Mavericks Promote Education Through Power Play Reading Program

Reading is an important fundamental of education, and the Kansas City Mavericks are doing their part to promote its value through their Mac’s Power Play Reading Club program.

From October through February, the program offers incentive designed to encourage classroom reading in area schools, with adaptable goals and exciting rewards.

On Friday afternoon, Mavericks players Landon McCallum and Damien Giroux, along with mascot Mac, visited their first winning classroom at William Yates Elementary School in Independence, Missouri.

The fifth grade class taught by Madison Boynton got to meet Mac and the players, get autographs, ask questions and read.

The class was chosen based on a total of 37,610 minutes of reading time, which averages to about an hour per student. Willow was the top student reader in Boynton’s class with a whopping total of 6,159 minutes.

While the visit was an experience the kids will never forget, the players imparted some valuable life lessons of their own. When asked what he’s learned from playing hockey, Giroux said, “I’ve learned so much from different lessons. I think setbacks are really opportunities to grow. You’re never really failing; you just have to show up every day and give it your best."

Teachers receive reading logs for individual students and classrooms along with bookmarks, a classroom poster, and Certificates of Achievement for student milestones.

Students keep track of their reading minutes each month, with K-2 kids counting minutes read aloud to them and grades 3-5 counting minutes spent reading to younger siblings and family members.

Over 55 classrooms are enrolled in the reading program, with each of them reading an average of 7,500 minutes. Each month, teachers submit total class reading minutes and select standout students for individual awards.

McCallum, who’s been on the ice since age three, recalled his journey through a tough collarbone injury and what it taught him about perseverance.

“Overcoming challenges isn’t easy, but if you stay strong and learn from your mistakes, it makes you a better person,” he said.

Each month, the winning classroom will receive a visit from Mac and Mavericks players, who will read to students and distribute Minsky’s Pizza coupons. The overall top classroom from October to February will win a pizza party with players and free weekday game tickets for students’ families in March. Teachers of the top classrooms will get access to additional resources, including lesson plans from Teachers Created Materials.

With Friday’s visit, the Mavericks look forward to seeing young readers across Kansas City embrace their love of books as they work toward new records throughout the season.