Second grade is a very big year for our students, both academically and spiritually.  Spiritually, we look to help foster an understanding of their Catholic identity as they prepare for Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist.  Academically, it is important to recognize where the second graders enter and to push them to reach their full potential in all areas of learning throughout the year.

Second Grade Curriculum

Religion

Students learn about God’s love through classroom experiences, weekly attendance at Mass, weekly participation in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, daily prayer and using our Blest Are We daily religion program materials.  The second graders focus on the liturgical seasons along with the three sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist.  The children also learn to listen to their instincts to keep safe in life and on the internet through the Child Lures program instruction.

Language Arts

We use the SRA Imagine It Reading Program which is a researched based, comprehensive program.  The program includes daily activities in phonemic awareness, comprehension and language arts.  The phonemic awareness component includes understanding how to use the sound spelling cards along with building on their knowledge of rhyme and letter sound fluency.  The children are introduced to blending and making words as well as a comprehension component that gives students wonderful literature and expository text that enables them to learn several strategies to enhance understanding.  The language arts component includes grammar, writing and spelling.

Math

We use Pearson’s enVisions Math Program.  This program uses a wide variety of hands on materials and resources such as manipulatives, scales and center games.  It also uses online visuals and interactive stories to help students understand the different math concepts being taught along with writing.  The second grade focuses on adding and subtracting fluently, regrouping, measurement, time, money and an introduction of multiplication.  We also use rocket math as a supplement for practicing basic facts in addition, subtraction and even multiplication.

Science

Second grade science introduces students to the scientific method.  The children learn necessary questions to ask and answer scientific questions by observation and experiments.  Matter is another concept covered in second grade.  The children learn about the states of matter and matter measurement.  Plant life is another topic covered.  We study plant needs and the different ways that plants grow and reproduce.   The students become familiar with landforms throughout the Earth and how they were formed, as well as how the water cycle works.   Students conduct simple experiments in class and take relevant field trips to give them real life examples.

Social Studies

Students are introduced to five main topics:  communities, maps and landforms, government and citizens, economics and history.  When we learn about communities, we discuss what a community is and the characteristics that make up a community.  When we are teaching the concept of community we use the Flat Stanley books and character to understand that our community is different from others around our country and the world in many different ways.  In learning about maps and landforms, the students learn how to properly use all map components and learn about all the different types of landforms there are.  The students learn about our government and what good citizens should do.  Economics is a study of goods, services, businesses and resources. The history component teaches the students about communities of the past that have helped to shape the present.

Handwriting

The Handwriting Without Tears program in second grade keeps the students practicing the skills they have learned the past two years.

Workshop

This is a learning opportunity during the day that is student driven and reinforces skills learned in the lessons taught during the day.