Curriculum

Saint James Catholic School's Early Childhood preschool curriculum provides students with practical strategies, utilizing positive and effective methods to prepare students for Kindergarten. Our program curriculums are aligned with the Florida Department of Education preschool framework and are considered best practice models.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM 

We use the Frog Street Pre-K curriculum to develop and implement daily lesson plans that educate our preschoolers and prepare them for the next grade level. Frog Street Pre-K is a comprehensive, integrated program that provides each child with a strong foundation, building the skills they need to succeed as lifelong learners.

This hands-on, minds-on curriculum is based on scientific research and aligned with national and state Pre-K learning goals. Its flexible design integrates easily with dual language learning strategies to support oral language development, vocabulary, listening comprehension, print and phonological awareness, letter recognition, and early math skills.

Activities and explorations also support social and emotional development, physical development, science, social studies, and the arts, while being implemented in conjunction with Catholic values and faith-based learning. The curriculum aligns with key early childhood standards, including those from Early Reading First, Head Start, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the International Reading Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and State Frameworks. Frog Street provides developmentally appropriate practices that help prepare preschoolers for Kindergarten.

DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES

We use Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) strategies to support English language acquisition, academic achievement, and cross-cultural understanding. GLAD provides an organizational structure for an integrated, balanced literacy approach.

The integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing across all content areas—and the connection of science, social studies, and literature—are strategies that are seamlessly incorporated into the Frog Street curriculum. These approaches foster a risk-free, culturally responsive environment where students can develop academic language and concepts, while also supporting a values-based learning environment.

While especially effective for dual language learners, this model supports language acquisition for all students. Its structure, strategies, and classroom applications are highly valuable in a multilingual setting. GLAD is recognized by the United States Department of Education (OBEMLA) as a Project of Academic Excellence and is highlighted by the Florida Department of Education as a “Best Practices” program.

SCIENCE PROGRAM

We use Frog Street Pre-K’s integrated science components, supported by resources such as Sid the Science Kid, to enhance early science learning. This approach builds on children’s natural curiosity and desire to understand the world around them.

The goals of our science program are:

• To encourage children to think, talk, and explore by incorporating their natural curiosity
• To demonstrate that science is all around us
• To support school readiness by fostering motivation to learn and confidence
• To nurture and reinforce a strong “climate of curiosity” in the classroom

The Superkids Reading Program combines effective brain-based literacy instruction with engaging, character-based stories to build success—and helps teachers develop the whole child from head to heart.

Lasting Lessons

The Lasting Lessons provide opportunities to discuss critical life skills, build character, and develop social skills. They are a launching point for teachers to integrate Catholic content and connect to values.

Catholic Connections Crosswalk

To help Superkids teachers reinforce Catholic identity, the Catholic Connections include virtues, values, and other teachings from the Catholic faith, all stemming from the Lasting Lessons.

 Literacy is the key to understanding—across time, borders, and cultures—and will help students recognize and embrace the role they play in the world they are creating.

Wonders is an evidence-based 3–5 ELA program that empowers students to take an active role in learning and exploration. Students will enjoy unparalleled opportunities to express and assess themselves through reading, writing, and speaking. They will encounter the right content at the right moment in their learning journey to promote strong educational outcomes for all.

Our Middle School ELA program utilizes the Into Literature curriculum to provide students with a rigorous, standards-aligned learning experience that builds strong reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Through a diverse selection of complex texts, including fiction, nonfiction, and informational works, students engage in meaningful analysis, collaborative discussions, and evidence-based writing. The curriculum emphasizes vocabulary development, close reading strategies, and real-world connections, ensuring students are well-prepared for high school and beyond.

Develop Mathematically Proficient Students for Life!

Our Mathematics program utilizes Savvas enVision Math to deliver engaging, standards-aligned instruction that builds deep conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. Through interactive lessons, visual models, and real-world applications, students develop mathematical reasoning, fluency, and confidence. The curriculum supports differentiated instruction, allowing teachers to meet the needs of all learners while reinforcing critical skills and preparing students for continued academic success.

Introducing a NEW Studies Weekly Science core curriculum:

• Fully aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
• Hands-on with open-and-go lessons
• Adaptable to in-class or remote learning
• Driven by guiding questions that push students to explore

Next Generation Science Standards

HMH Into Science is an NGSS science curriculum that provides a coherent, phenomenon-driven storyline; delivers three-dimensional learning; and incorporates the Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning model.

Authentic Science Activities

Hands-on activities include embedded social and emotional learning. Open-ended simulations allow students to use technology, like a real scientist in the field.

FUNomenal Readers Model Science Practices

Lesson-aligned, “factual fiction” readers support phenomenon-based activities and ask students to make claims, gather evidence, and apply reasoning.

Students Learn by Doing

The curriculum uses the effective 5E instructional model, which encourages students to Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate the science in hands-on and digital environments.

With a student-friendly core Social Studies curriculum organized thematically to the strands of civics and government, geography, economics, and history. All within our student-friendly periodical format and robust online learning platform.

• Hands-on and Interactive
• Spiraled and Scaffolded
• Integrated with ELA
• Standards-aligned
• Research-based

Challenge students to explore the past and present. Our social studies curriculum delivers compelling, interactive experiences that cultivate the critical thinking and analytical skills children need to succeed in college, career, and civic life.

Relevant and Engaging

Immersive media, audio, and visuals provide relevant content to encourage “Aha!” moments in the classroom.

Inquiry-Based Learning

Interactive tools enable students to analyze primary sources like a historian and complete evidence-based writing tasks.

Explore More

Rigorous, age-appropriate content highlights diverse perspectives, integrates primary sources, and makes relevant connections to bring the subject area to life.

Discover More

Project-based and inquiry activities ignite curiosity and facilitate critical thinking, teaching students how to analyze sources, cite evidence, and take informed action.

Inspire Active Citizenship

Stimulate collaboration, problem solving, debate, action, and draw connections to today. By demonstrating relevancy, students realize they have the power to shape the world around them.

Our religion program consists of the Finding God series from Loyola Press. The Kindergarten program honors the spirituality of little children and their ability to learn complex concepts when presented in ways that are friendly and proven to work with four-to-six-year-olds. With active-learning opportunities on every page of the program, children are always engaged and fully immersed in the rich content of their faith.

Catechetically rich and Christ-focused throughout, the Finding God Kindergarten Children’s Book uses beautiful images, thoughtful prayer, and engaging activities to help young children understand, experience, and express their budding faith as they begin a lifelong journey of discipleship. Every page is interactive and accommodates different stages of development and learning styles.

Spanish and French

In our Foreign Language program, students are taught and introduced to two different languages, French and Spanish. In the primary grades, students are introduced to and taught French. In the intermediate and middle school grades, students are introduced to and taught French and Spanish during their academic journey at St. James. We utilize the digital resource LanguageNut to complement our French and Spanish programs.

The LanguageNut program offers the following:

• Elementary level digital language learning resources for World Languages including French and Spanish
• Nurture reading, writing, listening and speaking skills through a wide range of games and activities