SECOND GRADE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

LANGUAGE ARTS

Language arts skills are basic to education. The main goal and purpose of the language arts skills is to improve communication skills.  These skill areas include thinking, listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Students will also be challenged through regular classroom instruction, to develop processes for critical and creative thinking skills. The five areas of concentration are productive thinking, communication, forecasting, decision-making and planning.

SPELLING/PHONICS

Students will be introduced to and will work toward mastery of spelling skills that will provide the student with the tools needed to master a basic list of words.  These words are derived from assigned spelling list, literature experiences, and special units of study. The primary program used for spelling and phonics is Discovery Spelling. This program promotes the formal teaching of reliable patterns and rules, which enables students to spell a high percentage of English words without memorization.  This program will be supplemented with the addition of high-frequency writing words from the Spelling Sourcebook Series. Students will have experience in using dictionaries and other reference materials and arranging words alphabetically.

 LITERATURE - READING

Our integrated reading program uses the Open Court Collections for Young Scholars, which combines a systematic, structured phonemic awareness and phonics program through rich experiences with quality literature.  Each unit in the reading anthology centers on an important subject and explores concepts, which will provide the students with many opportunities for reading, discussing, exploring, and writing.  An independent reading program as well as chapter books compliment our program. Comprehension skills are gained through extending activities, questions and answers, predicting and problem solving situations.  Students will distinguish between fact and fantasy and between fiction and non-fiction. Using stories, poems, and plays, students will develop an appreciation of good literature through listening, reading, and responding creatively.

The Accelerated Reader Program and SRA will be used to enhance classroom as well as outside reading.

HANDWRITING

Students will work toward mastery of all upper and lower case letters in manuscript through the Hand Writing Without Tears program.  Emphasis is on the proper formation of the manuscript style, uniformity and correct spacing (for those developmentally ready). We do not present cursive in second grade.  

SPEAKING

Student will enhance speaking skills through participation in class discussions, expressing opinions and ideas, and giving simple oral book reports. Students will also have opportunities to participate in dramatic presentations and chapel responses.  Emphasis is on nurturing and developing fluent, organized, and meaningful oral expression.

GRAMMAR

Instruction will be given in the basic writing skills of creating complete sentences and simple paragraphs and in the practical application of these skills.  Students will identify and use the basic parts of speech, identify and write declarative and interrogative sentences, and identify the subject and predicate in a sentence.   We use the Basic English Skills Book for grammar skills practice.

COMPOSITION

Students will be involved with many experiences in written expression. Students are continually doing creative writing using journals and extended literature activities.  As their written expression develops, emphasis will be placed on sentence order and function, on development of basic paragraphs and basic elements of story writing, and on creative responses. Students will write brief book reports, stories, and poetry and will be introduced to the use of a glossary, a dictionary, and an encyclopedia.

MATH:

The second grade math program uses Everyday Mathematics, a rigorous curriculum that has been extensively researched and proven to build students’ mathematical knowledge from the basics to higher-order thinking and critical problem solving.  This program is supplemented by Rocket Math (basic facts program). Students participate in a daily class math meeting, number facts practice, written practice, and homework.  There will be oral and written assessments. The Second Grade Math Program covers a broad range of mathematical content, in addition to numbers and arithmetic.  Our math program emphasizes study in the following content strand, skills, and concepts: Numeration, Operations and Computation, Data and Chance, Geometry, Measurement and Reference Frames, Patterns, Functions, and Algebra.  It is our goal at the Second Grade level to develop a strong foundation in the language and basic concept of mathematics. 

SOCIAL STUDIES/HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY:

Students will explore their role as individuals in their community and country.  They will be introduced to the history of our nation through studying units on Native Americans, settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth, the Pioneers, Famous Americans, American holidays, and famous American landmarks.  Students will experience a combination of social studies and geography using The Map Essential skills book by National Geographic and other geography and history resource materials.  They will explore map skills, continents, and major bodies of water and will learn about using our natural resources.  Students will study units on ancient Egypt, Alaska and Hawaii.  Students will also participate in weekly discussions of current events.

SCIENCE:

St. Mary’s science curriculum is a hands-on approach to learning the fundamental processes of science. Through direct laboratory, classroom and outdoor experiences, students will be exposed to observing, measuring, recording, classifying, interpreting, analyzing, inferring, predicting, and investigating. The second grade science curriculum will focus on the earth/space, life and physical sciences and has been developed with the National Science Education Standards as its foundation. Hands on Elementary Science, AIMS, and Delta Science Modules have been used in the development of activities and learning experiences. The topics covered include: weather, seasons, plants, habitats, insects, matter and simple machines. Students will be responsible for participation in outdoor education, conducting lab investigations, keeping lab notebooks and completing various assessments throughout the year.

RELIGION:

The students will attend Chapel twice weekly and actively participate in the service.  The Chapel curriculum is derived from the BIBLE and The Book of Common Prayer.  The Wednesday elementary chapel will use The Book of Common Prayer and the focus will be on the Lectionary Readings.  The Monday morning chapel services are taken from The Book of Common Prayer Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families. This devotion follows the basic structure of the Daily Office of the Church.  Portions of Psalms, scripture readings and collects (prayers) are read at this service in addition to The Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed.  A time for prayer is provided as well as a time for singing.  Core value traits are used to develop positive, healthy and spiritual students. 

SECOND GRADE SPECIALS

SPANISH:

Welcome to the world of foreign-language learning at St. Mary’s School! Second graders attend Spanish class twice a week to build upon reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Our core curriculum follows themes and exercises from the textbook Teach Them Spanish by Winnie Waltzer-Hackett. Games, creative dialogues, songs, and poems are fun ways that we build upon and reinforce new vocabulary and grammar points.

At least once a month, we highlight regions and/or celebrations of special importance to the Spanish-speaking world. Supplementary readings, documentary videos, traditional music, and guest speakers are all “windows” through which our students expand their worldview in Spanish class. Through foreign language education at the elementary level, our students grow in their awareness of and respect for other people, cultures, and traditions.

FINE ARTS:

• Students will experience rhythm, pitch, elements of basic music theory & notation, and a variety of singing and movement activities using the Orff Schulwerk approach. Students will learn about orchestral families, composers and their music, explore cultural music, experience performance opportunities and have hands on instrument experience.
• Regular art classes include experiences in drawing and painting, basic art techniques, imagery and guided art and 3-dimensional art. Various art activities will be incorporated into the regular classroom curriculum as well.  
• St. Mary’s second graders will also participate in literature enrichment and library skills work during library time.

PHYSICAL EDUCATON:

Our PE program provides the learner with unique fundamental knowledge, interaction, and physical skills appropriate for each age level.  Our units consist of drills, exercise, physical activities and games. Units are as follows: perceptual-motor development, President’s fitness challenge, dance & movement, archery, relays, volleyball, jogging and cross country. Our goal is to equip the students with knowledge and a desire for lifelong physical activity. Students are encouraged to engage in physical activity outside of the classroom through various forms of team sports and exercise.

COMPUTER EDUCATION:

Students will have the opportunities to work in the computer lab and experience a variety of age appropriate software and internet sites to enrich and compliment classroom learning.  The primary objectives and goals for the computer education at this level will be: proper care and use of hardware and software, internet unit, basics of Windows XP, introduction to word processing and publishing programs.

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