Curriculum Overview
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Language Arts
Storytown, an integrated Language Arts program, uses six themes in the Second Grade to present a wide variety of skills and strategies. There are major strands in each theme of this reading series, which include fluency, robust vocabulary, comprehension, phonics and spelling, high frequency words, grammar, and focus skills. Fiction stories are paired with nonfiction for comparison. This series allows for Differentiated Instruction, with leveled readers ranging from decodables to below level, on level, above level, and challenge levels.
The six themes for this series are:
- Count on Me
- Doing Our Best
- Changing Times
- Dream Big
- Better Together
- Seek and Find.
Writing skills continue to develop through the use of Empowering Writers as well as units from Simplify Writing. as well as high frequency spelling words. These programs encourage the students to use skills and concepts acquired throughout the year and from previous years. Computers and technology are used to reinforce skills, encourage writing, and research projects.
Mathematics
One of the goals of the Math Curriculum is to make math motivating and accessible to each child. Children work in pairs, cooperative groups, and as individuals, to actively investigate and make connections to prior knowledge. Through engaging hands-on activities and manipulatives, the curriculum makes the students active participants in their own learning. Students share strategies and solutions, as well as build an ongoing mathematical vocabulary. Standards as defined by the NCTM and Savvas include:
- Operations and Algebra
- Numbers and Computation
- Measurement and Data
- Geometry
Religion, Science and Social Studies are constantly integrated into the curriculum throughout the year. Through literature, hands-on activities, real-life experiences, and research, the children are encouraged to actively participate in their own learning.
Religion
Emphasis shifts to the study of the sacraments as the children review Baptism, and prepare for the reception of both Eucharist and Reconciliation. Understanding of the Trinity grows as they see God presented as a loving and forgiving father, Jesus as one who gives the gift of himself, and the Holy Spirit as one who calls us to serve others. Children learn about making good choices. Gospel readings show them to care for others. The concept of the Church community expands as the children continue to develop their commitment to Service Learning. Second graders will deepen their understanding of the following:
- Jesus Christ is always with us
- Jesus calls us to penance and reconciliation
- Jesus gives Himself in the Eucharist
- We live our Catholic faith
Science
Our Science curriculum focuses on the following Science topics as guided by the Next Generation Science Standards. Topics include essential questions and science process skillls and engineering designs. Units and topics are:
- Life Science: Plants and Animals, Habitats
- Earth Science: Earthś Water and Land, Earth's Processes
- Physical Science: Property of Matter, Changing Matter
Social Studies
Our Social Studies program is organized around eight strands: History, Geography, Government, Citizenship, Culture, Science Technology and Society, Social Studies Skills. These strands correlate with the National Council for the Social Studies and the National Standards for Social Studies Teachers. Content is built around a “Big Idea” research to develop and instructional approach that focuses student learning by asking essential questions to focus content learning. Essential questions to answer are:
- What is a community?
- How does geography help me?
- How do I learn about history?
- Why do people work?
- How does our government work?
- Why do we celebrate holidays?
Technology
Essential Question:
How is technology affecting the learning process?
Technology is integrated across the curriculum in Grades PreK-8.
Listening skills and following directions are an integral part to success in technology class
Students in Grade 2 have been assigned a Saint Mary Google email account. This email account is strictly for school use. Students will learn how to sign into their account using a Chromebook and access class assignments found in the Grade 2 Google Classrooms.
Students in Grade 2 have weekly technology classes using Chromebooks.
The following is a sampling of technology use and is subject to change based on new applications and curriculum.
- Internet safety
- How to handle the Chromebook: use of touch screen and mouse pad,
- how to access the Internet
- Typing drills
- visit websites sites that support the second grade curriculum
- Students continue coding, advancing a level, using www.code.org