The second grade is the mid point of lower elementary education. Second graders have been readers for a full year. The challenge for second grade is to increase the amount of reading. The worlds of literature are becoming larger as students read fiction and non-fiction, poetry, and play. The second grade reading milestone is to complete a chapter book . Writing becomes more complex with sentence structure, punctuation and spelling. Second grade students tackle addition and subtraction and begin the basics of multiplication and division in real-world application problems.
Change
Religion
Students read and hear stories from the Bible and how they apply to our everyday life. Students also learn the importance of community service by going out into the community and performing good works (Good Samaritan Rescue Mission, donating items to Bay Animal Shelter, collecting items to donate to a group in need).
Memory Work
Students are assigned scriptures from the Bible and Luther’s Small Catechism to memorize throughout the year. We cannot always be with our children. If the Word of God dwells richly in them, they have wise counsel with them at all times. In addition, God’s Word is so much more powerful than our words; it will protect them from the attack of the enemy.
Reading
Our classroom has the Daily 5 structure during language arts time. While the teacher works with a small group the rest of the students are working independently on several tasks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a weekly reading program which exposes students to several genres, builds comprehension skills, and introduces challenging vocabulary words. We also use the Accelerated Reading Program schoolwide to encourage students to read books at their own reading level. Students will take comprehension quizzes and gradually increase their reading level as the year progresses. Their reading homework consists of reaching their tailored goal each quarter. We also use getepic, a website dedicated to reading books aloud and letting students explore different genres of books. Students may access this website at home and during our Daily 5 language arts time.
Writing
We focus on teaching the fundamentals of writing: complete sentences, capitalization and punctuation. Students also explore writing paragraphs, editing their writing, and staying on topic. Some topics may include: Native American informational writing, pumpkin opinion writing, and holiday narrative writing.
Grammar
Grammar reflects the structure in our Houghton Mifflin Harcourt program which connects concepts through reading stories and incorporating spelling words. Students learn about collective nouns, pronouns, reflexive nouns, and irregular plural nouns. We also focus on adjectives, adverbs, and frequently used past tense irregular verbs.
Spelling
For the first half of the year students practice and learn 14 words every week (12 basic and 2 review). The second half of the year will include 16 words every week (12 basic, 2 review, and 2 challenge). Students may practice their spelling words during our Daily 5 language arts time. They are also encouraged to practice at home. Spelling pretests are every Wednesday and tests are every Friday. If a student scores 100% on the pretest they do not need to take in on Friday.
Handwriting
Students review uppercase and lowercase manuscript letters and are introduced to lowercase cursive handwriting.
Math
Our math program encourages thinking outside of the box. It is heavy in solving word problems and introducing new problem solving concepts to help students succeed on standardized tests. The program explores: number concepts, numbers to 1,000, basic addition and subtraction facts, 2-digit addition and subtraction, 3-digit addition and subtraction, money and time, length in customary and metric units, reading and understanding data, geometry, and fraction concepts. We also use IXL (math website) as a supplemental program at home and at school.
Science
Students learn about how plants and animals live together as well as how living things grow and change. They also focus on Earth’s land, air, water, and seasons. Students study fossils (with a special focus on our state stone) and and learn about dinosaurs. Some other units include topics such as: properties of matter, energy, forces and motion, and sound. Students have a multitude of resources to help them learn about science: reading books, field trips, virtual field trips, experiments, creating science notebooks, and working together in group projects.
Social Studies
All about location, where we live, land and water, all about weather, Earth’s resources, and how we change the Earth are studied. Students experience social studies through virtual field trips, notebooks, reading books, field trips, and videos.
Technology
Our students have access to computers, iPads, Chrome Books, and Smartboards on a daily basis. They have technology class two times per week.
- Recess
- Physical Fitness
- Music
- Spanish
- Library
- Art
- Chapel
Choir and Pee-wee Basketball is available to those who want to join. We take field trips to Leaman’s Green Apple Barn, Johnson’s Pumpkin Patch, Baby Acres, and Bay City State Park.
- 1 – Box (24 ct.) Crayons
- 1 – Box of Colored Pencils/12 Count
- 12 – #2 Pencils – Sharpened
- 1 – 10 ct. Washable Markers (Large)
- 1 – Eraser
- 4 – Glue Sticks
- 1 – 8oz Bottle of Elmer’s Glue
- 2 – Spiral Notebook Paper
- 1 – Pocket Folder
- 1 – Ream of Copier Paper
- 1 – Pair of Scissors (Pointed)
- 2 – Spiral Notebook Paper
- 1 – Pocket Folder
- 1 – Ream of Copier Paper
- 2 – Box of Kleenex (220 ct.)
- 1 – Container of Disinfecting Wipes
- 1 – School Bag / Backpack to fit in locker.
Note: Wheeled book bags do not fit in lockers. - Headphones to be left at school
- Gym Shoes to be left at school
- Sweater / Sweatshirt to leave at school
No School Box is Needed
Put Name on All Student Items
I use a variety of teaching methods depending on the lesson. The classes have been to the Capital Building and The Michigan Museum. Visits are planned to the Bay City Historical Museum, the River of Time, Thumb Octagon Barn Agricultural Museum, Bay Veterinarian Clinic and to the Good Samaritan House.
I want to get my students interested in reading and hopefully change their interests into the love of reading. I feel I can do this by showing them, my love to read. I also use the Daily 5 structure to encourage and build independent readers. It is important to get to know your students, their interests and setting them up for success.
One thing that I do is when I teach I move. We are moving from the carpet to desks, to standing and more. My students do work in several different ways; with partners, independently, and in groups where they can learn to interact and learn how to learn in different situations. I also love to pray with my students.
One of my favorite lessons I love to teach are reading games. I also have a secret love of teaching science and using interactive notebooks and hands on lab activities. I love teaching these lessons/games because I can be more creative and my students see me excited.
I believe learning can be fun. I think it is important for the teacher to adapt to the needs of his/her students. Finding out what works and doesn’t work for the group of students is important, because with each new school year brings a different set of students.
Kelsey Splattstoesser
2nd Grade Teacher
Education
It is also important to form relationships with your students. Find out their interests, what they like to read about, their favorite games, who is in their family, and more. Once they see you care about them, they will care more, they will be engaged in the lesson, they will have more fun knowing that you care and that this classroom is a safe place to learn.
Jesus is the best role model for a teacher. Jesus formed relationships and he loved. Forming relationships with your students and love them is important.
