Comprehension through conversation
During interactive reading, the AI poses questions about explicit information in the story as well as questions that invite inference, perspective-taking, and personal connections.
THE PLATFORM
Reading becomes an active conversation.
My Story Detective is a web-based, AI-supported literacy experience designed to give K–2 students guided practice with language, comprehension, and word reading—within the meaningful context of illustrated stories.
WHAT IT IS
An AI-supported literacy coach that keeps children thinking, talking, and reading.
My Story Detective extends teacher-led dialogic reading with a conversational agent that can prompt children to explain their thinking, build vocabulary, and revisit ideas in a story. It also integrates word-reading practice so children can work on foundational decoding skills in connection with what they read.
Story library · The platform brings together evidence-based Story Detective and COMPASS titles with The Science Adventures of Luna and Leo, a bilingual, community-informed science ebook collection.
HOW THE EXPERIENCE WORKS
A connected learning loop.
Each part of the experience is designed to support the next—from choosing a book to discussing its ideas to practicing the words within it.
- 01
Choose a story
Children enter a library of illustrated ebooks, select a title, and read or listen along.
- 02
Talk about meaning
Between pages, conversational moments invite children to answer questions and explain their thinking aloud.
- 03
Practice foundational skills
Story-connected activities provide opportunities to work on vocabulary, letter-sound correspondences, and word reading.
- 04
Build on each response
The experience is designed to use a child’s answers to offer relevant feedback, follow-up questions, and additional practice.
MAJOR COMPONENTS
One story experience, multiple paths to learning.
My Story Detective brings together the core skills children need for successful reading rather than treating them as separate tasks.
INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK
Oral language supports vocabulary, listening comprehension, and expressive language. Decoding supports phonics, phonological awareness, and word reading.
Vocabulary in context
Guided discussion brings attention to useful words within the story itself, helping children explore language as part of meaning-making.
Decoding connected to text
Phonics and word-reading practice use decodable words drawn from the storybooks, connecting letter-sound work with the texts children are reading.
Responsive support
Questions, follow-up prompts, and feedback are designed to adjust to a child’s responses, providing more practice or support when it is needed.
STORIES + DIALOGUE
Every response can become the next learning opportunity.
Questions can ask children to recall information, make inferences, consider a character’s perspective, or connect an idea to their own experience. Their responses give the conversational agent a basis for relevant feedback and follow-up.
The goal is not simply to move through a book. It is to help children actively use language while they build understanding.
WORDS + SOUNDS
Decoding practice grounded in the story.
Phonics activities are designed around words in the storybooks. Children can work with letter-sound correspondences, blend sounds to read words, and receive immediate feedback during practice.
This link between word reading and meaningful text helps make foundational skills part of a larger reading experience.
DESIGNED FOR REAL SETTINGS
Built to fit school and extend into home reading.
Support during literacy time
The platform is designed for use in established classroom routines, including independent center time, while teachers remain central to instruction.
Prompts for shared reading
A family-facing experience is planned to help caregivers and children discuss story-related ideas together during at-home reading.
Informed by use and feedback
Planned progress information and learning data are intended to help educators monitor use and to guide ongoing refinement with teachers, families, and students.
MY STORY DETECTIVE