Welcome To Second Grade

The second grade curriculum is composed of the traditional language arts, mathematics instructional programs, and a series of multi-subject units. These include the study of apples, culminated by an all-school Apple Festival sponsored by the second grade, a career unit which includes establishing and running a school postal service, and a unit on feelings which features a special tribute to mothers with a Mother's Day Breakfast featuring poetry, original stories and songs. Each of these units is composed of concepts and activities that reinforce the mastering of math, reading, writing, social studies and problem-solving skills.

The second graders eagerly look forward to our unit on careers. We begin by establishing and operating a postal service for the school during the month of February. Hallways are named as streets, numbers are assigned to rooms and offices, and a directory is compiled and distributed throughout the school. Postal jobs are performed by the children as they sell handmade stamps, collect mail, cancel stamps, and sort and deliver properly addressed letters to the appropriate mailboxes. Money earned from the post office is used for a community service project.

While the children are learning to run a business, parents are invited to come to the second grade to tell about their careers and to be interviewed by the students. Information gathered is recorded in their special journals. The students also read and write about careers that are of interest to them and give some thought to careers for themselves in the future.

Second grade at Meadowbrook School is an exciting learning experience for all. Our philosophy is that "What you learn with pleasure you never forget."

Language Arts Philosophy

The second grade language arts curriculum builds upon the language arts skills presented at the first grade level. The second grade language arts program endeavors to develop and nurture a positive attitude through the discovery and enjoyment of reading, writing, speaking and listening. We strive to develop thoughtful and critical readers and writers.

Students learn word recognition through the study of long, short and irregular vowel sounds, consonants, consonant blends, consonant digraphs, and rhyming. They expand their vocabulary through the study of new words for basal stories and chapter books. Students develop word meanings through the study of synonyms, antonyms, prefixes, and suffixes. They learn to better understand stories using comprehension skills to inference, details, and compare and contrast. Through the study of characters, setting, main idea, problem, solution, and plot students learn to analyze fictional writing. Through the use of basal readers, chapter books, and library books students examine various authors, illustrators, and styles of written language. Students learn the structure of fairy tales.

Writing

Students learn sentence types and correct use of punctuation marks. They learn to use capital letters for proper nouns and at the beginning of sentences. Through the use of journals, students learn to organize their ideas. With the use of dictionaries, students are introduced to entry words, guide words, alphabetical order, and word meanings. Students learn the steps of the writing process. Through research reports and book reports, students learn to record information and to summarize. They learn the proper form of a letter and an addressed envelope. Students are introduced to cursive handwriting.

Speaking and Listening

Students present to the class their written stories, poetry and reports. Students present various information in assembly either as a group or individually. Through verbal experiences, students utilize comprehension skills. Through the use of audio tapes, students experience proper enunciation and expression. The use of puppets enables students to experience acting out a story, play or poem. Through the use of teacher read or taped novels, students appreciate literature as a listening experience. Students develop an understanding of poetry through daily recitation of the poem of the month.

Math

The second grade math curriculum builds on the skills taught in first grade. Students learn through a variety of hands-on materials to aid their concrete thinking. We follow the principles and standards set forth by the N.C.T.M., the Houghton-Mifflin mathematics series, and the various enrichment materials available in the classroom. We aim to provide opportunities for students to become proficient in the areas covered by the second grade curriculum and to produce students who can utilize problem-solving skills in their everyday life.

Social Studies

The second grade social studies curriculum develops an awareness of the self and others in the child's immediate world and in the community. By studying family structure, the school, and the community, the students understand the value of mutual respect, cooperation, and responsibilities within a group.

Special Events

Apple Festival

Students announce the date of the Apple Festival in assembly. This is through recitation of poetry, choral speaking or songs. Students create posters to advertise the upcoming Apple Festival. Students taste various kinds of apples and use adjectives to record their responses. Students create a cinquain poem about apples. A description and personal response to the Apple Festival is written by each student

School Post Office

Students practice using alphabetical order when creating and using the class-made directories. Students categorize when sorting mail. Students address envelopes and write letters using correct form. Students read addresses when delivering mail. Students gain experience in public speaking when announcing the event in assembly.

Mother's Day Breakfast

Students write about their mothers and present their stories to them. Poems are memorized and recited as choral speaking.