2nd Grade
Catholic identity must and does permeate the curriculum guidelines, the instruction, and assessments. Curriculum guidelines provide a template for teachers to provide instruction, and assessments demonstrate that learners have achieved unsurpassed academic success. A process of continuous improvement ensures that curriculum guidelines are regularly examined and updated or revised where needed. For more detailed curriculum information, please visit olsorrows.com or contact Mrs. Andrea Allen, Assistant Principal, [email protected].
RELIGION
The second grade students are prepared for the sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion through studying the development of salvation history. As students learn about God’s plan of love and mercy, they begin to understand that these sacraments are God’s gift to us and that they too are part of God’s loving plan. Special emphasis is given to preparation for and reception of these sacraments, as well as learning about the Mass.
READING
Students use the Wonders curriculum which provides which provides differentiation for students while strengthening reading skills and confidence. Our second graders explore different cultures through folk lore and ask who, what, where, when, why, and how to learn more about plot. Reading skills are taught through small group instruction. Our second graders love their “book boxes” that are full of “good fit” high-interest fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, and short stories. They also enjoy word work for spelling, phonics, sight words, and vocabulary practice through a center-based approach.
WRITING
Our second graders are beginning to write across the curriculum in mathematics, science, reading, and social studies. They write a variety of pieces daily, including personal narratives, friendly letters, how-to articles, descriptive stories, and book reports. They focus on the writing process and learn the parts of speech in our English grammar series, Voyages in English. Our second graders also begin learning cursive writing after they master printing. Students also learn the proper letter formation through the Zaner-Bloser handwriting program.
SOCIAL STUDIES
About My Community - In second grade, students learn about their community helpers, being a good citizen, and the types of communities. Students learn to interpret and create maps of city centers, and rural farms. We help students master the important skills needed to read and interpret graphs, charts, and diagrams they encounter in their community.
SCIENCE
In second grade, through the FOSS program, students begin to learn about the scientific process and method through experimentation. Many topics including the plant and animal life cycles, solids and liquids, and Earth materials such as pebbles, sand, and silt. A favorite among our children is the intensive study of animals concluding with a research animal report.
MATH
In grade two, through Progress in Math, students begin learning to think algebraically using more complex addition and subtraction sentences, base ten, problem solving strategies, multiplication and division, geometry, and measurement. The students are introduced to the concepts of sorting, patterns, whole numbers, fractions, addition, subtraction, counting by 3’s, 4’s, 25’s, 50’s and 100’s, basic multiplication and division, problem solving strategies, graphs, charts, number lines, money, estimation, and measurement. The main focus is on fluency in addition and subtraction. Students master money and time.
Textbooks
The textbooks we use are evaluated on a five year cycle. We choose books based on curriculum alignment, grade level appropriateness, and overall quality.