Catch the Reading Wave

Friends of Molokai Public Library News Release 

The Molokai Public Library, working with all the island elementary schools and homeschoolers, is challenging all Molokai third graders to “Catch the Reading Wave.”

When they join the challenge, each third grade student will be given a bag of books to take home to build a personal library. Activities online and in classrooms will involve reading and thinking about what they have read, to build their reading skills. Challenging activities include identifying if a book is fiction or nonfiction, finding main ideas, defining words by using the dictionary that comes with the bag, and treasure hunts within the books.

All materials for activities will be provided, as well as badges students can earn as they complete the activities. In addition, students will be entered automatically into drawings for rewards. Parents will also be encouraged to participate with reward drawings for local merchant gift cards.

Catch the Reading Wave begins Oct. 1 and continues until March 31, 2023, with the goal of having all participants reading at grade level. Studies have proven that students who read at grade level by the end of the third grade have a much higher rate of success in all areas of study than those who slip behind at this crucial point.

Funding for the program was made available through Molokai Public Library’s participation in a Rural Libraries Fellows Program presented by the Rural Library Network and Berea College. 

Molokai Public Library is a branch of the Hawaii State Public Library System which is providing the use of Beanstack for this online program. The state Department of Education also provides online access for students to Beanstack via 808Reads. This allows them to participate in both school challenges and challenges through public libraries.

For more information, or to become a community volunteer for this exciting project, contact Cindy Delanty, Branch Manager, Molokai Public Library 808–553–1765.