Second Grade

Philosophy: Second graders are encouraged to work to their maximum potential as they become actively involved in the learning process. Second grade begins a year of increased independence and responsibility.  Confidence in these life-long skills encourages students to become engaged in a number of learning opportunities. Enthusiastic teachers ensure that students are met with a year of challenge, success and academic excellence as they prepare for the transition to third grade. 

Curriculum:

Reading – The goal of St. Paul’s second grade reading curriculum is to further accuracy, fluency, comprehension and independence in reading.  Reading and thinking skills are explicitly taught and modeled whole and small group.  Second grade students concentrate on several areas of reading comprehension: sequence of events, retelling, character, story structure, summarization, cause and effect, main idea and supporting details, and plot.  Visual tools, specifically designed to correlate with particular comprehension strategies, are used to organize and represent patterns of thinking.

Writing and Grammar– Writer’s Stylus is implemented with research-supported instructional methods that develop students as writers through active thinking and communication. An interactive teaching method is implemented appropriate to this grade level.  Students begin to recognize and use revision skills creating polished writing.  Grammar and writing conventions are modeled and integrated throughout.

Math – Students will review and extend mathematical concepts that were developed in early grades.  These concepts include counting, reading and writing numbers, identifying place value, comparing numbers, working with fractions and using money to develop place value and decimal concepts.  Students will explore fact families, and collect, organize and interpret data using tables, charts, and graphs.

Science – Students expand on their knowledge of the physical sciences by studying balance and motion. They learn that everything is in motion but not everything is moving the same way. Earth science begins with a study of air and water and provides opportunities for students to explore the natural world by using simple tools to observe and monitor change.  The pebbles, sand, and silt module provides experiences that heighten students’ awareness of rocks as earth materials and natural resources.  All modules are integrated to technology and simple science experiments that are age-appropriate.