Focus on Pre-K:

Focus on Pre-K is Boston Public Schools’ nationally acclaimed curriculum for three and four-year olds. The integrated curriculum follows a scope and sequence of skill and conceptual development across content areas. Focus on Pre-K is implemented in over 200 district and community-based classrooms. Research has identified Focus as one of the strongest, most consistently proven interventions for closing the achievement gap. Click here to watch the Focus on Pre-K video introduction, Focus in action, and interviews with Focus teachers. All curriculum specific books are available to borrow virtually for free, here.

Focus on K2:

Kindergarten students learn through our Focus on K2 curriculum. In the BPS, we use the term K2 instead of kindergarten, referring to our five-year-old students. Focus on K2 was written to help teachers promote children’s creativity and their abilities to collaborate, communicate and think critically. It was written to develop essential literacy and numeracy skills. It was written to connect children with their city. It was written to give our K2 students the adventure in learning they deserve.

• Guiding documents

• Video overview of Focus on K2

• Additional video exemplars

Focus on First:

In the revised Focus on First (Fo1) curriculum, children and teachers work together to develop understandings and communicate meaningfully through various media across six broad topics. Focus on First is designed to take advantage of, build upon, and expand children's established understandings and skills. With text at the core of classroom experiences, children ask questions about the world around them and consolidate ideas about their place in it as learners and contributors.

Teacher Guides provided in the spring: Here is an example from first grade.

• Design and Structure

• What’s new in Focus on First?

• Full Introductory Documents

• Resources for BPS Teachers: Photos, Teacher-Created Resources, and PD (BPS only)

Focus on Second:

In the second grade Focus on Second (Fo2) curriculum, students are guided by their teachers to deeply analyze meaningful topics. Fo2 structures opportunities for children and adults to work together to analyze texts, ideas, images, structures, works of art, and words. Students investigate Science and Engineering topics, consider stories of history and community, and experiment with new and familiar materials to communicate powerful ideas through multidimensional projects. Please note - for full access to these resources you need to have logged into a BPS email account.

• Design and structure

• Guiding documents

• Video exemplars

Online Versions of Focus on 2 Texts:

You can access and download free virtual books online.

• Create a free account at Internet Archive. Click here to go directly.

• Once your account is created, you can search any titles to virtually borrow them.

To directly borrow books from the BPS Focus on 2nd Grade curriculum click the following links.

Abuela’s Weave https://archive.org/details/abuelasweave00cast

Armando and the Blue Tarp School https://archive.org/details/armandobluetarp00fine

Come on Rain! https://archive.org/details/comeonrain00hess

Dear Mr. Rosenwald https://archive.org/details/dearmrrosenwald00weat

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School https://archive.org/details/dearmrslaruelett00teag

Fin M’Coul https://archive.org/details/finmcoul00tomi

From Seed to Plant https://archive.org/details/fromseedtoplant00gibb

Hip Hop Speaks to Children https://archive.org/details/hiphopspeakstoch00nikk

Louie https://archive.org/details/louie00ezra

Mama and Papa Have a Store https://archive.org/details/mamapapahavestor00carl

Pele the King of Soccer https://archive.org/details/pelekingofsoccer0000arno

Seaside Dream https://archive.org/details/seasidedream00bate

Soccer Star https://archive.org/details/soccerstar0000java

Soil Erosion and How to Prevent it https://archive.org/details/soilerosionhowto00nata

The Upside Down Boy https://archive.org/details/upsidedownboy00herr

LEXIA

Math iPad Apps for Early Childhood:

• ABC and Me - The ABCs flashcards contain large font letters (and their names), phonetic pronunciations, and vivid images. Kids can click on the letter or the image to hear the corresponding audio in English. Numbers flashcards help teach the order of the numbers and counting. Each number card shows a different quantity of items preschoolers and toddlers can count.

• ABC Magnetic Alphabet Lite - Pre-reading and pre-math skills.

• DotToDot Number Lite - Number sequencing - connect the dots.

• Kid Apps: All in 1 - This application to teach your young children fundamental reading, writing and math skills. Kids App has 17 different apps ranging from math games, over 800 flash cards, interactive tracing drills and more.