Curriculum

Our program is based on the interests, needs, and abilities of the young child. Each day is planned and balanced with respect to indoor and outdoor time; individual, small group and large group activities; and quiet and active play.

Creative Curriculum

MECE adheres to the philosophy and training of “The Creative Curriculum®”. The Creative Curriculum® is used to plan and implement a developmentally appropriate program that promotes children’s social-emotional development and learning in the core areas of literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies. It combines the latest research and the freshest ideas into a forward-thinking approach to learning–one that honors creativity and respects the role that teachers play in making learning exciting and relevant for every child in their classrooms.”

Handwriting Without Tears

MECE’s staff have been trained in the Handwriting Without Tears® program and use the HWT manipulatives in all three and four year old classrooms. “Handwriting Without Tears’ mission is to make learning and teaching easy and fun by providing superior educational products, training, and promotional materials to educators and parents.”

Benchmarks

Benchmarks are MECE’s curriculum goals. Teachers use the benchmarks to ensure that their lesson plans are well-rounded, have a specific developmental emphasis and maximize each child’s learning and growing opportunity.

MECE Curriculum Outline

September

Activity Unit

  • Getting to know one another

  • Nursery Rhymes

  • Colors, shapes, textures

Religion Guide

  • I am special

  • Self-concept

  • Feelings

  • Family

October

Special Events

  • Fire Department visit

  • Police Department visit

Activity Unit

  • Fall (seasons)

  • Harvest (farm and farm animals)

  • Community helpers (not Doctor/Dentist)

  • Colors, shapes, textures

  • Halloween

Religion Guide

  • God’s Gifts:

  • Seasons and weather

  • Nature and animals

  • Friends and Community

November

Special Events

  • Thanksgiving Feast (no 2s)

Activity Unit

  • Numbers

  • Senses

  • Thanksgiving

Religion Guide

  • What is a Church?

  • Thanks be to God (senses)

  • Prayers and Hymns

December

Special Events

  • Christmas pageant

  • MECE Share week

Activity Unit

  • Christmas Story

  • Christmas festivities

  • Holiday foods & customs around the world

Religion Guide

  • I can love:

  • Sharing

  • Manners

  • Helping

January

Special Events

  • Dentist visit

  • Nurse visit

Activity Unit

  • Winter

  • Health-Doctor, Dentist, Nurse, nutrition

  • Body parts, cleanliness

  • Safety

Religion Guide

  • God’s Gifts:

  • Seasons and weather

  • New Testament Stories

February

Special Events

  • Valentines Party

Activity Unit

  • Ground Hog

  • Lincoln and Washington

  • Valentines

Religion Guide

  • I think about God

  • Celebrate: other holidays

  • Old Testament Stories

March and April

Special Events

  • Easter

  • Conference Day

Activity Unit

  • Circus

  • Jungle, Forest, Zoo, Pets, Ocean, Insects

  • Dinosaurs

  • Spring: Seasons, weather, wind, rain

  • Easter

Religion Guide

  • God’s Gifts:

  • Seasons and weather

  • Nature and animals

  • Noah’s Ark

May

Special Events

  • Mother’s Day Teas

  • End of Year Picnics

  • Graduation

Activity Unit

  • Transportation: air, land water

  • Mother’s Day Teas, “entertainment”

  • Summer

  • Graduation

Religion Guide

  • Old Testament Stories

  • God’s Gifts:

  • Seasons and weather

Fours

Four year old classes follow a letter of the week format. They start with the letter “A” and work their way through the alphabet. The teachers plan stories, art activities and even snack with the letter in mind, with the emphasis on letter recognition and sound.