All the resources you need for ELL/MLL students — one story at a time
Bring research-backed methods to your ELL/MLL students with our multilingual, award-winning program for language learners.
- Reach every English and Multilingual Learner through the magic of stories
- Grow literacy skills by engaging all modalities + phonics
- Measure and succeed with results
Nurture literacy skills for all students through the magic of stories
StoryWorld weaves together language comprehension and phonics – focusing on mastery of one story each week.
Language comprehension in all modalities
Engaging interactive library encourages learning in all modalities: reading, listening, speaking and writing.
Phonics integrated with stories
Each story is paired with phonics lessons to build a strong foundation in literacy (96 lessons.)
- Gough and Tunmer, Simple View of Reading (1986.) Image inspired by Scarborough’s Reading Rope.
“I’ve never seen anything like this—it models what a teacher does.”
— Teacher participant in WestEd Research
Inspire a love of reading in every student
StoryWorld is designed to support each student’s unique learning journey at any stage.
Ideal for early readers, struggling readers or multilingual learners.
Reach every English learner with stories that capture interest
StoryWorld ebooks are not passive read-aloud books. Instead, the narratives are supported by interactive and multi-sensory features that are especially helpful for ELL/MLL students. Importantly, students can click any unfamiliar word or phrase to hear how it sounds to support word recognition and reading fluency in all languages.
This on-demand, word-by-word audio support allows multilingual learners at any skill level to go at their own pace in two languages and discover the sounds of the words on their own.
Language learners have further support with word-by-word translations in both text and audio. Our stories include bilingual scaffolds in over 10 languages.
Grow literacy skills by engaging all modalities
Every online storybook is immediately followed by a series of comprehension questions that engage students in all modalities: reading, listening, speaking and writing. Questions include depth of knowledge, inference and opinion.
For phonics integration, every online storybook is paired with a letterbook and wordbook for additional support in phonics and vocabulary.
Every Dolch word is covered in our collection of stories and highlighted in each weekly phonics unit lesson plan.
Measure & succeed with results
Our easy-to-use Formative Evaluation Dashboard helps to identify where students are succeeding and struggling.
Aligned with standards, the dashboard displays just-in-time information to identify students at risk of falling behind. Pinpoint where students struggle most: vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, or speaking.
Listen to recordings of student voices or read written responses and score according to standards.
Stars and points motivate students to achieve and succeed.
30% increase in language proficiency in 4 weeks
ESL students at Fairview School district improved over 30% in overall English proficiency (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) in only 4 weeks.
*Signore, K (2022). Utilizing Technology to Increase Language Understanding for ELL students
A Diverse Collection of Compelling Stories
Assign stories to multiple classes or sections and choose from 24 themes, including science,
social studies, and culture. All stories have language scaffolds and are leveled by Lexile®.
Engage all modalities: reading, listening, speaking, and writing
StoryWorld includes practice in all language domains to strengthen language proficiency and support a well-rounded approach to early literacy.
All student responses are recorded in our dashboard. These responses drive performance data and progress monitoring for immediate teacher review and scoring according to standards.
Throughout all activities, students collect motivating stars and points.
Reading
Students build reading skills by reading the story. Word-by-word highlights support reading fluency. Language scaffolds allow students to click any word to hear the pronunciation. ELL students can click the word again for translation.
After the story, students can practice reading the text aloud.
Listening
Students build listening skills by listening to the story narrated by a native speaker. This allows learners to absorb the natural cadence and richness of the language.
After the story, students are prompted to answer questions that measure their listening comprehension of the material.
Speaking
Students build oral proficiency through prompts that allow them to record their voices: retelling the story, reading a passage aloud, and responding orally to depth-of-knowledge questions.
When they are finished, they send their responses to the teacher for scoring according to standards.
Writing
Students build writing skills by responding to prompts online. These questions dig deeper into inference and opinion to ensure students fully comprehend the text.
Off-screen, print materials with each story reinforce comprehension and extend learning with creative expression.
“StoryWorld was a reinforcement of everything we were working on in class: sequential language, translating words, retelling a story, asking further questions, reading the story out loud, and then writing about it.”
— Teacher participant in WestEd Research
Printable resources with every online storybook, wordbook, and letterbook
There’s no need to spend extra prep time searching for support materials. All of our online Storybooks, Wordbooks, and Letterbooks come with companion printable activity sheets that engage students in creative work off-screen as they practice and reinforce new literacy concepts and skills.
Reinforce new vocabulary through writing
Key words are emphasized to help students build confidence and master vocabulary.
Promote comprehension and reflection
Questions assure students fully comprehend the text. Exercises prompt students to reflect on the story and practice writing.
Build decoding and grammar skills
Students construct sentences from key vocabulary. Drawing activities support learning recall.
Develop creativity with original storytelling
Students are encouraged to think "beyond the text” as they outline, write, and illustrate their own related short story.
Try us FREE for 2 months
Experience StoryWorld with your students for free for 60 days. After that, you can purchase or keep using our gift of 8 ebooks.
Extra help for multilingual learners
Multilingual learners are the heart and soul of StoryWorld. We make every word, every sentence, every page, and every narrative comprehensible.
Switch languages at any time
Language learners advance more quickly when they understand what the text is communicating. Using a simple language toggle at the top of every page, our stories allow ELLs to first listen and read the story in English, then listen and read in the home language for comprehension, then go back to listening and reading again in English.
Word-by-word translations
For most language learners, vocabulary is key to early success. All of our stories include word-by-word translations - in context. Learners can click the word to hear its pronunciation in English, than click again to hear and read the translation in their native language.
Individualized vocabulary “Words Clicked”
Every word clicked for help is presented in bilingual form – with audio – at the end of each story. All words are also displayed in the teacher dashborad for follow-up.
Bring it all together: lesson plans blend stories with phonics
Rooted in the mastery of one story a week, our method of Integrated Phonics creates an explicit, systematic, and content-rich approach to literacy that integrates the magic of stories with essential phonics skills.
Lesson plans are flexible and free up prep time
Each weekly unit covers the “5 E’s” with explicit focus on a different modality each day: Engage (listen), Explore (read), Express (speak), Elaborate (write), Evaluate (review & reflect).
Online activities are rewarding and fun!
Deepen comprehension with thematically-related, non-threatening online games after each story. Games reinforce key vocabulary and sentence construction.
96 Weekly Units: Stories with Integrated Phonics
Units are designed for Pre-Readers, Emerging Readers, Reading Fluency
1 Storybook + 1 Letterbook + 1 Wordbook
6 Printable Activity Sheets with each E-book
5-day phonics lesson plans
Games support vocabulary and sentence construction
96 Weekly Units: Stories with Integrated Phonics
Units are designed for Pre-Readers, Emerging Readers, and Reading Fluency
1 Storybook + 1 Letterbook + 1 Wordbook
6 Printable Activity Sheets with each ebook
5-day phonics lesson plans
Games support vocabulary and sentence construction
Everything you need to succeed with your unique student
StoryWorld adapts easily to diverse classroom environments.
Educator-friendly online reports save time and align with standards
Our Formative Evaluation Dashboard displays at-a-glance insights to keep you updated on student progress.
- Easily assess students according to standards.*
- Review progress in vocabulary, reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
- Identify students at risk of falling behind.
- Download printable reports so students or parents can stay up-to-date on progress and reading outcomes.
* Standards alignment include: CA-ELD/CA-CCSS; CCSS; ELPA21; NY-ELA; ACTFL: TEXAS-ELPS; WIDA. Any standards not listed is available upon request.
StoryWorld works on any device connected to wifi: computers, chromebooks, tablets, & phones.
Versatile for whole class, small group, and independent learning
StoryWorld can be used effectively in a wide variety of learning environments—no individual devices needed.
- Whole-class instruction
- Small groups
- Independent learning
- Push-in and pull-out
- After-school tutoring
- At-home or remote learning
Professional learning with every school purchase
We include a virtual 60-minute introductory Professional Learning session with every school or district purchase. Each session covers:
- Overview of program and resources
- Sample lesson: integrating stories with phonics
- When and how to incorporate print materials
- How to assign stories
- Monitoring progress through the dashboard
Try us FREE for 2 months
Experience StoryWorld with your ELL students at no cost for 60 days. Then you can purchase or keep using our gift of 8 online stories.
“StoryWorld motivates students to read.” (WestEd)
Students experienced statistically significant gains in reading outcomes in less than one month according to research by WestEd.
5%
Increase
Reading Motivation for below-average performers.
7.5%
Increase
Value of Reading for below-average performers.
2.5%
Increase
Reading Motivation for all students.
Developed with support from the U.S. Department of Education
StoryWorld was developed with R&D funding from the U.S. Department of Education with 3-years of research provided by WestEd.
Supports independent learning
“Students using StoryWorld performed as well as those with a book and teacher support...the program allows students to learn independently in formal and informal settings.”
Encourages a love for reading
“Students demonstrated statistically significant increases in their motivation to read, Self-Concept as a Reader, and Value of Reading. Students eagerly read multiple books in a single session, going beyond the prescribed requirement of only one book.”
Quickly integrates into curriculum
“Teachers articulated that the StoryWorld product would be a very useful tool in their classrooms and could be integrated into their curriculum for ELA or ELD support.”
“StoryWorld incorporates the ideal approaches that research shows are the ways to make language learning come to life.”
Dr. Jenni Trujillo
Dean of the School of Education at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado
Voted #1 Literacy Solution by Superintendents
Get started in 1 minute
- Sign up for a 60-day free trial with all content—no obligation.
- Use your free trial to try StoryWorld with your students.
- Contact us to purchase before your trial ends!
FAQs
Find answers to all your questions on our main FAQ page or reach out to our friendly team in the form below.
Can I get StoryWorld free for my class?
Yes. When you sign up for a teacher account, you will get our Premium service at no cost for 2 months. After 2 months, your can choose to upgrade to Premium or continue to use your free account.
What grade levels are best for StoryWorld?
StoryWorld supports early literacy for all students in grades K-2 and includes special features specifically designed for ELL/MLLs appropriate for grades K-5. StoryWorld can be used for middle or high school students because basic vocabulary and English competency in all modalities apply to every language learner.
Does StoryWorld align with my state standards?
Reports on our Formative Evaluation Dashboard align with the following standards: ELPA-21, ACTFL, WIDA, CCSS, CA-ELD/CA-CCSS, NY-ELA, and TexasELPS. If you do not see your state standards listed, contact us in the form below and we will add it to the program.
What makes StoryWorld different from other programs for ELLs?
To our knowledge, no other ebook library offers word-by-word translations in both text and audio. This kind of instant support enables learners transfer their language skills from their home language to a new language—an approach backed by academic research.
Does StoryWorld work on all devices? Some of my students do not have a computer at home.
Yes. StoryWorld works on all devices connected to wifi, including computers, smartphones and tablets. Our program makes it easy for students to continue their learning at home, on whatever device is available to them.
Does StoryWorld qualify for Title I, Title III, and other funding?
Yes, StoryWorld qualifies for most state and federal funding. Our program qualifies for Title III because it can be used in after-school settings, and StoryWorld’s bilingual scaffolds encourage parent involvement at home.
Everything you need for language and literacy—one story at a time.