As San Antonio prepares to host the NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament from April 5-7, local third graders are also in the spotlight through an engaging reading initiative known as Read to the Final Four. This competition encourages students to log as many minutes of reading as possible amidst the excitement of the tournament.

The Challenge Unfolds

The Read to the Final Four contest utilizes a bracket-style format, pitting various schools against one another to see which third-grade class can accumulate the most reading time. This year’s challenge features participation from 306 schools in the San Antonio area, culminating in the selection of four finalists.

• Harmony School of Science
• Royal Ridge Elementary (North East Independent School District)
• Freedom Elementary School (Southside Independent School District)
• Burke Elementary School (Northside Independent School District)

Celebrating Literacy

Recently, the finalists were revealed in a jubilant atmosphere at Harmony School of Science, where students celebrated with high-fives from their mascot, Dash the Dolphin. The occasion included a reading rally, featuring games, dance, and the distribution of free books and prizes.

Among the highlights, Silas Smith, a 9-year-old student from Harmony, was recognized as the top reader of his class, winning an Amazon Kindle. “This is awesome,” he exclaimed after receiving his prize.

Impressive Reading Metrics

Since the challenge commenced in November, a staggering 27,000 students across 1,300 classrooms have collectively read over 27 million minutes. The Four Finalists will attend a special celebration at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on April 4, where a $5,000 prize awaits the winning school to enhance their library.

Impact on Literacy and Inclusion

The Read to the Final Four initiative, launched in 2016, has evolved to promote reading while embracing inclusivity. This year’s challenge incorporated diverse reading activities such as audiobooks and graphic novels, allowing all students, including those with reading challenges, to participate effectively.

Jasmin Dean, founder and CEO of Celebrate Dyslexia, emphasized the significance of this inclusion, pointing out that students with dyslexia make up a considerable portion of the student body.

Reading: A Building Block for Success

Linda Childs, a children’s librarian from San Antonio Public Library, highlighted the importance of reading as a foundation for academic and personal development. “Reading doesn’t just expand the world children know… The sooner kids get reading, the stronger a foundation they have,” she stated, acknowledging its correlation to reducing risky behaviors.