3 - 5 years
Young Minds with a Bright Future
At MELA, we are passionate about helping little ones come into their own, starting from the tender age of three. Our primary communities cater to children aged three to five, with their long-term success at the heart of our approach.
Our classrooms are meticulously designed to engage children's inherent creativity, problem-solving abilities, and to stimulate their interest in art, science, and math. We also focus on developing their reasoning skills and promoting language development. Leveraging the Reggio Emilia Approach, we firmly believe in exposing each child to a diverse array of real-world sights, sounds, and experiences to enrich their learning journey.
Our classrooms are crafted to pique interest and spark curiosity across all areas of learning. They serve as a nurturing space where children can explore, discover, and grow at their own pace, guided by their curiosity and interests.
Emphasizing kindergarten readiness, we integrate state learning standards into our ongoing educational experiences primary learners. This approach aligns with the ten learning domains in the Texas Kindergarten guidelines, ensuring our curriculum is comprehensive and relevant.
At MELA, we understand that children's natural curiosity is their best learning tool. As such, we strive to nurture this inquisitiveness, fostering a lifelong love of learning that will serve them well beyond the classroom. Welcome to the MELA Primary communities, where we nurture young minds to become confident, creative, and compassionate future leaders.
Exploration Areas
Fostering Social and Emotional Growth
At MELA, we focus on helping children grow both socially and emotionally. These skills help children understand who they are and what they can do. They also help children participate better in class, become more independent in a healthy way, and learn to work well with others without overstepping boundaries. Simply put, we're here to help children develop essential life skills that will benefit them in and out of the classroom.
Building Language and Communication Skills
Real conversations started by children themselves can significantly improve their reading and writing skills. So, we ensure our students have plenty of chances throughout the day to explore and express themselves verbally. In other words, we encourage our students to talk, share, and communicate as much as they want to boost their language skills.
Exploring Reading and Storytelling
Understanding the sounds in words, also known as phonological awareness, is a big step toward becoming a good reader. Our lessons are designed based on research about how children learn these sounds. In short, we focus on helping children grasp the sounds in language to set them on the path to reading success.
Developing Fine Motor Skills and Writing
Children often start expressing themselves by drawing before they learn to write. This is the first step towards writing. As they grow, they start to 'pretend write' by copying what they see adults do. Simply put, we support children as they begin their journey from drawing to pretend writing and, eventually, actual writing.
Discovering Mathematics
Children naturally start to understand numbers and quantity before any formal teaching. That's why we don't limit math lessons to a specific time in preschool. Instead, we make learning about math a regular part of their day. In other words, we help children explore math in a natural and fun way.
Exploring Science and Sensory Learning
Children are naturally curious about the world. They love to sort things, make guesses, solve problems, compare stuff, and ask questions. That's why we make sure they get plenty of chances to explore and learn about the world around them in a hands-on way. In simple terms, we make learning science an exciting adventure.
Navigating Social Studies
Children are naturally curious about their world, starting from their family and extending to everything around them. They start understanding themselves better through social studies, which is the first step to learning about others and the wider world. In other words, we use social studies to help children explore their world and their place in it.
Celebrating Fine Arts
Our students love to explore different materials and learn about colors, shapes, textures, and sounds through art and music. These creative experiences bring joy and help them improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Simply put, we make art and music fun for children to grow and develop.
Encouraging Dramatic Expression
We believe in the power of creative drama, where children can freely express themselves in spontaneous performances. Engaging in pretend play boosts their communication skills and helps them learn to work together with others. We make dramatic expression a fun and important part of learning at MELA.
Fostering Physical Development
Physical activity does more than just keep children healthy. It also boosts their thinking skills, social skills, and self-esteem, especially when they play in groups. Free play outdoors, where children can run, jump, and explore, is an excellent way to develop their big and small muscles and senses. We encourage lots of active play to help children grow in every way.
Exciting Enrichment Classes
We offer daily enrichment classes for all our children that aim to help children grow and develop in all aspects. We focus on promoting a love for music, improving hand-eye coordination, introducing them to fine arts, and developing their language skills. Our goal is to nurture the "whole child" - helping them grow physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Our enrichment classes are all about making learning enjoyable and varied, ensuring every child gets a well-rounded experience. Classes include Yoga, Spanish/Mandarin/Sign Language, Zumbini, Music Together, Arts Alive, and Calvin Murphy’s Athletics.
Embracing the Hundred Languages of Children
In line with the Reggio Emilia approach, we believe children express themselves in "one hundred languages." The areas we've mentioned are just some of the ways our students learn. But in reality, learning happens in countless other ways each and every day. At MELA, we value and nurture all the diverse ways children express their curiosity and creativity.