Second Grade Curriculum

EVERYDAY MATH

This year in Everyday Math, the students will be computing, looking for patterns, understanding place value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands), problem solving, estimating, gathering data, and using information from tables and graphs. They will be introduced to fractions, geometry, reference frames (What's My Rule, Frames and Arrows), and reading writing and counting 6 digit numbers.  Skills that might need extra practice at home are:  telling time to the quarter hour and five minute intervals, counting money and making change from a dollar.  A variety of algorithms will be taught to solve 2 or 3 digit addition and subtraction problems.  Games and explorations round out the program and make math lessons enjoyable. 

MATH FACTS

Strategies for addition and subtraction facts will be presented and practiced.  Weekly timed tests are administered for practice and mastery.  See our second grade websites for free math sheets to download and for online practice, as well. The 100 fact test addition and subtraction grading criteria is as follows:

First Trimester  Addition- 7 minutes

• 98-100-E
• 85-97  -M
• 0-84    -R

Second Trimester Addition- 6 minutes

• 98-100-E
• 85-97  -M
• 0-84    -R

Second Trimester Subtraction 7 minutes

• 98-100-E
• 65-97  -M
• 0-64    -R

Third Trimester Addition -5 minutes

• 98-100-E
• 90-97  -M
• 0-89    -R

Third Trimester Subtraction -6 minutes

• 98-100-E
• 65-97  -M
• 0-64    -R

READING

We use Reading Street, published by Scott Foresman as our reading curriculum. This program was adopted in the 2008-2009 school year.   It is a fully integrated reading and language arts program, including phonics, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, writing, proofreading, and supported by various types of literature.  High-quality trade-book literature can be found in the two anthologies the children use.  New vocabulary, reading skills and strategies are introduced in each story.  Graphic organizers, practice book pages and supplemental worksheets are assigned to further practice and increase the children's decoding and comprehension skills.  Students will also have many opportunities to work in small groups.  Some activities they may complete during this time include literacy centers and guided reading instruction.  The children will also participate in activities such as listening to reading, reading with a partner, reading to self, writing, responding to reading, and spelling/word work.  Additionally about every six weeks students will take an on-line assessment that gages their reading growth thus far.  This information will help us tailor reading instruction to best meet your child's needs and help you discover ways to encourage and promote reading growth at home.

WRITING

Writing is daily  in second grade.  Second graders are becoming confident in their ability to write and spell the words they use.  Students will be using the integrated writing curriculum within the Reading Street program which incorporates the 6 Traits of Writing:  Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. Students will also practice using their spelling resources, grammar and research skills, graphic organizers, proofreading/editing skills, and word processing skills.  Students will practice writing creatively and also in the three forms of writing:  Narrative, Persuasive, and Expository  using the writing process.

SCIENCE & HEALTH

Science is taught through hands-on experiments, supplementary text, and trade books.  We will visit 3 main units in science: Electricity, Human Body, and Plants.  Along with these units will also visit our health curriculum which includes nutrition, exercise and fitness, and safety.

SOCIAL STUDIES

There are six  main units we will study throughout the course of this year.

• 1-Living in a Community  -community structure
• 2-Our Government -local, state, and federal government/citizenship,
• 3-Looking at the Earth -map and globe skills
• 4-Learn about People -family heritage and cultures
• Past and Present -city, country and world history, Elmhurst history
• People at Work -economics  Junior Achievement Program