The developmental milestones outlined below provide an overview of the curriculum emphasized in St. Jerome ECC's three year old program. The skills noted are typical, expected outcomes for children at the conclusion of their three year old program. The concepts have been compiled using the following resources for this specific age/developmental level:

• Faith Development- "Wee Celebrate the Seasons" and "Step by Step"

• Diocesan Standards & Benchmarks for Early Childhood (Age 3-Gr. 2)

• NAEYC Accreditation & Program Standards (Revised 2006)

• Florida Performance Standards for Three Year Olds (2002, revision pending)

• Safe Environment Curriculum- Three Year Olds- Diocese of St. Petersburg (2005)

Faith Formation

Faith Development Concepts

• Plays, works, and prays happily with others
• Develops a sense of awe, wonder, respect, gratitude, and stewardship for God's creation
• Develops a sense of community and worship
• Knows that God loves, protects, and provides for them
• Recognizes that prayer is talking with God
• Learns traditional prayers including' the sign of the cross, the Lord's Prayer, bedtime and table prayers
• Asks for, listens to, and talks about Bible stories

Safe Environment Concepts

Spiritual Development

• Appreciates God's goodness and personal love for them
• Respects all people and all forms of life
• Develops a sense of self worth
• Develops a spirit of prayer and sense of God's presence
• Develops a sense that God loves all individuals and gives us families composed of members who help each other
• Understands that God calls us to forgive those who hurt us
• Develops a proper respect for the body as part of God's creation

Behavioral Development

• Understands that parts of their bodies should be respected
• Recognizes that feelings can be managed
• Learns how friends treat each other with respect
• Reports to trusted adults, uncomfortable situations or relationships with others until believed

Cognitive Development

• Understands the difference between "good touch" and "bad touch"
• Develops a sense that individuals are loved by important people in their lives
• Knows that there are "good" and "bad" choices
• Understands that it is alright to say "No"
• Learns how to experience forgiveness
• Knows that parts of their bodies are private and should be respected
• Understands that there should be no secrets and recognizes the importance of letting trusted adults know about uncomf ortable situations or relationships with others until believed
• Knows that families love and care for each other
• Appreciates the uniqueness of each person

Physical Health

Physical Health

• Shows characteristics of good health to facilitate learning
• Demonstrates visual ability to facilitate learning
• Exhibits auditory ability to facilitate learning
• Performs oral hygiene routines
• Shows familiarity with the role of a primary health care provider

Knowledge of Wellness

• Shows that basic phsycial needs are met
• Follows basic health and safety rules
• Beginning to perform some self-care tasks independently

Approaches to Learning

Eagerness/Curiosity

• Shows eagerness and curiosity as a learner

Persistence

• Attends to tasks briefly and seeks help when encountering a problem

Creativity/Inventiveness

• Approaches tasks with purpose and inventivess

Social and Emotional

Self Concept

• Demonstrates self-confidence
• Shows some self-direction

Self Control

• Follows simple classroom rules and routines with guidance
• Uses classroom materials carefully
• Manages transitions wit

  

  h undue stress

Relationships with Adults

• Interacts with familiar adults

Relationships with Peers

• Interacts with one or more children
• Particpates in the group life of the class
• Shows empathy and caring for others

Social Problem- Solving

• Seeks adult help when needed to resolve conflicts

Language and Communication

Listening

• Gains meaning by listening
• Has the ability to hear and discriminate the sounds of languge
• Shows appreciation for books and can sit still and stay focused during story reading
• Comprehends and responds to stories read aloud
• Follows two step directions

Speaking

• Speaks clearly enough to be understood without contextual clues

Vocabulary

• Shows interest in letters and words and the way they look and sound
• Uses an expanded vocabulary to describe objects, actions and events
• Represents ideas and stories through pictures, dictation, and play
• Uses scibbles and unconventional shapes to write

Conversation

• Uses language to express needs and feelings, share experiences, predict outcomes, and resolve problems
• Initiates, asks questions, and responds to adults and peers in a variety of settings
• Uses appropriate language and style for context

Cognitive Development and General Knowledge

Mathematical Thinking

• Mathematical Processes

-Shows interest in solving mathematical problems

• Patterns, Relationships, and Functions

-Sorts objects into subgroups that vary by one attribute

• Numbers and Operations

-Shows curiosity and interest in counting and numbers

• Geometry and Spatial Relations

-Can identify several shapes

-Shows understanding of and uses some positional words

-Shows understanding of some comparative words

• Measurement

-Participates in measuring activities

Scientific Thinking

• Inquiry

-Uses senses to observe and explore how things work in the world around him/her

-Uses simple tools and equipment for investigation

-Makes comparisons among objects

Social Studies

• People, Past, and Present

-Identifies similarities and differences in physical characterisitcs

• Human Interdependence

-Begins to understand family needs, roles, and relationships

-Describes some people's job

• Citizenship and Government

-Deomonstrates awareness of group rules

-Shows awareness of what it means to be a leader

• People and Where They Live

-Shows awareness of the environment

The Arts

• Expression and Representation

-Uses a variety of art materials for tactile experience and artistic creation

-Participates in group music experiences

-Participates in creative movement, dance, and drama

• Understanding and Appreciation

-Responds to artistic creations or events

Motor Development

Gross Motor Development

• Moves with some balance and control
• Coordinates movements to perform simple tasks

Fine Motor Development

• Uses strength and control perform simple tasks
• Uses eye-hand coordination to perform tasks
• Explores the use of various drawing and art tools