SECOND GRADE
Overview:
St. Peter’s second grade encourages each student to strive to be the best of his/her potential in the following areas: cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual growth.
Language Arts
The language arts program includes reading, grammar, writing, spelling, phonics, and handwriting. The McGraw Hill program provides the basis for second grade language arts.
Reading
_ Word meaning, decoding, and oral reading
_ Reading comprehension and response
_ Main idea, cause and effect, context clues
_ Drawing conclusions, summarizing literature
_ Dictionary skills and library skills
Grammar
_ Five-day grammar plan, focusing on proper grammar, mechanics, and usage
_ Integrated part of the reading program
_ Writing and recognizing complete sentences
_ Punctuation and composition
_ Basic parts of speech
Writing
_ Full writing process lessons are provided
_ Personal narrative, descriptive writing, explanatory writing, comparative writing, expository writing, and story writing are covered
Spelling
_ Five-day spelling plan, emphasizing spelling pattern and spelling rules
_ Integrated part of the reading program
Phonics
_ Three explicit phonics and decoding lessons for every reading selection
_ Systematic phonics instruction to teach the letter sounds and blending
_ The goal is to enable students to read words accurately and automatically
Handwriting
_ Manuscript is used throughout the year
_ Accuracy of stroke, slant, spacing and reasonable speed is emphasized
_ The Zaner-Bloser method is used
_Cursive is introduced last 9 weeks
Mathematics
_ The Harcourt-Brace Math Advantage series is the basis for the math instruction
_ Memorization of addition and subtraction facts to 18 is required
_ Place value to 1,000, time on clocks and calendars, counting money, two and three digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping, organizing data, graphs, measurement, fractions, and geometry are included, introduction to multiplication/division
Social Studies
_ MacMilliam/McGraw Hill Adventures in Time and Place series is the basis for the social studies instruction
_ Students continue to build a foundation in history, geography, government, citizenship, culture, science technology, and society
Science
_ Harcourt Science series is the basis for the science instruction
_ Students continue to build a foundation in earth science and life science, with a small amount of chemistry, physics and geology
_ Some subjects covered include: dinosaurs, water cycle, solar system, human body, health, and planets
Religious Studies-Blest are We textbook by Silver Burdett Ginn
Faith
Faith is a gift from God, who reveals his love and invites our response. In the second grade program the children’s awareness of the goodness of God is deepened. The see God’s love for them manifested in his readiness to forgive and in his gift of the Eucharist.
Prayer
Prayer is an important part of every class session. The second grade lessons are designed to help the children step back from the busy pace of daily life and reflect quietly on themselves and God. Times of quiet and ideas for reflection are part of the lesson especially after discussing a truth of great importance. The children are encouraged to deepen their relationship with the Lord through prayerful living and examining daily how they respond to what God invites them to do. Various prayer forms in the lessons lead the children to respond prayerfully to the message. The children come to recognize and respond to God’s presence in their everyday lives. The will understand the importance of daily morning and evening prayer and be encouraged to praise and thank God with prayer before meals. Second graders will be introduced to simple acts of Faith, Hope, Lone, and Act of Contrition, a Morning Offering, an ACT OF Consecration to Mary, and a simple invocation of the Holy Spirit and examination of conscience.
Liturgical Life
The second grade program assists the Parish Religious Education Office in preparing the children for a simple and meaningful first celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Children will come to understand and appreciate the celebration of the Mass, preparing them to join in the Mass prayers. Weekly liturgical services and other celebrations throughout the year provide the children with opportunities to unite in praising and thanking God in song and prayer. Scripture readings, processions, offerings, and intercessory prayers.
Moral Growth
The second grade program continues to encourage the development of Christian attitudes and values begun in first grade. The lessons:
† Teach the children the basic implications of the two great commandments and awaken in the children their need to forgive and to receive forgiveness
† Help the children realize the consequences of their personal choices; especially how these choices affect their relationship with God
† Teach the children the value of prayer and the sacrament of the Eucharist as a means of deepening their relationship with God
† Introduce the children to practicing daily examination of conscience used store of saints.
† Discussion, sharing of personal faith experiences, role-playing, music, and art to help the children experience and appreciate kindness, honesty, forgiveness, concern for others and other Christian values.
Social Responsibility
Second graders will be involved in prayer and Christian service to make them sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. Experiences will be provided that are designed to nurture a concern for the suffering, the needy, and the disabled.
Specials:
Art
Second grade art students are developed sufficiently to be able to identify some of the properties of color, form, line and texture. Students at this level will enjoy experimenting with various materials such as pen, paper, pastels and crayon. They will be introduced to new media and activities such as drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and collage.
LIBRARY/MEDIA SKILLS
Overview
Library/media skills are taught to all students from Pre-K through eighth grade with the goal they will become life-long readers with the ability to enter any library equipped with the knowledge to locate and use all available resources.
The care and location of materials, browsing and checkout procedures and notable authors and illustrators are introduced in the primary grades.
Library use skills are reinforced in the upper grades with particular emphasis on the arrangement of fiction and non-fiction materials. With the completion of automation, students will be taught to use the computerized card catalog, electronic resources and traditional print materials to enhance classroom instruction and reading enjoyment.
Philosophy
Students are encouraged to read recreational books including fiction and non-fiction. Picture books are read to all students and teachers to encourage interest in favorite authors and illustrators.
Objectives:
_ Library Orientation - students will learn library procedures
_ Browsing and book checkout
_ Location of materials and other resources
_ Proper care for all materials and return policy
_ Be courteous and exhibit good conduct
_ Utilization of resources - students will learn to identify materials
_ Alphabetical order-fiction materials are arranged by the first three letters of the author’s last
name
_ Locate periodicals in ABC order by title
_ Dewey Decimal System - Non-fiction materials are arranged in ten main subject groupings 000-900
_ Determine how books are classified and where they will be shelved
_ On-line card catalog - Look up books on specific subjects, titles or authors
Research and Study Skills
_ Identify parts of a book
_ Use reference tools such as an encyclopedia, atlas, dictionary, almanac, etc.
_ Use the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature for magazine articles on specific subjects
_ Use newspaper for current events
_ Special activities
Our library has weekly activities to include all students. The librarian reads to all classes and uses book talks to interest students in checking out books for class assignments such as book reports, summaries or research projects. Materials are made available in the library to support classroom curriculum and teaches may request library use at any time.
Book fairs are scheduled during the school year and are an excellent source for books and fun.
Authors are invited to our school to share their time and talent and are welcomed by all students and faculty with great enthusiasm
Music:
Students develop their intellect and refine their emotions, understanding the cultural and creative nature of musical artistry and making connections among music, the other arts, technology, and other aspects of social life. Through creative performance, students apply the expressive technical skills of music and critical thinking skills to evaluate multiple forms of problem solving (as per Texas state TEKS music introduction.).
Students will:
· Learn and sing songs that are coordinated with the season, themes, liturgical year and different multicultural artistry
· Students will use rhythm instruments that will coordinate with songs
· Taught how to keep time, rhythm and tempo
Physical Education: 2nd Grade
Overview:
In this physical education class students will gain knowledge in several different sports. We will also be learning rules, skills and technique of these games. The overall objective of the physical education courses at both the primary and middle school level is to teach activities, which will form the basis for a lifetime of physical fitness.
Instructional Content:
~ Be able to apply physical education to life
~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which better enable participation in group and team sports
~ Assess physical fitness levels and participate in activities that improve fitness, wellness, and cardiovascular capacity
~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which will better enable participation in individual and dual sports and recreational activities.
Spanish:
Students will develop Cultural awareness of traditional Mexican/Latin events and holidays.
The class will:
· Introduce Spanish vocabulary development
· Numbers development
· Colors
· Masculine and Feminine objects
· Family members
· Development of Spanish vocabulary words and sounds of letters CH, LL, RR and N
· Writing development of Spanish words
· Spanish alphabet
Technology:
· Memorize the keyboard and use proper fingering
· Use and understand proper terminology and parts of the computer
· Age appropriate software/websites
· Word processing, graphics, electronic encyclopedias, and spreadsheet programs used
· Projects and reports involving other classroom subjects generated
· Computer center in homeroom