2nd Grade

The primary goal of the second grade curriculum is to differentiate instruction as needed to accommodate any needs for remediation or acceleration. This is possible due to our small class size and our ability to utilize additional resources to educate your child. The second grade curriculum was designed based on what is taught at Hale Academy in the first grade and what is expected to be mastered before beginning third grade.

Math

A math pre-assessment is administered to all students within the first two weeks of school which allows the teacher to determine any remediation or accelerated needs. Additional concepts taught in math include three dimensional shapes, spatial sense, fractions, probability, and basic algebraic relationships. Math is taught by utilizing manipulatives and through real world applications.

Science

The science curriculum entails units focusing upon health science, physical science, and Earth science. We incorporate field trips and perform projects that support the concepts we learn to help bring this subject to life.

Social Studies

We begin our Social Studies curriculum by studying governments and incorporate our upcoming political elections to help students understand how unique our society is. We also study different cultures within our communities, the history of early communities in America, and the working/economic aspects of life in America.

Writing

Students are introduced to cursive writing with the expectation of mastery by the end of the year. This curriculum is taught through structured handwriting lessons and requires much practice. We begin with a pre-test during the first week of school and follow up with further assessments to track progress in this area.

Reading

Students are placed in small, leveled reading groups based on preliminary testing that addresses sight words, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. Students are formally assessed four times per year to document progress and adjust instruction and/or grouping. Leveled reading groups also incorporate spelling, grammar, and phonics.

Home Reading

This program supports the joy of reading by allowing students to select books they are particularly interested in reading outside the scope of the prescribed reading curriculum. The focus of this program is to not keep track of how many pages read at one time, but to encourage the fundamental joys of reading a story. We encourage students to “read aloud” to their parents or another adult for at least ten minutes on most evenings so that they can practice aspects of speech, rate, volume, tone and pronunciation that can be ignored when reading silently. The extra time spent with your child, and the interest you demonstrate in this special exercise further supports and enhances your child’s enthusiasm for reading.

Spanish (Meets 5 days per week)

Second graders continue to study the four major skills of Spanish: listening, speaking, reading and writing. From second grade on, students have bi-weekly tests and weekly homework assignments. Tests contain a listening portion, which can be numbers, alphabet, syllables, prices of objects, and dictation of simple words. Students listen daily to spoken Spanish during the lessons in the form of commands and directions given to them, lyrics from songs, recorded materials, movies, or listening to short stories. These activities help proper pronunciation, intonation and rhythm.

In class, students answer personal questions such as names, age, birthdays, origin, feelings, family, favorite colors, pets, and answer comprehension questions from the stories we read in class. Students learn how to read numbers 0 – 75, individual words, phrases and sentences from the board; they read short and simple stories, as well as read from their own booklets. Students learn how to spell numbers 0-75, colors, vocabulary words from the topics of study, simple greetings, farewells and write short sentences.

Note: Please understand that each successive year has similar categories of instruction; however, the skill levels become progressively more challenging and complex. Culture and grammar concepts are introduced each year as the students mature in age and understanding.

ART…

Lessons on the visual arts illustrate important elements of making and appreciating art, and emphasize well-known artists, works of art, and artistic concepts. Topics in art are often linked to different disciplines. Students experiment with a variety of media and study works from various cultures. In the lower school, students study art of the cavemen, Egyptians, Greeks and Aborigines. Mediums include crayons, markers, clay, colored pencils, paper mache’, tempera, paints and inks. Artists including Matisse, Seurat, Miro’, Da vinci, Escher, Picasso and Van Gogh are introduced.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION…

Receiving regular exercise is an integral component of growing up healthy. Second grade students receive year-long instruction and practice opportunities in a variety of age appropriate sports including kickball, soccer, tee-ball, badminton, jump rope, jogging and other aerobic activities. Active participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship are modeled and encouraged.

MUSIC…

The purpose of the music education program at Hale Academy is to develop life-long musical understanding, skill, and sensitivity. As education develops the intellect, music education develops musical ability. As musical understanding, skill and sensitivity grow, aesthetic response increases.

Hale Academy music students learn that music has duration, pitch, form, timbre and expressive qualities. They feel the emotional content that music expresses. They possess adequate understanding of their own musical heritage and that of other cultures and continually grow in their ability to listen to, respond to, and create music with understanding, skill, and sensitivity.

LIBRARY…

The media center at Hale Academy exists to stimulate our students’ love of reading and to foster their desire for life-long learning.

Lower School Competencies:

1. Understands and follows rules for appropriate use of the media center

2. Handles books and other media center materials with appropriate care

3. Gives a broad explanation of the Dewey decimal system, and locates books by category in the media center

4. Chooses age-appropriate books for personal enjoyment and to meet curriculum requirements