Story Walk: Inspiring Reading at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School

January 27th, 2022

This fall, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School (TRES) media specialist Laura Spangler decided to try a new way to engage her students and inspire them to read. Working with HCPSS’ Print Services team, she produced a series of panels featuring the text and illustrations from Kenard Pak’s children’s book “Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn” and placed them in a small garden area at the front of the school. Students then had the opportunity to walk among the panels and read the story with their peers.

The experience – known as a “StoryWalk” – gave students an enjoyable new way to relate to a story, Spangler says.

“Reading outside was definitely new and fun for many students. It not only gave them the freedom to move around while they were reading; it allowed them to make valuable connections between the story – which talks about changing seasons – and what they see and feel in their daily lives.”

“Walking from page to page also helped students to physically see the structure and sequence of the story,” explains TRES Principal Tiffany Tressler. “The StoryWalk display format naturally encourages the readers to spend more time with each page of the book, taking in meaning and appreciating the illustrations.”

At the same time, Spangler says, the StoryWalk helped students to experience the joy of sharing a story with friends.

“By allowing students to physically move through the story together and talk about what they read, the StoryWalk added a social component to reading that the students really enjoyed.”

Spangler herself also found great pleasure in the StoryWalk, noting that “as a media specialist there is nothing more rewarding than seeing students get excited about reading.”

Spangler is tentatively planning another StoryWalk for February featuring “The Mitten” by Jan Brett.