Second Grade
 
Our goal in second grade is to develop good work-study skills that will empower students to become self-directed, creative, life-long learners and responsible citizens.
 
Integrated Core
 
In Integrated Core, children are instructed in Language Arts, Social Studies, Health and Science. Social Studies and Science concepts are integrated into the reading selections whenever possible. We believe that students learn best when disciplines are integrated.
 
A. Language Arts - Our goal in Language Arts is to foster a love for reading, increase facility with written expression, and strengthen children's ability in verbal communication. We individualize our program as much as possible to meet the needs of all our students. When appropriate, we regroup for the teaching of specific skills.
  • Reading - We read for a variety of purposes and from a variety of sources. Our primary basal series is published by Houghton-Mifflin. Along with this series, we utilize many other reading curricula, such as book sets and skill work materials.
  • Grammar - We introduce and study grammar through individual writing, reading and on-going class lessons.
  • Spelling - The second grade spelling program consists of both word patterns, phonics, and decoding strategies.  Included in the weekly lists are content-related vocabulary and frequently misspelled words in writing. 
  • Creative Writing - Every teacher on the team emphasizes and encourages creative writing activities. We spend a considerable amount of time on these activities, focusing on the process of writing, which includes pre-writing, composing, reflecting, revising and editing.
  • Literature - We read to the children and discuss the literary works recommended for developing appreciation and critical thinking at their level. Our reference is the district's literature program. Areas taught in literature include Folk Tales, Fanciful Tales, Animal Tales, Poetry, Adventure, Fables, Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction.
Each class meets regularly with the Media Specialist to learn and reinforce specific literary skills.
 
B. Social Studies units for this year consist of Ancient Times/Dinosaurs, Ancient China, Exploration/Immigration, and Flight.
 
C. Science units are Soils, Changes, Balancing and Weighing, and Life Cycle of the Butterfly.
 
D. Health units are Safety, Care of the Body, Drug and Alcohol Awareness, and Family Life.
 
E. Applied Technology – To extend our students' experiences in all subject areas through the use of computers, all children receive instruction by the Applied Technology teacher.
 
Mathematics
 
We use a variety of textbooks and supplemental materials in our math classes. The Scott Foresman/Addison Wesley series is being used. As in reading, there are specific objectives to be mastered at each grade level. One of our goals is to develop a firm understanding of the basic operations of addition and subtraction. We explore various concepts, including Place Value, Number Theory, Geometry, Fractions, Time, Measurement, and Problem Solving. When time permits, your children will have their math concepts reinforced through games and learning centers. Computers are also used for reinforcement of skills.