Their self-esteem grows by being responsible for their own assignments and materials, and by organizing and completing their own projects. They become more independent readers as they develop mature literacy skills and the tools to explore varied genres of literature. Second Graders also apply sophisticated word study techniques, and develop "authorship." Students also become more independent thinkers as they constantly relate mathematical principles to the world.
The overall goal of the language arts program is to develop confident and independent readers and writers who take pride in their abilities and experience joy in sharing their accomplishments with each other and the larger school community. Additionally, we stress the importance of a balanced program determined by each student's individual skill level. Fluency and comprehension are at the core of reading development.
Best reading practices are taught and implemented in environments that support, enhance and reinforce those practices, as well as nurture students' natural abilities and learning styles. Students meet regularly in guided reading groups to practice strategies to improve decoding, fluency and comprehension. Our writing program emphasizes a free flow of student ideas without the anxiety of making spelling errors. Students are encouraged to sound out words and write them, just as they would sound them out to read. Student work goes through the writing process: planning, drafting, revision, editing, and publishing. During the revision stage, students are expected to spell grade-level words correctly. Students confer with their teachers often, and at all stages of the writing process. As confidence builds, the Six Traits of good writing (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions) are introduced for students to learn how to deepen their own writing practices. The Writing Workshop provides further opportunity for a literature-rich environment, as the published works of our own students are used as Read Alouds to demonstrate good writing and authorship.
The goal in Second Grade mathematics is to develop fluency in basic computation and an understanding of grade-level mathematical concepts. Students are taught to be mathematical problem solvers who can readily recognize basic problems and find solutions. Students communicate, reason, and make connections between mathematical ideas and their lives. They measure quantities with appropriate units. They classify and see relationships among shapes by paying attention to the elements that compose them. They collect and analyze data and verify answers. Fundamental skills are taught and supplemented, while students expand upon these skills and relate them to practical use. By the end of Second Grade, students have been taught to understand place value and number relationships through more complex addition and subtraction problems, including regrouping with carrying and borrowing.
Within our social studies curriculum, Second Graders explore the lives of people who have made significant differences in the world. Students learn the stories of their ancestors and of extraordinary figures from history. Students develop an understanding and appreciation of similarities and differences, the interrelationship of people, and the connections between long ago and present times. The Multicultural Celebration, special guests, and field trips enhance their studies.