Grade 2

Hide All

Language Arts & Literature Hide

TEXTBOOKS

Open Court Level 2 and Sitton Spelling Level 2

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Continue to develop standard English grammar: Punctuation, Parts of Speech, and Various Writing Conventions
• Expand vocabulary for use in writing and oral communication
• Write using phonics for regular decodable spelling patterns
• Write from memory, non-decodable sight words
• Participate in shared, guided, and independent writing

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Grammar (Oral and Written)
• Pre-writing, drafting, editing, publishing
• Cross-curricular writing
• Writer’s Workshop (Independent creative writing)

GRADING POLICY

Grading will be based on both formal and informal assessments.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Occasional writing, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary assignments will be given.

Mathematics Hide

TEXTBOOKS

Everyday Math

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Learn addition and subtraction facts
• Understand place value, money and time
• Review and extend knowledge of whole number operations
• Learn decimals and fractions
• Learn patterns in counting in doubles, halves, and multiples

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Routines and assessments
• Mental arithmetic including addition and subtraction
• Three-dimensional and two-dimensional shapes
• Patterns and rules
• Linear measurement
• Perimeter and area
• Units of capacity and measuring weight
• Whole number operations revisited
• Year-end reviews and extensions

GRADING POLICY

Grades will be based on formal and informal assessments.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Four assignments are given as homework during the week (Homelinks).

Social Studies Hide

TEXTBOOK

Some People I Know – Houghton Mifflin

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Locate, organize, and evaluate information.
• Acquire information through listening, reading, and observing.
• Interpret graphs, pictures, and charts.
• Communicate orally and work with others.
• Learn about various cultures and perspectives.
• Apply problem-solving and critical thinking to social issues.
• Develop geography skills.
• Investigate, Research, and Write about famous events and figures in history.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Multicultural studies
• American heritage studies
• Recognition and celebration of cultural holidays
• Influential women in history

GRADING POLICY

Grades will be based on informal assessments.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Occasional Social Studies homework will be assigned. Extensive research and study will be required for the Influential Women unit in January and February.

Science Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Learn to predict, observe, and record data
• Study insects and spiders
• Learn about the ecological attributes of tide pools
• Study the properties of magnets and their effects on electricity
• Learn about the characteristics of weather
• Study our Earth and the basic features of our planet
• Learn about volcanoes and earthquakes

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Build knowledge from direct experience with the natural and human-made world
• Scientific Methodology
• Research through various forms of media.

GRADING POLICY

Grades will be based on informal assessment.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Occasional science homework assignments will be given.

Religion Hide

TEXTBOOKS

This Is Our Faith: Parish Program.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Learn the basic teachings about the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.
• Grow in their knowledge of God as a loving and forgiving father.
• Recognize the meaning and importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Learn about the Eucharist and its significance.
• Learn prayer is not only talking to God, but listening with your heart.
• Master prayers common to the Catholic Church.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Our Church celebrates Sacraments.
• We celebrate Reconciliation.
• Our Church gathers for Mass.
• Our Church celebrates the Eucharist.
• The Eucharist unites us and calls us to serve.

GRADING POLICY

Evaluation is based on the following criteria: individual participation, group interaction, performance on class projects, effort, and teacher observation.

HOMEWORK POLICY

The occasional memorization of common prayers will be required.

Art Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Gain enhanced self-confidence, self-expression, and divergent thinking.
• Be exposed to different art forms from around the world.
• Develop the senses in discerning aesthetics.
• Learn the language of art through understanding the artist and their work.
• Learn to use tools and materials competently and safely.
• Experience the personal satisfaction of creating art.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Recognition through exploration and observation.
• Attributes of the human figure including body form and action.
• Color variations within a hue.
• Composition pictures.
• Space, balance, and rhythm.
• Importance of emphasis.

GRADING POLICY

Evaluation will reflect personal effort and creative energy demonstrated in class and the student's ability to be self-directed in a less structured environment, as well as a student's general behavior.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no homework assigned in this class. Class time is generally sufficient for the completion of projects.

Music Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Develop an interest and love for making music through singing and movement.
• Gain an awareness of using their voice and body as a musical instrument.
• Learn and perform a repertoire of folk songs and singing games.
• Read and write simple notation.
• Learn musical concepts and notation through songs and musical games.
• Develop listening skills and aural memory.
• Gain an appreciation for classical music.
• Participate and perform in assemblies as needed.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Sequential introduction of musical elements and notation with the Kodály approach.
• Simple rhythmic elements and the pentatonic system and its extensions.
• Folk materials as basic repertoire.
• Traditional folk songs of America and other countries.
• Seasonal material.
• Songs that integrate with units in social studies or science.
• Simple percussion to complement children's singing and rhythm elements.

GRADING POLICY

Students are evaluated through their active participation in all music activities that include singing, moving, reading, writing, and attentive listening.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no assigned homework in this class.

Physical Education Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the importance of physical activity.
• Develop proficiency in physical skills.
• Develop vigor, endurance, strength, and body control, and motor skills.
• Learn agility in order to maintain a state of physical fitness.
• Develop safety awareness in all physical education activities.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Sports with team games.
• Cooperative, new, and recreational games.
• Rhythmic pattern games and large group simple games.
• Introduction to lead-up games.
• Rhythm, dance, and basic movement skills.
• Creative rhythms, jump rope skills and activities, and beginning aerobics.
• Gymnastics: movement/balance activities, simple tumbling, and beginning stunts.
• Physical fitness and health.
• Flexibility endurance and upper/lower body strength and agility.

GRADING POLICY

Grades rely heavily on participation, effort, and sportsmanship.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no homework for this class.

Computer Studies Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Explore a variety of software.
• Learn to manipulate Macintosh system components and school server.
• Create simple drawings and write simple stories and reports.
• Learn to use the basic features of spell check.
• Learn basic skills for editing, formatting, and composing on a computer.
• Learn basic operation skills for media such as CD.
• Learn basic skills for navigating Websites with supervision.
• Learn basic typing skills

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Activities that reinforce reading skills.
• Computer programs that target math patterning and counting skills.
• Problem solving strategies inherent in the Second Grade program.
• Basic skills training for the components of a computer and school server.
• Basic skills reinforcement for typing skills.
• Basic skills training in Web research.

GRADING POLICY

Instructors do not evaluate students on individual skills. Projects are planned carefully to integrate the work in the lab with the classroom curriculum. Any special comments are reflected in the classroom teacher’s communication with parents.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no assigned homework in this class.