That insight now drives Courtside, a literacy initiative that blends athletics with reading instruction \u2014 turning movement, competition and mentorship into tools for building vocabulary and comprehension.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you include movement, kids don\u2019t even realize that while they\u2019re playing, they\u2019re also learning,\u201d Darling said. \u201cTake basketball for example, when you tell a player to pass, dribble or shoot, you\u2019re actually teaching verbs. You\u2019re building vocabulary in a way that feels natural and exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Engagement as the missing link<\/strong><\/p>\n Arizona has invested heavily in literacy initiatives, but educators increasingly point to engagement \u2014 not access \u2014 as the barrier that continues to hold students back. <\/p>\n \u201cAt Helios Education Foundation, we believe that proficient reading by the end of third grade is a critical indicator of a child’s future success,\u201d said Barbara Ryan Thompson, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Helios Education Foundation. \u201cTogether with the NCAA and the Phoenix Final Four Local<\/a> Organizing Committee, we’re inspiring thousands of Arizona third graders to discover the joy of reading and build a lifelong love of learning.\u201d<\/p>\n Darling\u2019s model targets that same gap directly.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe athletes are effective literacy mentors because young people are already listening to them,\u201d she said. \u201cThey respect them, they want to be like them, and they pay attention to what they say. So when an athlete talks about reading \u2026 it carries weight. It makes reading feel relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n That relevance is key in a state where many students disengage from reading early, particularly if they struggle or fail to see its connection to their goals.<\/p>\n Learning in motion<\/strong><\/p>\n Through Courtside activations \u2014 often called \u201cLiterature Layups\u201d\u2014 students learn vocabulary and literacy concepts while physically moving, combining cognitive and kinesthetic learning.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many second-graders do you know can use the word stoic in a sentence? My kids can,\u201d Darling said. \u201cDuring one of my Literature Layup activations, students learned words like stoic and dynamic while holding a plank \u2014 fully engaged, focused and pushing themselves. They weren\u2019t just hearing the words; they were experiencing them. It reinforces a powerful idea: the same way we train our bodies is the same way we should train our minds.\u201d<\/p>\n The approach reflects a shift in education toward experiential learning<\/a> \u2014 meeting students where they are and building skills through context rather than repetition alone.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I come into a community, learning becomes active,\u201d she said. \u201cStudents are moving, participating and building vocabulary in a way that sticks.\u201d<\/p>\n A growing movement beyond one program<\/strong><\/p>\n Courtside is not operating in isolation. Across Arizona, the connection between athletics and education is becoming more intentional.<\/p>\n From statewide efforts like Athletes for Arizona<\/a>, which integrates sports professionals into school-based programming, to university-level academic support systems for student-athletes and inclusion-focused models like Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools<\/a>, the role of sports in education is expanding beyond the field. These efforts share a common premise: engagement drives learning and athletes can help deliver it.<\/p>\n These efforts align with national trends, where professional leagues and athlete-led nonprofits are expanding literacy outreach \u2014 recognizing that influence can be as powerful as instruction.<\/p>\n The common thread: students are more likely to engage when learning is tied to identity, culture and aspiration.<\/p>\n More than access to books<\/strong><\/p>\n Darling said one of the biggest misconceptions about literacy is that access alone will solve the problem.<\/p>\n \n \u201cIn states like Arizona, where proficiency rates remain low, the issue isn\u2019t just access to books,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s helping students feel connected to reading in a way that is relevant and motivating.\u201d<\/p>\n Her programs (which include Courtside, Literature Layup and Let\u2019s Stay L.I.T.) are designed to complement classroom instruction, not replace it.<\/p>\n \u201cParents and teachers are already working hard to build strong foundations,\u201d she said. \u201cMy programs are simply another tool in their toolbox.\u201d<\/p>\n Building a culture of reading<\/strong><\/p>\n For long-term change, Darling argues the focus must shift beyond programs to culture.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to build the culture of reading<\/a>,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I was young, reading had a bad name. It was given out as a punishment, instead of being the adventure that it is.\u201d<\/p>\n That cultural shift, she said, is essential to changing outcomes.<\/p>\n \u201cLiteracy is not just an academic skill,\u201d Darling said. \u201cIt\u2019s a life skill tied to confidence, opportunity and long-term success.\u201d<\/p>\n The opportunity ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n As Arizona continues to grapple with literacy gaps<\/a>, programs like Courtside highlight a broader opportunity: leveraging what already captures student attention.<\/p>\n Sports, which are deeply embedded in school and community life, may be one of the most scalable and underutilized tools in education.<\/p>\n By connecting reading to movement, mentorship, real-world role models and evidence-based approaches like the science of reading<\/a>, initiatives like Courtside are reframing literacy \u2014 not as a requirement, but as a pathway.<\/p>\n And in a state where too many students are still falling behind early, that shift could prove critical.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note:\u00a0A grant from the\u00a0Arizona Local News Foundation<\/a>\u00a0made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at\u00a0yourvalley.net\/letters<\/a>\u00a0or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our\u00a0Civility Guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t Stacy Mantle![\"Stacy-Mantle.png\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20250404-160510-6bb-Stacy-Mantle.png.jpg\")
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Education Solutions Reporter <\/p>\n