Madison Reporter

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has initiated its "Mad for Reading" literacy campaign. This initiative aims to instill a love for books among learners of all ages while promoting family involvement in the educational development of students through shared reading experiences.

The launch of this campaign is in accordance with Wisconsin's Act 20, which requires schools and districts to emphasize phonics in their literacy curricula. The act also bans the use of the "three-cueing" model, an approach that relies on meaning, structure and syntax, visual cues, or memory, which has been deemed ineffective.

Cindy Green, MMSD's assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, emphasized the district's commitment to reading science. She stated: “In MMSD, we are grounded in the science of reading … and ensuring that all of our students have the foundational skills they need to be successful.” Green acknowledged the importance of community partnerships in achieving these goals: “We know we can't do this work alone—we know it takes a village to raise a child—and that’s why we are so grateful to have amazing partners in our community who are just as committed to literacy as we are.”

The district's partners include Madison Reading Project, United Way of Dane County, Madison Public Schools Foundation, Madison Public Library, Urban League of Greater Madison, Schools of Hope, and The Information School at UW–Madison. Parents and guardians also play a crucial role by providing support outside the classroom.

Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard highlighted the significance of this initiative by saying: “This is our chance, Madison. This is our chance to do something great that we can all be part of. This is something that can last a lifetime … for the children who are here and the children that are yet to be served in MMSD. We know that our communities will be stronger, they’ll be healthier, they’ll thrive in many ways when a love for reading is established.”

An upcoming event related to "Mad for Reading" is Read Your Heart Out. Celebrated annually each February for two decades now, this event invites family members and community partners who identify as African American/Black to engage with students through book readings and poetry recitations during Black History Month and National African American Parent Involvement Day.

Read Your Heart Out will begin on Monday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m., accessible via the MMSD YouTube page.