutes every nine weeks will earn different rewards, including special parties. Top Readers, Classes, Staff Members and Grades will also be recognized with a special reward from the media center for logging the most minutes within the application, Harbin said.
“We are thrilled at the way our schools have embraced Beanstack!” said Chelsie Goodman, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning for DCSS. “The individual school challenges, national recognitions, and district-wide prizes and trophies are all part of the Douglas County School System’s commitment to literacy and motivating students to recognize the doors that unlock when you become a fluent reader.”
