SECOND GRADE CURRICULUM

The Second Grader: Socially, Intellectually, Emotionally

Second graders are cooperative, yet they can be quite opinionated and slow to accept criticism. They understand consequences and follow-through as well as good and bad, but their behavior doesn't always reflect this. They may attempt to solve problems through their emotions. Second graders can be quite territorial and competitive, yet they want friends. Their decreasing inhibitions are manifested in their talkativeness and a desire to stand up for their rights. Tattling is still common in some second graders, and it may be countered by emphasizing a child's accomplishments and strengths. Self-control is still somewhat sporadic for these children, and "blurting out" is common.

Second graders understand the largeness of the world and frequently share ideas within a global perspective. Reading comprehension becomes more complex as children sharpen their reasoning skills. They learn to consolidate and categorize, and seem to prefer concrete manipulatives, particularly in math. Success is very important to these children, and it is often measured by who finishes first, despite the quality of the product. Organizational skills are improving, and students at this level are beginning to maintain focus on one topic in their conversation or writing. Second graders are acquiring a sense of time and predictability; they are learning to plan ahead. This is generally a year to polish and refine previously acquired skills.

Determined and self-oriented, these students are sensitive and cautious, yet daring. There is a great need for order, limits, routine and predictability.

A. Reading (Imagine It! Books 1 & 2, SRA/McGraw-Hill, Copyright 2008)

1. Reading Fluency
2. Comprehension

a. Main Idea
b. Classify and categorize
c. Sequencing
d. Compare and Contrast

B. Literature

1. Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
2. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
3. Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith

C. Composition

1. 6 + 1 Traits of Writing (Scholastic)

a. Sentence structure
b. Paragraphs
c. Narrative and Expository Writing
d. Poems

D. Spelling (Imagine It! SRA/McGraw-Hill, Copyright 2008)

1. Sounds and Spelling Patterns
2. Blending and Decoding

E. Vocabulary (Imagine It! SRA/McGraw-Hill, Copyright 2008)

1. Literature Based
2. Dictionary Skills

F. Grammar (Imagine It! SRA/McGraw-Hill, Copyright 2008)

1. Parts of Speech
2. Grammar rules and application
3. Daily Oral Language Review (Evan-Moor, 1998)

G. Penmanship

1. Handwriting with a Simplified Approach 2C ( Zaner-Bloser, 2008)

A. Math 3 (Saxon, 3rd edition, Copyright 2008)

1. Addition and Subtraction facts
2. Place Value
3. Roman Numerals
4. Add and subtract two-digit numbers with regrouping
5. Word Problems
6. Measurement: Centimeters, Inches, Feet, Yards
7. Graphs
8. Tell time to the hour, half hour and quarter hour, minutes
9. Count pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters
10. Identify geometric solids and angles
11. Multiplication Facts: 0-12
12. Division Facts: 0-12

A. Balance and Motion
B. Zoo Animals
C. Pebbles, Sand, Silt
D. Community Garden
E. Polar Animals
F. Insects

A. Long Ago and Yesterday
B. Map Skills
C. Our Government
D. Producers and Government
E. People in History

A. Project Wisdom