How to Make a Preschool Focus Board for Circle Time (Perfect for Homeschooling with Multiple Ages)

Homeschooling a third grader with a curious and energetic preschooler in the mix? That was my daily challenge—and it’s what inspired me to create our Preschool Focus Board.

When I was trying to balance quality lessons for my 3rd grader while also including my 4-year-old, I realized the key was involving them both in the same activities—just in different ways. Our solution? Short, structured circle time that included foundational preschool skills and gave big brother a chance to reinforce what he already knew.

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Why I Created a Preschool Focus Board

My 4-year-old loved sitting in for science, history, and reading—but I knew he needed more age-appropriate learning too. That’s when I introduced a short, daily circle time with a DIY focus board. We set aside 10–15 minutes to go over:

• The letter and number of the week

• Counting practice

• Days of the week & months of the year

• Shapes and alphabet review

The best part? Even my 3rd grader joined in. He didn’t mind that it was “preschool time” — it became a sweet moment for both kids to bond and learn together.

Materials to Make a Preschool Focus Board

Here’s what I used to make our board:

• 28" x 40" tri-fold display board

• Velcro tabs for interchangeable pieces

• Printed & laminated visuals (days, months, shapes, numbers, etc.)

• Educational cutouts (letters, numbers, geometric shapes)

I made two focus boards—one in English and one in Spanish—to support our bilingual homeschool routine.

Why a Tri-Fold Board?

Instead of hanging everything on a wall or using a bulky bulletin board, I went with a tri-fold display board. It’s:

• Portable and easy to store

• Great for small spaces

• Reusable year after year

• Drill-free — perfect for renters or temporary setups

What We Included on Our Board

We focused on weekly rotating content, so I made sure everything could be swapped out easily with velcro tabs. Here’s what we display:

Alphabet Letter of the Week

• Large colorful letters

• Optional: Add pictures that start with the week’s letter

Number of the Week

• Colorful number cutouts

• Counting practice up to that number

Shape of the Week

• Geometric shape visuals

• Talk about real-life examples of the shape

Calendar Concepts

• Days of the week (Yesterday / Today / Tomorrow)

• Months of the year

• Weather tracking (optional)

For the “yesterday / today / tomorrow” section, I made labels, laminated them, and attached them to mini hanger clips—an easy way to rotate daily.

DIY Display Tips

• Print your own visuals or find free printables online

• Laminate everything for durability

• Use velcro or magnetic dots to easily switch out pieces

• Customize with colors, languages, or seasonal themes

Bonus: How This Helped Our Homeschool Routine

This small, intentional activity each day created structure without overwhelm. It gave my preschooler a sense of participation and independence, while also reinforcing routine and review for my older child.

Best of all? It’s a screen-free, hands-on learning tool that can grow with your kids.

Want to Try It Yourself?

Download my free preschool focus board printables here — or grab the same supplies I used

Click here for a FREE download

Happy Learning!