What Will My Child Learn in Second Grade?

Our curriculum is based on the Massachusetts State Frameworks. The following are topics and standards addressed in Second Grade.

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Student Responsibilities
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
History and Social Science
Research

Student Responsibilities

Homework is required in second grade. Children need to take extra time to practice specific skills learned in school. It is an integral part of the curriculum. Homework is assigned in spelling, reading and math Mondays through Thursdays each week. Daily homework should take approximately 30-40 minutes. On a few occasions long term projects are assigned that usually relate to a specific thematic unit. Detailed guidelines and expectations will be sent home at that time. All homework is recorded as effort. It is essential for the children to learn that this important part of school is their responsibility. However, as teachers and parents we know they will need our help. Busy family schedules need to allow specific time for children to do their homework. It is helpful if they have a quiet area to work with as few distractions as possible. Good study habits are an investment that we need to help our children learn.

Specific expectations of Student Responsibilities include:

• Follows classroom rules
• Follows classroom routines
• Practices self-control
• Uses appropriate problem-solving strategies in social situations
• Sustains attention to work over a period of time
• Interacts and works cooperatively with peers
• Demonstrates cooperative attitude with adults
• Respects the rights and property of others
• Completes and returns class work on time
• Completes and returns homework on time
• Follows oral directions
• Follows written directions
• Presents neat and careful work
• Takes responsibility for own actions
• Works well independently
• Listens attentively
• Demonstrates organizational skills

English Language Arts

In second grade children will review skills previously taught in first grade with the focus on mastery. This will enable them to refine important reading strategies and apply them to independent reading situations. For the elementary grades the Franklin Public Schools utilize the anthology-based reading program by Harcourt Brace. It provides a balanced reading program incorporating instruction of skills and strategies of reading, traditional conventions of literacy including spelling and grammar, as well as important activities to encourage children to learn to love to read!

To enhance our instruction, we supplement the Harcourt Brace program with a variety of other quality literature Various trade books and selections from other anthologies will be used to complement our thematic units of study.

Children have daily opportunities to engage in independent reading. Students can select books from the school or classroom library or from home. Teachers will assist in determining that books are at the child’s appropriate level for independent reading.

To further enhance the enjoyment of reading, the second grade participates in the PIE Bookworm Buddy program. The children meet in small groups every other week with a PIE volunteer to read specific, teacher-selected literature.

Writing is integrated across the second grade curriculum. In addition, specific opportunities such as journal writing, writing centers, class research, individual writing assignments and published books are also provided. Writing allows the children to utilize and practice important skills. Free writing is encouraged to give the children a chance to work independently at various stages of writing.

Handwriting is reviewed during the first term of second grade. For those students requiring more specific attention, reinforcement activities from the Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Program are utilized.

Second grade spelling is correlated with the Harcourt Brace reading program. Weekly spelling words relate to the stories we have read and to specific reading skills being taught. (For instance, a list of words might consist of words with soft or hard c sounds, contractions or prefixes and suffixes.)

The children take a spelling pretest every Monday and bring home the week’s list of words on that day. Students who receive a 100% on the pretest will be assigned a different, more challenging list of words to study. Please look for the spelling list in your child’s Traveling Folder on Monday. We suggest that the list be kept in a place that is easily accessible for use with daily spelling assignments.

Written spelling homework will be assigned on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays to provide practice on the weekly list. You should plan to take some time on Thursday to review the words with your child for the final test on Friday. Also, it is helpful to create a set of cards with individual words for review throughout the year. Mastery is considered only when children are able to correctly spell the words in context.

Specific expectations in English Language Arts include:

Language
• Follows rules for discussion
• Uses strategies to identify word meaning




Reading and Literature
• Sounds out words
• Reads orally with fluency and expression
• Reads with comprehension
• Identifies characters, setting, and elements of plot
• Makes predictions about text
• Distinguishes cause and effect
• Identifies differences between fiction and non-fiction




Composition
• Writes a paragraph with topic sentence, details, and clincher
• Writes stories and narratives with a beginning, middle, and end
• Uses capitalization and punctuation appropriately
• Applies spelling skills in writing
• Prints upper and lowercase letters and numbers legibly

Mathematics

Our primary goal this year is to continue developing strong skills in mathematics. The foundation of our curriculum is Everyday Mathematics, a program developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. This program utilizes a format that specifically addresses the Massachusetts Department of Education Frameworks for Mathematics. We will integrate hands on activities, explorations of new concepts, review and reinforcement through games and cooperative learning. Topics include problem solving, time, money, geometry and place value. Skills are taught through repeated exposure to concepts throughout the year.

This year will be an important year for mastery of basic addition and subtraction facts. Conceptual understanding of these mathematical skills are best mastered when learned through consistent practice at school and at home.

Specific expectations in Mathematics include:

Number Sense and Operations
• Identifies the value of the digits in numbers to 1,000
• Knows addition facts up to 20
• Knows subtraction facts up to 20
• Adds and subtracts three-digit numbers without regrouping
• Identifies common fractions (1/2, 1/4, 1/3) on a number line




Patterns, Functions, Algebra
• Creates addition and subtraction patterns
• Trades coins accurately
• Constructs and solves number sentences




Geometry
• Describes attributes of two-dimensional shapes
• Describes attributes of three-dimensional shapes




Measurement
• Tells time to the quarter-hour
• Measures using inches and centimeters
• Compares weight and volume of objects accurately




Data Analysis, Statistics, Probability
• Organizes and interprets graphs, charts, and tables




Applies to All Standards
• Applies problem-solving strategies
• Communicates mathematical reasoning effectively

Science

Our science program follows a “hands on” approach to learning. Two of the major units of study in second grade are “Matter” and “Simple Machines” which are introduced during the first half of the year. The Pond” is a unit in the spring that features the life cycle of the frog as well as other plants and animals that live in this environment.

Specific expectations in Science include:

Organizes, predicts, and communicates the concepts of:
• Living Things: Pond Life
• Properties of Matter
• Simple Machines

History and Social Science

The social studies curriculum in grade two revolves around the central themes of Geography, Map Skills, Famous Americans, Land Forms, and The Community of Franklin. Each theme is presented as a unit of study integrating all disciplines. Activities and projects relating to science, mathematics, writing, music and art are incorporated into each unit. Each year brings wonderful, new literature that expose and teach new ideas and concepts.

Specific expectations in History and Social Science include:

• History of Franklin
• Geography

Research

A valuable skill taught throughout second grade is researching. Students will learn specific steps to follow that will guide them through the process of researching a particular topic. To introduce the concept, the class works on several projects together. The children will learn ways to gather information that will provide them with answers to questions regarding specific knowledge. Although the internet will be utilized in this learning process, it will not be the primary source for securing information. Children will be exposed to a variety of reference materials.

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