April 23, 2025

VINCENNES, Ind. - The Vincennes University Education Department welcomed more than 100 young readers and their families to its third annual Story Walk. The event engaged local elementary students with the lively tale of “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs,” as told to Jon Scieszka.

The walk, geared toward kindergarten through second-grade students, offered a unique and interactive literacy experience that underscored the critical importance of early reading development. As families explored each page of the story in a green space near the Summers Center, VU Education majors brought the tale to life with colorful displays and hands-on literacy stations. At one station, children learned about pig and wolf habitats, while at another stop, they learned through a sneezing wolf about germs and how they spread. The question of why food spoils was the topic at a different station.

VU Education major Alleah McLaughlin '26 said, “This is a great way to take the some of the background knowledge that we have learned about building literacy and applying it like how you can plan an event as a teacher because that is something we’re going to have to do. Having this event and managing a station in the broader scheme of things is really great practice.”

The April 17 event encouraged reading skills and created a unique learning environment, combining children's literature, outdoor activity, and family engagement. From page-turning fun to a petting zoo, the Story Walk buzzed with excitement. The walk also included a puppet show by students studying Theatre Arts at VU and Conservation Law Enforcement majors showcasing a display of animal pelts. All the children who participated even received a free book of their choice and a goody bag.

VU Education major JacqueLynn Blair '26 said, “It’s great getting out into the community, getting all these people here, and getting your face out there as well, starting as an early educator.”

The Story Walk is more than just a fun community event. It represents VU's strategic response to Indiana’s literacy crisis. Over a decade, the state faced a continued decline in student reading levels. According to a 2024 Indiana Department of Education press release, one in five third-grade students in Indiana could not read.

VU’s commitment to combating this issue through high-impact initiatives such as including Science of Reading in the curriculum for Education majors and community-focused events aligns with the state’s bold efforts to improve reading outcomes.

“Early literacy is the foundation of all future learning,” VU Associate Education Professor Lisa Miller said. “By creating meaningful reading experiences for children and their families and educating exceptional future teachers, VU is doing its part to help improve the state’s literacy rates. Our Story Walk is a fun and powerful example of what that commitment looks like in action.”

VU’s high-quality teacher preparation programs and community literacy initiatives like the Story Walk demonstrate the University’s leadership in statewide efforts to support and strengthen early literacy.

To learn more about VU bachelor's and associate degrees in Education, visit HERE.

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