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Second Grade Curriculum Summary

Reading/Spelling

Trophies Reading Curriculum: Harcourt School Publishers
Phonics; Modern Curriculum Press         Spelling; Modern Curriculum Press

Students apply the knowledge of phonics, syllabication and word parts to read fluently. They comprehend and analyze grade level text and are able to advance through “literature circles”. Students distinguish the literary terms: theme, plot, setting and characters. They use titles, table of contents and chapter headings to locate information in expository text. Reading and spelling become more complex.

Language Art/Writing

Language; Harcourt School Publishers   Handwriting; Zaner-Bloser

Students distinguish between complete and incomplete sentences. They recognize and use the correct word order in written sentences. They identify and correctly use various parts of speech, including nouns and verbs, adjectives, etc. Students deliver brief recitations and oral presentations about familiar experiences or topics of interest. They become proficient readers and writers through our program.

Mathematics

Mathematics-California Edition, McGraw Hill Publishers

Students understand the properties of addition, subtraction and use simple multiplication. They measure quantities with appropriate units. They classify shapes and see relationships among them by paying attention to their geometric attributes. They collect and analyze data and verify the answers. Students understand the relationship between quantities and place values up to 1,000.

Social Studies

People Together-Adventures in Time and Place; McGraw Hill Publishers

Students explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their everyday lives. They learn the stories of extraordinary people in history. They demonstrate map skills by locating objects on a simple number-letter grid.. Students understand basic economic concepts and their role in the economy.

Science/Health       

Science, Macmillan/McGraw Hill Publishers

Students understand that objects can be observed and measured. They learn that plans and animals have life cycles. They understand that the Earth has distinct properties and provides resources for human activities. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and by conducting careful investigation. The Second grader learns to construct bar graphs to record data and to organize their observation into chronological sequence.

Enrichment Curriculum

• The Visual Arts Curriculum – Students continue to expand their understanding of the elements of art. They begin to evaluate their own work and those of well known artists.
• Our Music Curriculum – students are able to complete music performances using half notes, quarter notes and rests. They analyze the role of musician in past and present culture.
• Spanish instruction  is given to students on a weekly basis. Student begin to speak in complete sentences with an emphasis on the written word.
• Physical Education  - Students demonstrate knowledge of movement concepts, principles and strategies that apply to learning and performance of physical activities. Students learn to improve their health and performance through physical activities.
• Computers are used to supplement and enhance our overall curriculum. Students learn, basic keyboarding skills, create projects and conduct web searches to gather information.
• A sense of community is created through our “LifeSkills” curriculum.  The five “Lifelong Guidelines” provide consistent parameters and expectations of conduct not only in our classroom, but in our world.
• The development of skills in Second Grade is reflected in the year’s collection of: Progress Reports, Weekly folders and Report Cards provided to parents throughout the Second Grade year.

September 2009