LSU Students Bring Literacy to Life Through Bilingual Story Hour

On a quiet spring day, LSU students sit cross-legged beside elementary school children outdoors, reading books in English and Spanish as conversation and laughter fill the air.

Nearby, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library bookmobile arrives, bringing stacks of books for families who may not otherwise get to visit a library.

What began as a classroom initiative has grown into something larger. The Bilingual Tigers Story Hour is more than a literacy program; it is interactive exposure for LSU students to get hands-on learning experience in real-world classroom settings while expanding access for bilingual students across local areas. 

The program was first launched in fall 2025 as a collaboration between faculty in LSU’s School of Education and the Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures. Designed to give pre-service teachers in courses EDCI 3001 and Spanish students in SPAN 2156 real-world experience, the Bilingual Story Hour provided dual-language read-aloud sessions at a local library branch. 

While LSU students gained valuable experience facilitating these story time sessions and speaking with bilingual children, family participation was limited, not because of a lack of interest but because of transportation challenges and hesitancy of being in unfamiliar spaces.

Instead of ending the initiative, they decided to step back and take a different approach.

This spring, the work moved to the Gardere Initiative, an after-school program serving children and families whose second language is English. By partnering with a trusted local organization, LSU faculty made sure they could meet families where they were at. 

“We wanted to build on what community organizations were already doing and support their work. The East Baton Rouge Parish Library has been involved from the beginning and immediately agreed to continue the partnership when we moved locations,” said Margaret Piccoli, director of the Bilingual Tigers Story Hour and assistant professor of Professional Practice in World Languages/ESL in the College of Human Sciences & Education. 

For LSU students, the impact was immediate. Future teachers do not have to imagine what bilingual classrooms look like; they are experiencing it firsthand, opening the door for students to build real-time adaptability, cultural awareness, leadership, and strong communication skills. 

“I’ve always loved working with kids, and even though I’m helping teach them, they’re teaching me as well,” said LSU student Cate Warren. 

Meanwhile, Spanish-speaking children move past standard textbook learning into authentic human connection and communication. 

This interdisciplinary collaboration between education and language faculty models a broader vision for experiential learning at LSU. Students are not just studying theory, they are applying it in places that mirror the classroom and in communities they will one day serve. 

This spring, the Bilingual Tigers Story Hour continues to expand its reach and impact. The spring 2026 program includes shared book readings in English and Spanish, book-related multimedia literacy activities and dedicated homework and tutoring support for participating children. This addition allows LSU students to deepen their connections with families while strengthening literacy skills in interactive and creative ways. 

A key factor of the program is the partnership with the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, which brings its mobile library directly to the Gardere Initiative. The mobile library is more like a luxury RV than a traditional bookmobile, providing families with access to books and library services directly to the community they live in. By removing barriers to literacy, the program helps ensure that learning extends beyond the session itself and into the home. 

“We bring the library into the community so families have access to information and resources they may not otherwise have, not just books, but career support, tutoring and learning tools,” said Tamika Robi, operator of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s mobile library. 

Faculty and community partners are also exploring other ways to expand this program beyond the literacy aspect, to collaborate with additional colleges and disciplines across LSU. Leaders envision an approach that connects education with areas such as health, wellness, and community enrichment, creating broader opportunities for both LSU students and participating families. 

“The sky is the limit. We hope to expand the program with additional partnerships, possibly including kinesiology, agriculture programs, and more activities for families.” 

Margaret Piccoli, director of the Bilingual Tigers Story Hour  

Through interdisciplinary collaboration between the School of Education, the Department of World Languages, community partners and public institutions, the program models how universities can work alongside local organizations to create lasting change. 

As the program continues to grow, its impact reaches far beyond weekly story sessions. The Bilingual Tigers Story Hour prepares LSU students to enter the workforce with practical skills, cultural awareness and confidence in diverse classroom settings. At the same time, it strengthens literacy access and educational opportunity for families across the community. 

The initiative reflects LSU’s land-grant mission, serving Louisiana through education, research and community partnership, while offering a model that could be replicated in other communities across the state. 

By bringing learning beyond the classroom walls, LSU is not only preparing future educators, but strengthening the communities they will one day serve.