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Curriculum and Instruction
Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships--A framework for college and career readiness.
Language Arts
Reading: Students will be taught as a whole group to read a variety of literature and informational texts. Students will be exposed to and analyze a variety of genres in order to develop and strengthen their comprehension skills, reading strategies, and vocabulary. Students will participate in guided reading groups and rotate through literacy stations to meet their reading needs. The class will also participate in shared reading experiences.
Spelling: Your child will learn spelling patterns through the use of the Phonology program. All students will be working on the same spelling rules and patterns, at their developmental level. Students will write the weekly pattern in their agenda and can build words based on the weekly spelling pattern. Spelling grades will be taken from weekly spelling tests as well as from daily writing in class work. Please encourage correct spelling in all homework.
Writing: Students will write daily. They will engage in the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing) as mentor texts are used to instruct on writing techniques. The friendly letter will be reinforced through weekly letters to the "Star of the Week".
Grammar: Capitalization, punctuation, and parts of speech will be taught through the writing process.Handwriting: The Handwriting Without Tears program is used to form letters using big and little lines and big and little curves. Many letters begin at the upper left-hand corner and go down, then "jump back" to the starting point to complete the letter. Cursive will not be taught this year. Students will apply handwriting skills to all daily writing. Grades will come from all subject areas, not just their handwriting book. Please encourage and help your child develop the habit of writing neatly in all homework.
Math: Go Math! is a program aligned with Common Core State Standards. Students will engage, explore, explain, and elaborate upon these standards.
Second grade focuses on 4 Critical Areas:
1. Numbers and Operations: Use place value concepts to represent amounts of tens and ones and to compare three digit numbers. Use place value concepts to read, write, and skip count to 1000. Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract within 1000.
2. Algebraic Concepts: Solve problems involving addition and subtraction within 100. Use mental strategies to add and subtract within 20.
Work with equal groups of objects to gain foundations for multiplication.
3. Geometry: Analyze and draw two- and three-dimensional shapes having specified attributes. Use the understanding of fractions to partition shapes into halves, quarters, and thirds.
4. Measurement, Data, and Probability: Measure and estimate lengths in standard units using appropriate tools. Tell and write time to the nearest five minutes using both analog and digital clocks. Solve problems and make change using coins and paper currency with appropriate symbols. Represent and interpret data using line plots, picture graphs, and bar graphs. Extend the concepts of addition and subtraction to problems involving length.
Science: Students will learn important scientific concepts as they actively construct ideas through scientific discovery (inquiry, investigation, and analysis). Our units of study are Water & Weather, Energy & Motion, and Animals.
Social Studies: Students will be introduced to basic map skills, communities, part of the Earth (continents, oceans, and land formations), our government, life in the past and present, and people at work. The use of quality children's literature and computer activities will be integrated into these units of study.