Parent and Guardian Information
Home and School Connections
DESE Framework Standards for Families
Academic Vision
Every student in Massachusetts has access to a safe and supportive school environment that cultivates academic curiosity and confidence. Students have equitable access to an excellent education. Students read meaningful texts across content areas, work on complex real-world problems, participate in the arts, and share their ideas through speaking and writing using evidence, all in an effort to understand the world, their personal identities and their roles in the world.
Instruction is most powerful when educators have strong content knowledge and access to high-quality instructional materials and professional learning that promote inclusive practice accessible to all students, including English learners and students with disabilities; support authentic, engaging, and interdisciplinary student learning experiences; and invest families and students in their learning.
To support standards-based learning, we believe that every student should engage:
- with grade-appropriate text every day
- with meaningful real-world problems every day
- in scientific conversations using data every week
… in a school environment that supports social-emotional learning, health, and safety
These guides to the Massachusetts learning standards help families understand what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of each grade. Designed to help families and teachers work together to support learning, the guides are available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. Promotional materials advertising these resources are also available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
MERSD Elementary Curriculum Guides HERE
Literacy
English Language Arts and Literacy Framework
K-5 Literacy:
- Wonders 2020: https://www.mheducation.com/prek-12/program/microsites/MKTSP-BGA10M0/wonders.html
- Heggerty Phonemic Awareness (K-1): https://heggerty.org/
- Reading Support (gr. K-3): Tips for Supporting Reading Skills at Home
Mathematics
K-5 Math: Everyday Math
- http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/
- https://connected.mcgraw-hill.com (student site with individual login/password)
Science
MA Science, Technology & Engineering Frameworks
K-2 Science:
- Mystery Science: https://mysteryscience.com/
3-5 Science
- Know Atom: https://www.knowatom.com/
6-8 Science
- STEMScopes: https://www.acceleratelearning.com/science/ma/
History/Social Science
Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework
History/Social Science Grades K-2: Field Test 2025-26
History/Social Science Grade 5-7:
History/Social Science Grade 8:
World Language
2021 Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework
Why study a Second Language?
Resources/Links
Math
- Desmos Graphing Calculator (All Grades) Https://www.desmos.com/calculator
- Financial Literacy (All Grades) Https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/money-as-you-grow/
- Khan Academy (All Grades) Https://www.khanacademy.org/
- Greg Tang Math Games (Elementary & Middle Grades) Https://gregtangmath.com/games
- Sheppard Software Math Games (Elementary) Https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm
- Math Mobiles: Https://solveme.edc.org/mobiles.html
- Nrich Elementary Games and Interactives: Https://nrich.maths.org/9086
- Nrich Secondary Math Secondary Interactive Games and Challenges: Https://nrich.maths.org/9465
- Math for Love Games: Https://mathforlove.com/lesson-plan/games/
- Math Playground: Https://www.mathplayground.com/math-games.html
- Bedtime Math: Http://bedtimemath.org/
- Math at Home: Https://nzmaths.co.nz/maths-our-house
- Play with Your Math: Https://playwithyourmath.com/
Science
- Virtual Exhibits - Museum of Science, Boston: Https://www.mos.org/mos-at-home/virtual-exhibits
- Virtual Visit - New England Aquarium: Https://www.neaq.org/visit/at-home-events-and-activities/
- The Kid Should See This Https://thekidshouldseethis.com/
- National Geographic Kids Https://kids.nationalgeographic.com
- Kids Discover: Https://online.kidsdiscover.com/
- Precipitation Education/Weather: Https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/
- Nasa Kids Club: Https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
Technology
- Hour of Code: Https://hourofcode.com/us
- Code.org: Https://code.org/
- Fbi Safe Online Surfing (Digital Citizenship) Gr. 3-8: Https://sos.fbi.gov/en/
- Code with Scratch: Https://scratch.mit.edu/