Attleboro’s Wamsutta Middle School Turns March Madness Into Reading Competition

Wamsutta Middle School students read as part of the March madness competition. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

ATTLEBORO — Students at Wamsutta Middle School are turning reading into a competitive, bracket-style challenge this month, as part of a schoolwide “March Madness” reading initiative.

Throughout March, fifth, seventh and eighth-grade students are participating in a silent sustained reading competition designed to build consistent reading habits while tapping into the energy of the men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments.

The program, organized by teachers Emily Cannata, Jessie Heal and Shannon Vitek, assigns students to teams modeled after well-known NCAA programs. Each team includes 10 students from multiple grade levels, creating a mix of ages and reading abilities.

During the competition, students track both the number of pages and minutes they read each week using individual reading logs. Teams then compete in weekly, bracket-style matchups, with each group facing a new opponent as the competition continues through the month.

While all teams remain active for the duration of the program, rather than being eliminated in true March Madness form, overall performance is tracked, with a winning team announced at the end of March based on total reading volume.

This fun format has increased participation and engagement, particularly among students who may not typically view reading as a competitive or social activity.

“Connecting reading to something students already understand, like a tournament format, builds momentum and creates accountability across grade levels,” said Principal Kevin Atkinson. “Students have responded positively to the format, with many showing increased consistency in their daily reading.”

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