Second Grade Overview
Building on a foundation of security and creativity, second graders are moving toward self-awareness and the subjective world of feeling: wonder, pity, joy, tenderness and sorrow. Each morning begins with verse: “The sun with loving light makes bright for me each day.” Circle time includes rhythmic counting, therapeutic movement and spirited speech development. Each body-mind integration is thoughtfully preparing students for traditional academic topics. When they feel the lesson, they internalize the lesson. Reading and writing is the crescendo of this year.
2nd Grade Curriculum at a Glance
MAIN LESSON BLOCKS
Language Arts: Legends of Courage
Math: Review of Operations & Introduction to Multiplication Tables
Language Arts: Legends & Fables
Math: Place Value & Adding/Subtracting in vertical format, without regrouping
Language Arts: Legends & Fables
Math: Adding and Subtracting in vertical format, with regrouping
Language Arts: King of Ireland’s Son & Cursive
Drama: The Play Block
2nd Grade Curriculum in Detail
LANGUAGE ARTS
Reading- Reading is practiced daily in main lesson with lessons around phonics, sight words, word families, etc. Children also practice reading in twice weekly reading groups where focus skills include reading aloud, reading comprehension, and sentence writing.
Spelling- Expanded work with phonics, word families, sight words, first spelling rules
Writing- Sentence writing and free renderings with attention to punctuation and capitalization
Vocabulary- New words are learned in the context of main lesson stories
Handwriting- Focus on correct formation of letters, spacing, and consistent form
Conventions-Proper use of upper/lowercase letters and intro to punctuation
Recitation- Daily speech work with recitation of poetry, verses, and circle exercises
Drama- Practice with public speaking, group recitation, and individual speaking opportunities
MATH
Main lesson blocks on place value, addition and subtraction with regrouping, and multiplication
Expanded practice with 4 processes using both horizontal and vertical math sentences
Counting and writing numbers up to 1000
Continued work with number patterns & math games
Addition Strategies: count-ons, doubles, neighbors, fast 10s, fast 9s, leftovers, combinations of 10 Subtraction Strategies: count-backs, comparisons, zeros, doubles, tens, nines, neighbors, leftovers
Times Tables 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 10s, starting from any multiple
Continued measuring work using non-standard measures
Introduction to reading and making graphs
GARDENING
Continued development of observation skills through nature walks
Learning about animal forms, qualities, & habitats through nature stories, fables, & nature observations
Living into the seasonal changes by doing hands-on projects
Cultivation of reverence of earth’s gifts through sustainable gardening
FORM DRAWING
Continued development of hand-eye coordination
More advanced spatial relationships
Crossing midline forms, symmetry
Handwriting practice
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: SPANISH & CHINESE
Through songs, poems, rhymes, games and movements, children begin to build vocabulary, develop good pronunciation, and oral comprehension.
Vocabulary development: Numbers 1-30, colors, alphabet, weather, things in nature & in the classroom
Speaking develops through repetition and recitations.
PAINTING
Continued work with primary colors
Introduction to working with form
GAMES
Cooperative circle and line games
Ball-handling skills
Motor skills and coordination through tumbling activities
Yoga
Continued work on social dynamics that arise through games
Sportsmanship
MUSIC
Simple folk melodies
Continued work with pentatonic flutes
Dance/movement while singing
Introduction to Orff instruments
HANDWORK
Continue basic knitting skills
Purl Stitch
Knitting increases and decreases
Project: Handwork bag – a very long project requiring a lot of perseverance!
