Second Grade

Language Arts:

The Second Grade curriculum continues many of the basic reading skills taught in First Grade. The main focus is on skills that help the students use the reading process more effectively through word attack skills, basic phonics, simple structural analysis and sight words. Wide ranges of texts are used and strategies are explored for constructing meaning from the texts. Characteristics of a variety of literary forms are observed. The results of these skills will be student application to practical situations. Listening, reading, and speaking skills are modeled and enhanced through skill related opportunities across the curriculum.

Writing processes are further developed through sentence, paragraph, and story writing techniques. Conventions of capitalization and punctuation are emphasized. These skills are reviewed daily through written communication of students’ ideas and information.

Language is further developed through a broadened vocabulary, correct grammar and usage, and knowledge of basic parts of speech. Cursive writing is introduced and used daily by the end of the Second Grade.

Texts:

• Invitations to Literacy (Houghton Mifflin, 2006)
• * Adventures
• * Delights

Supplemental Materials:

Series workbooks, assessments, and trade books.

Methods:

The Reading series has a strong phonics approach. Opportunities for oral reading are frequent, through reading groups, individual readings, echo reading, choral reading, and plays. Comprehension skills are built through discussions and various worksheets. Personal dictionaries are built during the year that begin with high frequency words and later include student requested words. Spelling is combined with the phonic skills as they are developed.

Mathematics:

Second Grade Math builds on the concepts previously learned. Numbers up to 1000 are explored. Basic addition and subtractions skills are developed using place value and regrouping as needed. Basic metric and customary measurements are explored for length, weight, time, temperature and capacity. Basic geometric shapes are identified. Skills are strengthened in fractions, money, probability and estimation. Multiplication and division are introduced.

Text:

• Everyday Mathematics (SRA/McGraw-Hill 2004)

Supplemental Materials:

• Series workbooks, assorted manipulatives, and games.

Methods:

Formal daily lessons help students develop the mathematical skills for this curriculum using games, manipulatives, and worksheets. Math concepts such as graphs, estimation, computation, and measurement are integrated into all areas of the curriculum both formally and informally throughout the year.

Social Studies:

Second Grade social studies helps the students appreciate the past events and people that contributed to our history and helps them to understand the social world around us. Map and globe skills are strengthened. Past, present and worldwide communities are studied. Basics of our government, our country’s symbols, holidays and natural resource conservation are reviewed.

Text:

• Making a Difference (Harcourt Brace, 2002)

Methods:

Formalized study in the curriculum areas are enhanced with art activities, filmstrips, trade books, and field trips. Social Studies is taught across the curriculum with an emphasis on map skills and application to daily living.

Science and Health:

Science is an activity-based subject that develops science process skills and explores science concepts based upon the assumption of a Universe created by God. These concepts include the human body, animals, insects, plant life, laws of motion, properties of weather and the Solar System. Other science concepts are integrated into the overall curriculum. Health discusses how students should take care of their bodies, the use of good manners and the importance of personal safety.

Texts:

• Enjoying God’s World 3rd ed. (A Beka 1996)
• Health, Safety, & Manners 3rd ed. (A Beka 2006)

Supplemental Materials:

• Videos, computer software (tutorials, virtual experiments and simulations), science equipment appropriate for biological, physical and chemical investigation of the world.

Methods:

The class explores individual units through demonstrations, hands-on activities, discussions, observations and field trips. God’s involvement with His creation and its inhabitants is a focus of the Second Grade science curriculum and as such is regularly explored and discussed.

Bible:

The curriculum for Second Grade Bible is designed to survey a chronological history of the Bible with application to our daily lives. Topics and stories studied in Second Grade are approached in greater depth in grades three through five. The primary purpose of the survey is to give students the overall impression of how the Bible fits together.

Texts:

• Holy Bible
• Egermeier’s Bible Story Book

Methods:

Chronological history of the Bible is taught using read-aloud and class discussion. Emphasis is given on application of the lessons to our personal lives. Daily Bible stories are read and discussed in an emotionally safe and nourishing environment. Students’ thoughts and questions are encouraged. Respect is taught for each individual’s feelings.