Welcome to
the Second Grade Curriculum Page!
Second grade is an
exciting year for growth and learning opportunities. The teachers
enjoy working not only with the students, but with their families, in order
to make each child's school experience a success.
Second Grade Language Arts
- Reading -
Our goal in reading instruction is to help students become strategic
readers. Students will decode unknown words, read for meaning, and
read fluently. A variety of materials are used including a reading
anthology, novels, magazines, and trade books. Each child will be
part of many different literacy settings, which may be whole group,
ability group, or interest group.
Some of the strategies you may notice your child using
are:
-connecting known to new
-determining importance
-asking questions
-forming sensory images
-synthesizing ideas
-inferring meaning
-solving reading problems
- Writing -
In second grade we work on communicating thoughts and ideas through
writing. We want children to feel comfortable with their writing.
If children are always concerned with conventions they are sometimes
reluctant to try to express themselves in new and interesting ways.
Once the ideas are flowing, we will begin to place more importance on
mechanics.
During Writing Workshop we introduce the conventions of
writing. Here the students learn the process of writing which
includes:
Prewriting: Getting ideas formed
Drafting: Getting those ideas down on paper
Revising: Changing and adding ideas and words
Editing: Correcting spelling, punctuation, and grammar
Conferencing: Meeting individually with the teacher for
directed writing
instruction
Publishing: Creating and sharing a perfect end product
- Spelling -
Our formal spelling instruction includes:
Word Wall: Words that are found to be commonly
misspelled and don't fit standard spelling patterns are hung on the word
wall. Once a word has been discussed, practiced, and hung on the
wall the students are expected to spell it correctly in their work.
Making Words: This is where a majority of phonics
instruction takes place. Children manipulate letter cards to spell
words. This guided activity has children using letter sounds and
spelling patterns.
Spelling Lists: Formal spelling lists are given on a
weekly bases. These lists come from the Zaner-Bloser spelling
series, Spell It-Write!
- Speaking and
Listening- Friday Prepare and Share and Star of the Week are two
components of our curriculum which focus directly on speaking and
listening skills.
Friday Prepare and Share: On several Fridays
throughout the year the students are required to deliver a one minute
prepared speech on a given topic. The students come to
feel comfortable speaking in front of a safe and supportive audience.
Star of the Week: Each week one student is chosen
as the Star of the Week. This student will share pictures and
information about themselves in an oral presentation. The other
students use the information they hear to write the star student a letter.
This is an opportunity for each child to shine in special recognition.
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Second Grade Math
An inquiry approach
is used to teach math.
- Students spend
time exploring problems in depth.
- They find more
than one solution to many of the problems they work on.
- They invent
their own strategies and approaches, rather than rely on memorized
procedures.
- They chose from
a variety of concrete materials and appropriate technology, including
calculators, as a natural part of their every day math work.
- They express
their mathematical thinking through drawing, writing, and thinking.
- They work in a
variety of groupings-as a whole class, individually, in pairs, and in
small groups.
- They move
around the classroom as they explore the mathematics in their
environment and talk with their peers.
The important
life skills of telling time and counting coins are also taught in
second grade.
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Second Grade Science
There are three areas
of science that we explore. They are Natural Science, Physical
Science, and Earth Science. Through "hands-on" exploration and
activities the children construct knowledge of the universe. Some of
the scientific skills the children will practice are; identifying, hypothesizing,
classifying, comparing, and communicating by completing an experimental
design sheet. This sheet takes the students through the steps of the
scientific process.
Our units include:
- Natural
Science: Butterflies
- Physical
Science: Sink and Float
- Earth
Science: Star Lab/ Space
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Second Grade Social Science
The key goal of
District 203's social science curriculum is to prepare students to become
responsible citizens. Second grade's key theme is communities:
how communities change, how the environment affects the communities, and the
relationships within a community. The curriculum provides an
integrated study of the five perspectives of the social science. The
perspectives are historical, economic, political, geographic, and behavioral
sciences. The curriculum takes a global perspective taking the
children beyond their immediate environment by visiting other places in the
world to develop social studies concepts. In second grade some of the
places students may explore are: Naperville, Australia, or Egypt.
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Second Grade
Health
The purpose of the
health curriculum is to help children learn to make informed decisions
relating to their own health and wellness. In second grade we look at
personal health and the prevention and control of diseases.
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