Welcome to Second Grade!
The Second Grade Team is thrilled to have you visit us. We have a great group of students this year! Please take a look at what we’re learning together!
Language Arts
The Language Arts program incorporates a variety of approaches that ensures as much success as possible for your child’s reading in both a whole-group and small-group setting and as well as individual progress. Research and experience dictate that when a child is provided with strategies for learning and thinking, he/she is able to choose and internalize what works best for him/her. Our program incorporates:
- Guided Reading
- Phonics skills instruction
- Reading strategies instruction
- Comprehension skills
- Information and study skills
- Spelling instruction
- Writing skills
- Grammar skills
- Listening and speaking skills
Houghton-Mifflin Legacy of Literacy Program: The reading program is built on a solid foundation of research and a tradition of proven programs that help students at every level become successful readers and writers. The Houghton-Mifflin reading program holds children’s literature in high regard and utilizes a variety of texts for different instructional purposes. Anthologies are provided at the whole group level while leveled books are used for small group guided reading. The program also provides a comprehensive assessment system and integrates technology to help students access, process, and create information.
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Program: Fluent manuscript writing is the aim of our handwriting program in second grade. This is achieved through continued practice of the manuscript letters in isolation as well as in context. The lower-case and upper-case letters are introduced and practiced individually. The letters are then written within sentences, paragraphs, riddles, and poems along with a variety of creative writing activities.
Mathematics
Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics is the program of study in second grade. Within each chapter, the children will learn problem-solving strategies and critical thinking skills. Manipulatives are also used to facilitate hands-on learning, and math journals are incorporated to demonstrate the child’s ability to communicate mathematically. There are twelve chapters. They include:
- Understanding Addition and Subtraction
- Facts and Strategies for Addition and Subtraction
- Place Value to 100 and Money
- Mental Math: Addition and Subtraction
- Two Digit Addition
- Two Digit Subtraction
- Geometry and Fractions
- Time, Data, and Graphs
- Measurement and Probability
- Numbers to 1,000
- Addition/and/Subtraction of Three Digit Numbers
- Understanding Multiplication and Division
Social Studies
The Scott Foresman Social Studies program introduces young readers to different facets of their neighborhood, community, state, and nation. Students learn that people live in different types of communities and that these communities provide services for people who live there. They also learn to recognize the responsibilities that individuals have within a community, state, and nation. The units/themes include:
- Unit 1: Where we Live
- Unit 4: Our Country Today
- Unit 2: Our Earth
- Unit 5: Our Country Long Ago
- Unit 3: Working Together
- Unit 6: People and Places in History
Science
Houghton Mifflin’s Science Discovery Works is a science program that provides a balance of exciting hands-on activities and engaging content resources. Science Discovery Works reflects the belief that effective science education gradually introduces students to the knowledge, methods, skills, and attitudes of scientists while simultaneously recognizing and respecting the educational and developmental needs of all students.
The three units of study at the second grade level include:
- Interaction of Living Things
- Energy in Motion
- Changes Over Time
Health
The second grade health program focuses on covering concepts that are appropriate for seven and eight-year old children. Topics covered in second grade include:
- Safety
- Nutrition
- Here’s Looking at You 2000 (Drug and Alcohol Education Awareness Program)