Reading Bridge fosters the joy of reading and boosts literacy skills through mentorship and creative play.

Young readers will be paired with a volunteer mentor to meet at the library once a week for 8 weeks to build reading skills and confidence. Each 45 minute session will include time for the student and mentor to read together, play games and activities designed to build literacy skills, and goal setting for the week to come.

Is Reading Bridge right for my student?

Students are generally expected to make the shift from learning to read (focusing on words) to reading to learn (focusing on meaning) in fourth grade. Reading Bridge sessions focus on practicing phonics skills- learning that printed letters correspond to the sounds we hear in spoken language. These skills build on each other until students are able to sound out most words. While phonics is only one piece of the "learning to read puzzle", being able to quickly, accurately, and smoothly sound out words and mix letters and sounds together to make words is needed so someone can read and spell independently. When a student has mastered phonics, their brains "break the code" of written language automatically when they are reading so that they can focus on comprehending what they are reading rather than sounding out words. 

• Students should already know what sound each letter in the alphabet makes and be able to identify different sounds in simple words before Reading Bridge. If your student is still working on this, Reading Bridge will probably be too advanced for them. Here are some tips for working on letter sounds at home: Reading Rockets Tips for Letter Sounds 
• Students who can read complex, multisyllable words (supervisor, explosion, marvelous) are generally too advanced for Reading Bridge. They might have other areas of reading to improve in, but they have mastered the phonics skills that Reading Bridge sessions focus on. 

To participate in the program, students must:

• be in grades 1, 2, or 3
• read below grade level
• live in or attend school in Anoka County
• be able to meet with their volunteer mentor at the library every week on the same day and time. To respect the time of our volunteer mentors, please do not sign up if you know you will miss more than 2 sessions.  Families should wait for a future season when they can commit to weekly attendance if they know they have scheduling conflicts so their student can get the maximum benefit from the program. 

***A parent/caregiver must stay in the library while the student works with their mentor

Reading Bridge Seasons

Reading Bridge will be offered three times a year. 

Winter/Spring: February to April 

• 2026 Dates: 2/9- 4/11
• Registration opens January 12 at 11am

Summer: June to August

• 2026 Dates:  6/22- 8/15
• Registration opens June 1 at 11am 

Fall: October to December **No Reading Bridge Thanksgiving Week 

• 2025 Dates: 10/6 - 12/13 
• Registration opens September 22 at 11am 

Registration

Students will automatically be signed up for the same day/time for the whole Reading Bridge season when they register.  Students may ONLY sign up for one weekly timeslot during a Reading Bridge season. Duplicate registrations will be canceled. 

 REGISTER HERE

Seats are limited and expected to fill quickly.  If you are unable to get a spot, check out our Children's Reading Help page for additional resources and programs offered at the library that can support your student.