Second Grade

We value a balanced literacy approach.

• The pillars of reading instruction (phonetic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, decoding, and comprehension), are taught through guided reading, using the Into Reading series.
• A continued emphasis on narrative, friendly letter, informative, poetry, and persuasive pieces are taught through guided writing and Writers' Workshop. 
• The weekly spelling series reinforces the understanding of phonetic patterns and strengthens word attack skills. 
• Manuscript is reviewed and refined, and cursive handwriting is introduced in the second half of the year through the Handwriting Without Tears program.
• Recognition and development of proper sentence structure, capitalization and punctuation rules, and the parts of speech are built upon. 

We value the development of problem-solving and mathematical reasoning through critical thinking skills.

• Understanding of up to four-digit numbers
• Place value, comparing ordinal numbers, patterns, and ordering
• Addition and subtraction of three-digit numbers, with and without grouping
• Fact families and the addition of three numbers
• Identification of time in five-minute increments using AM and PM - an understanding of elapsed time
• Introduction of length, width, and height
• Geometric flat and solid shapes
• Identification of money up to and including $20.00
• Multiplication and division understanding for facts 0, 1-5, and 10
• Interpretation of picture graph, bar graph, and line plots
• Weight and measurement (customary and metric)

• Government leaders' responsibilities
• Geographic features and fundamental geographic terminology
• Reading and interpreting maps of all seven continents
• Natural resources and their role in the economic system 
• Understanding of families today and families in the past

We value the creation of multimodal content to be introduced and reinforced inter-disciplinarily. 

• Introduction to proper touch typing technique, posture, and finger placement
• Understanding of online safety, using Google's Be Internet Awesome curriculum
• Introduction to web-based research and review of Acceptable Use Policy
• Utilization of word processing applications to write, edit, print, and save assignments
• Identification and use of hyperlinks, copy/paste features, and resizing images within a document
• Creation and organization of slide decks 
• Proper use of desktop icons, windows and menus and understanding difference between closing and quitting application
• Exploration of the basics of code using Block Programming
• Use of handheld devices to take videos and pictures

• Focus on careful craftsmanship
• Reinforcement of shapes and patterns
• Real and implied texture
• Two dimensional versus three dimensional art
• Creation of patterns
• Identification of organic and geometric shapes
• Identification of types of lines and line directions
• Differentiation between primary and secondary colors

• Extended vocabulary
• Parts of the body
• Numbers to 100
• School terms
• Clothing
• Animals
• Holiday themes
• French Fete presentation
• More information about foreign language studies at Wyndcroft

   

• Mental and emotional health
• Family and social health
• Growth and development
• Nutrition
• Alcohol and tobacco
• Communicable and chronic diseases
• Consumer and community health
• Environmental health
• Injury prevention and safety

• Continued instruction on the organization of the library, including the Dewey Decimal system
• Futher familiarity with the parts of a book
• Introduction to the basic use of the library's online catalog
• Identification of fiction and nonfiction books
• Appreciation of different kinds of literature

• Identification of instrument families by sight and sound
• Basic instrument arrangements on Orff instruments
• Echo phrases on rhythm syllables
• Tempo and dynamics
• Traditional and non-traditional notation to read and write rhythms
• Study of grand staff
• Study of traditional songs from various cultures
• Music of Camille Saint-Saens
• Expression through music

• Understanding of multi-step instructions
• Personal and social behavior in the gymnasium
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Continuation of base sports and chasing games
• Mat work
• Yoga

• Continuation of scientific vocabulary building
• Properties of water
• Oceans
• Light, heat, and sound energy
• Connections between the past and the present

• Focus on stage readiness and performance skills
• Practice listening and comprehension skills through storytelling and open discussions
• Practice non-verbal communication skills
• Learn basic vocabulary for performances and performance spaces
• Learn types of performance spaces and their uses
• Participate in a 2^nd Grade musical