Curriculum

At St. Jerome Early Childhood Center, our experienced and caring teachers combine their living Catholic faith with a research-based curriculum to create meaningful learning experiences for every child. Grounded in an understanding of child development, our educators provide consistent, responsive support that nurtures each child's spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. We believe young children learn best through purposeful play, hands-on exploration, movement, and meaningful relationships. Our classrooms encourage curiosity, creativity, and independence while fostering a lifelong love of learning in a safe, nurturing, and faith-filled environment. All programs are developmentally appropriate and aligned with state, national, and diocesan standards.

EC2 Curriculum

Frog Street Curriculum: Developmentally appropriate instruction supporting growth across all learning domains, reinforced through Conscious Discipline.

NAEYC Accreditation & Program Standards (Revised 2006)

Florida Early Learning & Developmental Standards (2017) – Standards span birth through Kindergarten; instruction aligns with each child’s age range.

Faith Development: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, daily prayer, and prayer services.

EC3 Curriculum

Frog Street Curriculum: Developmentally appropriate instruction supporting growth across all learning domains, reinforced through Conscious Discipline.

NAEYC Accreditation & Program Standards (Revised 2006)

Florida Early Learning & Developmental Standards (2017) – Standards span birth through Kindergarten; instruction aligns with each child’s age range.
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Readiness Curriculum (Pre-K)
Safe Environment Curriculum – Diocese of St. Petersburg (2005)

Diocesan Standards & Benchmarks for Early Childhood (Ages 3–Grade 2)

Faith Development: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, monthly chapel visits with Fr. Blum, daily prayer, and prayer services.

EC4-VPK Curriculum

Frog Street Curriculum: Developmentally appropriate instruction supporting growth across all learning domains, reinforced through Conscious Discipline.

NAEYC Accreditation & Program Standards (Revised 2006)

Florida Early Learning & Developmental Standards (2017)

Reading with TLC – Lively Letters (infused)

Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Readiness Curriculum (Pre-K)

Safe Environment Curriculum – Diocese of St. Petersburg (2005)

Diocesan Standards & Benchmarks for Early Childhood (Ages 3–Grade 2)
Faith Development: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, monthly chapel visits with Fr. Blum, daily prayer, and prayer services.

Safe Environment Education Curriculum for EC3 & EC4 Students (as mandated by the Diocese of St. Petersburg)

St. Jerome ECC, through an age-appropriate curriculum, weaves “safe environment” training for children into daily classroom life. Through the use of games, songs, stories, and our faith development, we present children with important life skills that empower them to help protect themselves and encourage them to respect themselves and others.

Here are the key ideas that we are presenting to the children:

An appreciation of God’s goodness and personal love for them
The need to respect all people and all forms of life
A sense of self worth
A spirit of prayer and sense of God’s presence
A sense that God loves all individuals and gives us families composed of members who help each other
An understanding that God calls us to forgive those who hurt us
A proper respect for the body as part of God’s creation
Understanding that parts of their bodies should be respected
Understanding that feelings can be managed
How friends treat each other with respect
Ways to report to trusted adults uncomfortable situations or relationships with others-
The difference between “good” touch and “bad” touch
A sense that individuals are loved by important people in their lives
There are “good” choices and “bad” choices
It is alright to say “No” to someone if you know what they are asking is wrong
How to say I’m sorry
How to experience forgiveness
Parts of their bodies are private and should be respected
There should be no secrets, and recognizes the importance of letting trusted adults know about uncomfortable situations or relationships with others until believed
The difference between safe and harmful relationships
Families love and care for each other
The uniqueness of each person
When an adult makes a mistake, it is not a child’s fault