Boosting Literacy Skills with Social Studies Alive!

As an elementary teacher at Collier County School District, Florida, Andrew Esposito has always been passionate about making learning engaging. However, social studies often took a backseat to math and reading, lacking the structured curriculum needed to truly captivate students. That changed when the district adopted Teachers’ Curriculum Institute’s (TCI) Social Studies Alive! elementary Florida programs and allocated dedicated time to teach social studies.

“In my four years of teaching, I haven’t come across a curriculum as comprehensive and well-structured as TCI. The difference is noticeable in how I can now present social studies in a way that connects to students. This year, social studies feels more like a core subject, on par with math, reading, and science. It’s no longer a secondary subject or lesser priority as it may have felt in previous years.”

By making social studies a priority, students are more engaged in lessons, strengthening their critical thinking and literacy skills while developing a deeper understanding of the world around them. With a structured and engaging curriculum, social studies is no longer just a subject; it’s an opportunity to foster curiosity, civic awareness, and lifelong learning.

Elevating Social Studies Instruction Through Research-Based Strategies

TCI’s programs are designed around research-based strategies for active learning, leveraging hands-on activities and inquiry. With this approach, students become active participants in their learning and connect with the world around them. Andrew finds that students are eager to participate in discussions and engage with content in meaningful ways.

“Every day, we have social studies, and I love incorporating a mix of resources. I get my students working in their Journals or on laptops, using both digital and physical materials. That’s one of the things that makes teaching with TCI so great, being able to use both resources. The hands-on activities, the stories in the Social Studies Stories, and the interactive elements all help bring learning to life.”

TCI’s emphasis on active learning helps students ask questions, think critically, and learn with memorable activities.

“My students are now making connections between what we learn in class and their everyday lives. They’re asking questions, thinking critically, and even bringing historical facts into conversations outside of school.”

The activities and readings incorporate a variety of primary and secondary sources, both visual and text. By engaging with diverse sources, analyzing artifacts, and highlighting key concepts, students move beyond memorization to develop a deeper understanding of content.

“Recently, we’ve been working on the Native American unit for third-grade geography, and my students have been able to analyze artifacts, explain their reasoning, and use evidence to support their ideas. I’ve noticed a real difference in their ability to draw those connections and then explain it themselves.”

Strengthening Literacy Skills

Social studies instruction enhances literacy by building critical background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills—all essential for reading success. When students engage with history, geography, and civics, they develop the ability to analyze texts, draw connections between concepts, and retain new information more effectively.

For Andrew, the impact of TCI’s program extended beyond deepening students’ understanding of social studies; it also strengthened their literacy skills. Through engaging texts, primary and secondary sources, and annotation tools, students significantly improved their reading comprehension and writing abilities. TCI’s structured reading support, including scaffolding techniques, guided questions, and interactive note-taking strategies, helped students break down complex texts and master key ideas.

“I’ve seen a big shift in how my students approach reading and writing. They’re learning to analyze sources, highlight key details, and support their ideas with evidence, skills that go beyond social studies.”

As Andrew engaged more with TCI’s resources, he also noticed an improvement in students’ social studies assessments, particularly in reading comprehension. The curriculum’s emphasis on academic vocabulary and structured writing assignments helped students build confidence in expressing their thoughts clearly.

“I’ve seen a real difference in my students’ scores. As I became more engaged with TCI’s resources, I noticed a direct impact on their ability to read and analyze social studies content. This curriculum stands out, not only because it’s thorough and well-structured, but because it’s engaging, user-friendly, and truly supports both teachers and students.”

Easy-to-Use Interface and Real-Time Feedback

TCI’s flexible print and digital materials are designed for ease of use, making lesson planning and instruction more efficient. With comprehensive teacher support, including guides, slideshows, answer keys, differentiated instruction strategies, and pacing tools, educators have everything they need to deliver engaging lessons.

Our platform’s built-in Reading Checks provide instant feedback, allowing teachers to assess student understanding in real-time and adjust instruction accordingly. Students can also highlight key points in the digital text and revisit important concepts with ease.

“I really love how TCI, especially online, has Reading Checks that populate information right away. It gives me real-time feedback on what my students are understanding in that very moment of instruction.”

This instant feedback ensures that teachers can identify areas of improvement and provide targeted support. Additionally, the platform’s intuitive design makes navigation simple for both educators and students, streamlining lesson planning and classroom management.

“The user interface is easy for the kids to navigate and for me to explore. I can quickly find what I need, assign lessons, and use the tools available to highlight key facts. It’s made planning for social studies so much more efficient.”

Students are also empowered to take initiative in their learning. Andrew notes that his students often explore the platform independently and take charge of their progress:

“There are times my students can navigate the home page and find resources I may have written on our To Do for the week but have not had the chance to assign directly.”

TCI’s digital tools not only enhance engagement but also empower teachers with data-driven insights to support student growth.

Looking ahead, Andrew is excited to continue exploring all that TCI has to offer. “Seeing my students so engaged and excited about social studies has been amazing. TCI has completely changed the way we approach the subject, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.”

Experience TCI

See how TCI engages students and builds their critical thinking skills with hands-on activities, primary sources, and games. If you’re ready to review social studies programs, contact sales to get a sample.