Second grade encompasses the
strengths and interests of all
students and helps to make each a
better person through acts of
kindness.

In our classroom there is a heavy
focus on science. Learning is
done through discovery of
materials and discussion of
evidence that was found.
Interactions and systems attract
students who enjoy working
through hands-on activities and
exploring theories that they
have. Magnets, electricity,
gears, and chemistry are used to
teach students about how objects
interact within a system. Life
science is studied through units
on insects and frogs. Life
cycles are witnessed through
actual specimen of xenopus frogs,
silk worm moths, chicks, and
praying mantises. Development is
compared, and food chains,
habitats, and characteristics are
examined.

Social studies comes to life with
a focus on the past and present.
Students learn about the past
with units on Native Americans,
Columbus, and historical
figures.

Children learn about China,
Mexico, and Antarctica through in
depth units on each. They learn
about the way of life in the past
and present in these countries
and continents. They also learn
about the wildlife, celebrations,
and interesting facts about
each. We also focus our
attention on the environment and
how we can help take care of it
through our actions.

Character building is a strong
focus. Students learn how
to "build their character
muscles" through practicing
caring, cooperation, citizenship,
etc. Role playing and self
examination play a vital role in
building the person each student
hopes to be. Acts of Kindness
Month is celebrated school-wide
and is hosted by the second
grade.

Community service is practiced
through cupcake sales twice a
year. Students take part in
making and selling the cupcakes.
They write about the experience
both to the charity receiving the
money earned and in their writing
journals.

Math is studied during a three-
part program. A typical math
book is used, focusing on
addition and subtraction with
regrouping, time and money, and
geometry. Students also work on
problem solving activities each
class time, setting up each
problem as an addition equation.
After reading the information in
the problem, students plug in
numbers that are given and find
the missing number. Finally,
math facts are practiced on a
daily basis through timed tests.

Second grade also begins the step
ahead program for students who
are more advanced and gifted in
math. These children may advance
to the third grade math class if
recommended by the teacher and if
testing suggests that the student
is ready.

Reading instruction is given
through basal readers and chapter
books. Students strengthen their
oral and silent reading skills
through basal textbooks, focusing
on skills of each unit. Then,
chapter books are incorporated in
to expand comprehension and
vocabuary skills. Students are
given a goal each quarter to
fulfill reading and taking tests
in an Accelerated Reader
program.

Students learn to strengthen
their writing skills through
creative writing activities and
the six traits of writing. In
each activity, students are
taught different methods to use
to generate ideas (story web,
picture, etc.). The writing
process is carried through from
rough draft to final copy.
Research skills are also taught.

Manuscript writing is reviewed,
paying particular attention to
neatness, form, and size. Mid-
year, cursive writing is taught
through daily instruction and is
practiced in cross-curricular
activities.

Spelling and phonetic instruction
goes hand in hand. Students
practice spelling through weekly
lists, combining new words with
review ad challenge words. They
team up with another classmate
for daily spelling tutoring.
Spelling sentences, made up of
commonly spelled and used words,
accompany weekly instruction. In
this way, students are exposed to
spelling words that they
naturally use in everyday
writing, and are required to
master the spelling of each.
Phonetic instruction is taken
from the pattern of spelling used
in the weekly list of words.

A dramatic performance is also
performed each year by the second
graders to the enjoyment of the
entire student body and the
parents of the second grade
students.

CLICK ON SPECIALS TO READ WHAT
THE SECOND GRADERS ARE LEARNING
IN SPANISH, SIGN LANGUAGE, MUSIC,
ART, COMPUTERS, AND PE.

At Forest Ridge Academy we
believe it is important to get
our students up before a crowd,
as often as possible, to enhance
their speaking and leadership
skills.

Second graders also have classes
in Spanish, Sign Language, PE,
music, computers, and art. To
learn more about these programs
please click on the appropriate
link.

To learn more about the
happenings in second grade click
on classroom pages and then on
second grade.