Lower School Tournament of Books

In the world of 1st grade Language Arts at St. Matthew’s, daily reading transformed into an exciting competition that has students cheering for their favorite books! Our creative teachers recently led their class in  a creative “March Madness Tournament of Books”. 

The tournament began with each student carefully selecting their top five favorite picture books, creating a diverse collection of beloved stories. From these nominations, the class collaborated to determine the “Elite Eight” match-ups. Each day brought new anticipation as students gathered to enjoy two competing books, then determined which story deserved to advance to the next round. What makes this activity particularly valuable is how it extends beyond simply encouraging reading. 

As the tournament progressed to the “Final Four”, students practiced essential persuasive writing skills by crafting arguments for why their favorite books deserved to move forward. “Interrupting Chicken” by David Ezra Stein emerged as the grand champion! This tournament represents just one of the many creative approaches our teachers use to instill a lifelong love of reading in our students. By turning literature into an engaging, interactive experience, we’re helping young readers discover that books aren’t just assignments—they’re adventures worth championing!