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Tilden Elementary students showcase Beanstack, StoryWalk and other reading initiatives
Summary
Students and staff from Tilden Elementary presented reading programs including the Beanstack tracking platform, rotating book summaries for bathrooms, a planned outdoor hammock reading area, a book vending machine funded through a Penny Wars fundraiser and a newly unveiled StoryWalk with QR-linked readings.
Tilden Elementary students and staff presented a suite of reading initiatives to the Rowan County School Board on Oct. 15, highlighting efforts to boost literacy across students and the wider community.
Two fifth-grade leadership students described the Beanstack platform as “an online platform that encourages students to read, track their progress, and earn rewards for meeting reading goals,” and said the school had logged 15,659 minutes so far toward a year-end target based on 100 minutes per student. Tilden staff said district reporting shows roughly 98% participation among K–5 students on the district dashboard.
Presenters outlined several other projects: rotating book summaries placed in bathroom stalls as a low-friction prompt for reading; a planned "horseshoe hammock haven" behind the school for outdoor reading; a book vending machine funded by a school Penny Wars fundraiser with ongoing stocking support pledged by Whitaker Bank; and a StoryWalk installed that day with QR codes linking to audio recordings so families and nonreaders can access the content.
Board members were invited to visit the StoryWalk once storm cleanup is complete; a board member later asked students Miles and Kaylin about favorite books, and a parent in the audience said the program has increased her child—s enthusiasm for reading.
The presentation closed with staff noting the projects are intended to broaden access and engagement, and with an invitation for board members to tour the installations during school hours or at arranged times. The board recorded no formal action on the presentation.
