Reading: Capitol Hill’s 2nd grade reading
curriculum consists of literature based units used in conjunction with
the district’s adopted basal series. The literature-based books used
for unit studies include fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, folk tales,
biographies, fantasy and poetry. During unit studies, books at a
variety of reading levels are used to accommodate different reading
levels. Skill presentations follow the district’s basal scope and
sequence of reading skills. A variety of authors and illustrators are featured during the various unit studies throughout the year. Second graders are expected to read aloud at home for 10 minutes each school day.
Math: The
2nd grade math curriculum consists of a scope and sequence that
addresses individual students' needs combined with strategic problem
solving. Students are placed in ability groups based on their skill
levels. The math standards from the National Council of Mathematics
Teachers are incorporated into the Everyday Math Series. You can expect
your 2nd grader to have math homework every night.
Science: Units in 2nd grade include life, earth and physical sciences. Some of the units are: Life Cycles (insects, amphibians, monarchs, and plants) Investigations (bubbles or popcorn) Solids and Liquids, Habitats and Food Chains Health, Changes Over Time
Global Studies: The
2nd grade global studies focuses on communities. Some of the units
are: black history, women’s history, bus safety, geography and how
people lived, current events, expectations, rights and
responsibilities, time lines and graphs.
Language Arts: The four main components of the language arts curriculum are Writers’ Workshop, spelling, grammar and handwriting. The spelling consists of a weekly list of words. For students who show mastery on the pretest, an alternate list is offered. We use the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum for reinforcing the manuscript alphabet. Students learn correct word usage, capitalization and basic forms of punctuation in 2nd grade. The
Writers’ Workshop is a curriculum that has students writing every day.
There is a mini-lesson which teaches or reinforces a skill or craft and
then the students put into practice what they’ve learned during the
mini-lesson. These are the major units of study in Writers’ Workshop:
living the writerly life, personal narrative writing, poetry, mentor
author, fiction and nonfiction writing. The students will be writing
each day in their journals and will have several published pieces of
work at the end of the school year.
Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School -- 560 Concordia St. Paul, Minnesota -- 651-325-2500 -- St. Paul Public Schools
