Reading March Madness featured in "Spotlight on the Schools" article in the April 3, 2025, E-Edition of The Independent Herald on pages 24 and 25.
Reading March Madness
Burchfield Elementary School's first graders recently held their fourth annual Reading March Madness Tournament. Inspired by the March Madness basketball tournament, the students worked together to select the book that would take home the ultimate victory.
The tournament kicked off with 16 children's books chosen by the school’s three first grade teachers- Paige Roark, Tiffany See, and Josie Goodman. To make the event even more special, the school invited guest readers from the community to come in and read the books aloud to the students. Guest readers included teachers and administrators from the school system, local politicians such as Scott County Mayor Jerried Jeffers and Oneida Mayor Lori Phillips-Jones, local pharmacist Mary Ann Roark, several student-athletes from Scott High School, and other community workers. This gave the children an opportunity to hear the stories come to life and exposed them to a variety of books that they had never read.
Throughout the competition, the books faced off in exciting "games," with the students voting for their favorite story after each reading session. It was a tough battle, but two books ultimately made it to the championship round: "Ida, Always" by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso, and "The Book with No Pictures" by B.J. Novak.
In the final showdown, the two books faced off for the ultimate title. The tension was high, and the first graders were excited to cast their votes. Although “Ida, Always” was the current champion, “The Book with No Pictures” emerged victorious with a final vote of 24 to 16.
The students celebrated the win in style, with a Book Breakfast, a fun and festive event where everyone gathered to enjoy snacks, share their love for books, and reflect on the excitement of the tournament. The winning book, "The Book with No Pictures," brought plenty of laughs as the students recalled their favorite moments from the silly, yet clever, book.
“It was so much fun to see everyone so excited about reading,” said Roark, one of the first-grade teachers who helped organize the event. “The students really enjoyed having the guest readers, and it was amazing to see them so invested in the outcome of the tournament. They were passionate about the books they voted for! Hopefully this is something they’ll remember for many years.”
The Reading Madness Tournament at Burchfield Elementary School not only encouraged a love for books but also brought the school community together. Whether it was the goofy humor of "The Book with No Pictures" or the heartwarming message of "Ida, Always," the event reminded everyone of the power of reading and its ability to bring people together.
