2nd Grade
Grade 2 Language Arts expectations require students to read and write independently; use and recognize that there are different purposes for speaking and listening, and use references as tools to help develop word meaning, pronunciation. Written communication reflects revision and editing to make ideas more clear and precise. Attention to the mechanics of writing, including capitalization and punctuation, and legible penmanship that reflects correct form and spacing are required.
Reading
Students are expected to read with fluency and understanding within a variety of literacy genres that are at appropriate difficulty levels. They should use prior knowledge and anticipate the meaning of the text, leading to more developed comprehension. Within this comprehension, skills such as correctly sequencing events, drawing conclusions, making inferences, comparing and contrasting, identifying cause and effect, and determining important details are developed. Students produce summaries of text and main ideas represented in different ways, including story maps, graphs, and charts. Responding to various texts reflecting understanding is conveyed through discussion, writing, developing demonstrations, illustrating, utilizing technology.
Writing
Students should be writing for a variety of purposes and in various forms. Expectations include writing to communicate with a variety of audiences and compositions of original text using conventions of writing and correct grammar to communicate clearly. The writing processes are developed as a framework to help students organize their thoughts then transition these thoughts into written form with checkpoints to evaluate, review, and reflect. Student work needs to be neatly written, gaining increasing control of aspects of penmanship so as to communicate clearly.
Listening/Speaking
Students in Grade 2 need to be able to listen attentively and engage actively in a variety of oral language experiences including classroom discussions and oral presentations with or without a visual aide. They use listening and speaking as opportunities to gain knowledge of his/her own culture, the culture of others, and the common elements of culture. Students are expected to communicate clearly by putting thoughts, feelings, and experiences into spoken words.
Spelling
The Second Grade Spelling program is comprehensive and includes common spelling patterns, high frequency words (found in grade level literature), commonly misspelled words, and vocabulary from Units of Inquiry. Students will always be encouraged to “have a go” when trying to spell an unfamiliar word. In addition, a language rich environment and reference materials are readily available for student use. Each student will be given an individual spelling dictionary with which to build a personalized spelling reference resource.
On Monday, a pretest is administered to help students determine which of these words are already mastered and which need additional practice. Any student mastering all of the assigned words on the pretest is exempt from any spelling test for the remainder of the week. The post test will be given on Friday.
Math in Grade 2
Grade 2 Mathematics reinforces the foundation of the basic understandings in number sense, operation, and quantitative reasoning; number patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking; geometry and spatial reasoning; measurement; and probability and statistics. Students will apply language and communication, connections within and outside mathematics, and formal and informal reasoning to help derive solutions to solve problems. Finally, students will use a variety of tools, such as manipulative materials and technology to enhance individual development of conceptual understandings and to solve problems.
Computation
Accurate addition and subtraction computation, with or without regrouping up to four digits, using mental math skills, manipulative materials, and from memory.
Fractions
Identify and correctly communicate (through manipulative materials, in writing and orally) shaded fractional parts with denominators from halves through twelfths, clearly demonstrate the meaning of numerators and denominators; and represent fractional parts of a group in both correct fractional form and in constructing a model.
Geometry
Correctly identify, name, and recreate 2-D shapes and 3-D shapes; accurate counting of sides and corners of 2-D shapes and edges, corners, and faces of 3-D shapes; and model understanding of congruency and symmetry.
Graphing
Create a bar graph, pictograph, and pie chart from raw data then use this information to solve problems, draw conclusions, and make predictions.
Measurement
Closely estimate and accurately measure objects in determining length, height, weight, and capacity using both standard (US Customary and Metric) and nonstandard measures.
Money
Identify coins and their respective values, create specific amounts using various coin combinations, compare the value of groups of coins, determine change back in pennies and nickels, and write money amounts correctly using dollar and cents signs.
Number Sense
Counting order to 1,000; what comes before, between, and after; odd and even numbers; place value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands); writing a dedicated number up to four digits; applying and reading the symbols indicating greater than, less than, and equal to; ordinal numbers; and identifying, predicting, and recreating number patterns using a 100’s chart.
Probability
Determine most likely and least likely outcomes from a set shown in a picture, from manipulative materials, a story problem, and every day life experiences.
Problem Solving
Read and analyze a story problem in preparation to solving it using the four steps of
understanding what the problem is asking;
planning how to solve the problem;
solving the problem using a mathematic operation; and
checking the reasonableness of the solution.
Determination should also be applied if the problem containing too much, too little, or enough information to solve it. A variety of problem solving strategies are encouraged, including using manipulative materials, drawing pictures, technology tools, tables and graphs, logic, reasoning, alternative approaches, and discourse to derive solutions.
Time
Understand and equate the passage of time in units of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years; accurately read a calendar to determine specific dates and elapsed days; write the full date, abbreviated date, and in MM/DD/YR format; tell time to five minute increments using both analog and digital clocks; and calculate elapsed time in hours.
Science in Grade 2
Second Grade students develop and use their observational skills, make predictions, gather and record information, and reflect on these findings to identify and make connections that can lead to conclusions, as well as generating more questions. Students will be applying scientific processes to develop a consistent framework with which to understand the world of science and technology.
Simple experiments and investigations are planned and conducted in conjunction with emphasis on developing safe practices. Age appropriate tools (rulers, measuring cups, clocks, and computers) and models are utilized to verify observations; predict outcomes, classify and sort; and identify change, in the properties of matter and patterns in organisms, objects, and events. Likewise, students understand the concepts of a whole in terms of its components and how these components relate to each other and to the whole. Investigations, methods, models, and drawing conclusions lead to learning more about understanding the natural world and how systems work.
Social Studies in Grade 2
Second Grade students focus on the study of themselves and their community by examining the impact of significant individuals and events from the history of the community, the state, nation, and world. Technological innovations on such things as communication and product development are analyzed. The concepts of time is developed by measuring time in days, weeks, months, and years. Tools such as calendars and timelines are created and used.
The relationship between the physical environment and human activities is investigated as well as the consequences for disturbing the delicate balance of life and resources that exists on our planet. Connections between natural resources and finished goods are explored, including the steps that are used in this process and the interdependent roles of consumers and producers (providers of goods and providers of services). Students identify functions of government and the services provided to help keep communities thriving.
Students continue to acquire knowledge of important customs, symbols, and celebrations that represent beliefs and principles from cultures around the world. Through this process, students identify major land and water forms (continents and oceans) by utilizing map skills.