The TELL program adapts Marquis Studios' long-running Storytelling residency, allowing early learners to explore fundamental literacy skills through engaging, hands-on theater games and activities. Over the course of the residency, Kindergarten and 1st Grade students explore diverse stories and characters as they bring a variety of children's books to life. TELL helps supplement schools’ existing literacy curricula in several ways, with a primary focus on building oral language and enhancing students’ comprehension and knowledge base.
- Informed by established research on the science of literacy, TELL helps students develop key skills for strong reading.
- Each TELL residency includes 20 hands-on sessions, with uniquely tailored curricula for Kindergarten and 1st Grade readers. Each lesson includes thoughtful differentiation strategies to support students with varied reading proficiency.
- Students are able to explore and embody multiple books over the course of the residency, including: Jabari Jumps; Thank You, Omu!; Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match; Coqui in the City; Mae Among the Stars; and more.
- All TELL residencies include a Professional Development Workshop to help classroom teachers integrate theater tools into their ELA and Literacy curricula to support student engagement and develop a love of reading.
TELL is supported by generous funding from the New York Community Trust. Additional support provided by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the Emily Davie and Joseph S. Kornfeld Foundation and our loyal donors.