Story Pals
The Story Pals program provides quality reading experiences for 4 to 5 year old preschoolers and supports the development of language and early literacy skills. The intended goal is to increase participant readiness for school and help spark the joy of reading. Your child will meet with a Story Pal Volunteer twice weekly to connect through stories
Volunteers are trained to work with students using a research-based Dialogic Reading method to develop background knowledge and vocabulary, grow spoken language skills and encourage children to use reading comprehension elements to retell stories and make literary connections to their personal experiences.
Be a Story Pals Volunteer
The Story Pals program provides quality reading experiences and supports the development of language and early literacy skills.
Training and materials will be provided. Volunteer tutors must be at least 14 years old. All volunteers will undergo a background check. Transportation to and from the tutoring site is the responsibility of the tutor. Volunteers are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior and stay 15 minutes after to prepare and complete paperwork.
Visit our volunteer page to sign up to be a Spring 2026 Story Pal!
School Year Story Pals
During the school year, Raising Readers in Story County partners with preschools and care centers to deliver quality program.
2025-2026 Partners:
Central Elementary (Nevada), Northwood Preschool Center, Ames Community Preschool Center
We are always looking for new partners. Please contact literacy@raising-readers.org if you are interested in hosting Story Pals at your Story County site!
Story Pals Resources
Guidelines for Dialogic Reading in Small Groups
This video was taken at Central Elementary School in December 2015. Story Pals volunteer Martha Pitt uses Dialogic Reading techniques to read The Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza.
Contact RRSC at literacy@raising-readers.org for more information or with questions about the Story Pals program.
