Research
TELL was developed to meet the needs of all preschoolers based on research findings about the need for high quality preschool curricula and known characteristics of high-quality preschool programs.
The Need for High-Quality Preschool Curricula
Achievement Gap
There are sustained and persistent achievement gaps in the reading skills of children from more- versus less-advantaged backgrounds (NAEP, 2019). Over the past 20 years gaps between poor White students and their poor Black and Hispanic peers grew (Paschall, Gershoff & Kuhfeld, 2018).
Promise of Preschool
Preschool can have positive, long lasting effects for all children (Schweinhart, 2013).
Promise of High Quality Preschool Programs
Children from economically disadvantaged families may benefit more from high quality preschool programs than their peers from higher SES families.
Characteristics of High-Quality Preschool Programs
Responsive Teaching & High Quality Environment
Offer a variety of learning opportunities (Mashburn & Pianta, 2010; Pianta, LaParo & Hamre, 2008).
Implementation of Empirically-Based Curricula
Include sufficient ‘active ingredients’ to positively impact children’s language, literacy, social, and cognitive skills (Diamond et al., 2013).
Differentiated Instruction
Teaching matches children’s developmental levels.
Effective Professional Development
Aligned to desired child outcomes (Pianta et al., 2009).