What can you expect from your second grader? Second grade is a stepping stone that gently bridges the gap between first and third grade both socially and academically. Students at this age make great strides in learning about themselves and the world around them. Friendships are developed and maintained and learning becomes more in depth. Second graders continue to build confidence in their abilities, increase their independence and have a thirst for learning!
Students spend a good portion of their academic day engaged in various Language Arts components. Under this heading are the subjects reading, writing, and word study. These three areas are intertwined to maximize growth for students to become strong and proficient communicators.
In reading, students focus on improving their fluency, perfecting their accuracy and deepening their comprehension skills. Whole group and small group instruction are two approaches used to help students achieve in the area of reading. Reading strategies are taught and reinforced each nine weeks in both whole group and small group settings. Students have opportunities for self-selected reading, as well as reading across the curriculum.
Individual D.R.A. tests and county Benchmark tests are given quarterly to assess students in order to see their growth throughout the year.
Writing encompasses the areas of grammar and the process of writing. Second graders use the six traits of writing to help understand the process of writing. Students are building upon the foundation they have mastered and are applying skills to their written pieces. Rubrics are tools used to help students understand what needs to be developed in their works and also reinforces what they have successfully achieved in this area. Writing complete sentences, questions, friendly letters and short stories with a beginning, middle and ending are just a few topics your second grader will work on.
Word Study is the third focus in the area of Language Arts. A standard word assessment is given at the beginning of the year to all students and then each child is taught according to their skill level. Word patterns through the use of phonics and phonemic awareness is the focus for this area. Activities used to master the patterns include sorts, alphabetical order, dictionary skills, word games, and weekly tests. Students continue to be assessed throughout the course of the year to see the progress they are making.
All three areas of language arts build upon each other in order for second graders to become proficient communicators, readers, writers and speakers.
Math at this level continues to build upon the foundation already set. Students begin to understand number relationships and use fact families and turn around facts to help with addition and subtraction skills. Gradually throughout the year students move towards regrouping with two and three-digit numbers. Making comparisons with numbers and graphing continues to be a focus. Using calendars, telling time, measurement and counting money are real world applications taught at this level. Students develop a deeper understanding of patterns, functions and even algebra as they move through the year. Understanding parts of a whole and breaking down fractional parts is yet another skill presented. Throughout each unit problem solving strategies are discussed, applied and utilized. Students are given opportunities to explore mathematics using hands-on tools. They are also encouraged to think about the many ways to problem solve and find solutions. Second graders get a little taste of just about every math concept ranging including geometry and algebra! Mastering math facts is essential for continual growth. Daily practice is always encouraged.
The standards in second grade continue to stress utilizing a broad range of skills to understand our natural world. Students make observations, use-hands-on learning, make predictions, experiment and use data to help validate information. As students learn about magnets they will realize that natural and artificial magnets attract and repel certain types of metals. The study of the life cycles of animals, plants and living systems is introduced through living and non-living things and their habitats. Students begin to understand the interdependence of these living systems. Change is another focus as students explore phases in matter, weather, seasons, seasonal effects on plants, and animals. Fossils are also studied and students become aware that they provide information about the various living systems that were on Earth long ago. Students learn about storms and how weather instruments are used. They also learn how to track weather using data over a period of time. Students will use scientific investigation, reasoning, logic and begin to think like a scientist as they learn about the natural world around them.
Students in the second grade will focus on many aspects of the world around them and understand the foundations of various civilzations. Comparisons between the ancient civilizations of Egypt and China help students understand interrelationships and the contributions of these early groups of people. First Americans are also a topic of focus so students can compare and contrast the lifestyles and contributions of these cultures. Second graders will study the lives of former Americans who have helped shape the world in order to improve the lives of future Americans. The basics of geography, civics and economics are presented at this level and are then applied to the study of the the ancient cultures of first Americans, as well as, the civilizations of Egypt and China. Students will use hands on activities, technology,and research in order to compare, contrast and explore the rich history presented at this level.
