Green Meadow Elementary Turns March Into ‘Reading Madness’

MAYNARD — Brightly colored posters line the walls of Green Meadow Elementary School this month, each one created by a student passionate about reading.

At Green Meadow, “Reading Madness” has taken over the hallways this March.  The schoolwide celebration is blending creativity and community, to foster a love of reading among students. 

The student poster project, organized by Assistant Principal Kate Murray and art teacher Taylor Vanaria, invites students to bring their favorite books to life.

A gallery displaying the posters has transformed the school’s hallways into a display of imagination and literature.

As a result of the project, students have been visiting the school’s “Book Nook,” a space where students can borrow up to two books at a time, more than ever. The space was created by Title 1 teacher Ellen Lewis as a result of the Little Free Library being temporarily closed due to the construction of the new school opening in December 2026.

The posters are just one piece of a much larger literacy effort, adding to the school’s annual Read Across America participation. Inside classrooms, students are participating in a picture book tournament inspired by March Madness. Each week, classes read two books and cast their votes, narrowing down their favorites in a bracket, with students eager to see which book comes out on top.

The goal for Green Meadow Elementary is simple: make reading something students want to talk about and celebrate.

Enthusiasm extends beyond the school day, as throughout the month, students are challenged to read at home for at least 15 minutes each night.

Family involvement has been a key to students’ success. In early March, 167 families filled the school for a “Bingo for Books” night, one of several ways the school is strengthening its relationship within the Maynard community. The night was sponsored by Title 1, a federal aid program that aims to boost student achievement for those at risk of falling behind.

The celebration will take center stage with a school assembly sponsored by the PTO, featuring the Harlem Wizards. After the assembly, the staff and community members will face off against the Wizards in a basketball game, bringing the March Madness theme full circle.

For Green Meadow students, the real victory isn’t on the court, it’s in the pages they’ve turned.

“This schoolwide enthusiasm for reading is what we hope to see in Maynard Public Schools,” said Superintendent Haas. “Through initiatives like ‘Reading Madness’ and the support of our Title 1 program, we’re strengthening literacy skills and building a culture where people come together to celebrate our students’ learning.”

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