Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, Tucson Unified's youngest learners will experience enhanced literacy and language development learning, as the Governing Board has approved the acquisition and implementation of the Teaching Early Literacy & Language (TELL) curriculum in 60 Pre-K classrooms.The TELL curriculum was developed to address the critical need for high-quality preschool programs. It's designed to boost the quality and quantity of code-related and oral language instruction, both have which have been shown to foster substantial early literacy and language growth.
"We are incredibly proud to bring the TELL curriculum to our Pre-K students," says Reem Kievit, Senior Director, Community Schools and Preschool Programs. "This investment underscores our commitment to providing every child in Tucson Unified with the strongest possible foundation for academic success."
Benefits of the TELL curriculum include:
- Enhanced language and literacy skills – TELL promotes rich oral language interactions between teachers and students, fostering vocabulary growth, introducing pre-writing skills like scribbling and drawing, and boosting overall communication abilities.
- Improved school readiness – TELL helps children enter elementary school prepared and confident to learn to read.
- Increased engagement – TELL's comprehensive and engaging approach cultivates a positive attitude toward learning.
