In September 2024, early childhood classrooms throughout CPS will fully implement the Focus on 4s (CPP) and Focus on K (Kindergarten) curriculum. Focus curricula incorporate educational principles that enhance the overall growth and autonomy of young learners, integrating research-backed instructional methodologies while aligning to the Massachusetts and Common Core Curriculum Frameworks.
Focus activities are designed to nurture students' emerging independence as both learners and responsible members of society, fostering connection, communication and collaboration skills. The framework was crafted to ensure synergy among its components, promoting students' proficiency in literacy and language, science and engineering, social studies, the arts, and social-emotional development. Literary and informational texts take center stage in each unit, serving as catalysts for conceptual learning, vocabulary enrichment, and the cultivation of critical thinking skills. Each unit incorporates dedicated Writing, in addition to integrating Social Studies and Science standards that are complemented by the CPS Science and S.S. units.
In addition, all early childhood classrooms participate in explicit, daily, research-based phonemic awareness and phonics instruction using the Heggerty (Phonemic Awareness) and Fundations or TLA Phonics curricula. ensuring their proficiency of foundational literacy skills.
