In second grade, the majority of children practice the skills learned in earlier grades and will begin to use these skills with ease.  Second-graders develop their abilities to apply these skills in more complex ways.  At various times during the year, Clover Hill second-graders use their newly acquired skills to complete children’s engineering projects and to solve problem based learning projects.  These projects provide opportunities for students to apply the knowledge which they have gained throughout the second grade year.

All second-grade teachers follow a balanced literacy framework for planning instruction.  By the completion of second grade, most students will be able to understand more advanced texts as they strive to become more fluent and accurate readers.  Writing is an important component of the balanced literacy program.  Children practice their written communication skills through various types of writing opportunities.  All classes follow the “Words Our Way” developmental spelling program which meets the individual needs of students.  Beginning in the second semester, second-graders learn cursive handwriting.

Second-grade math students review basic concepts and vocabulary.  Students are expected to master basic addition and subtraction facts to 18 for immediate recall.  A few of the concepts taught include graphing, place value to 999, addition and subtraction of two and three digit numbers with and without regrouping, measurement, geometry, and problem solving.

During the second-grade year, students broaden their knowledge of the world.  They begin the year learning citizenship, diversity, and map skills, including the continents and oceans. -The children study First Americans, famous Americans, and the ancient civilizations of Egypt and China.  During the final months of the school year, students study economics and changing communities.