Second Grade

Class Syllabus and Procedures Outline

David Ellis Academy-West
2013-2014

Dear Parents,
Welcome to a fun and exciting year in the second grade! This is going to be a
year full of amazing opportunities and challenges. Students learn to read advanced
books, perfect math skills, become amazing authors, exceptional explorers, and super
scientists.
Attached you will find important things to note for your child as they enter
second grade, along with a general 2nd grade supply list, websites, books, and
activities to check out over the summer, and the second grade curriculum. An active
parent/guardian is one of the best tools to have when it comes to an academically
successful child. Therefore, we look forward to working with parents to help students
have a successful year.
Below are a few things to note as your child prepares to enter second grade.
Homework Policy
The purpose of homework is to reinforce learning and to assess students; therefore, students
will be expected to complete a homework packet weekly. Homework is expected to be
completed by the assigned due date. Late assignments will be accepted; however, a
reduction of points will take place.

Evaluation
Students will be evaluated on the following:
- Tests and quizzes
- Class work and homework
- Projects and activities
- Participation and group activities

Classroom Rules
Students are expected to:
1. Follow directions the first time.
2. Listen when others are talking and raise your hand.
3. Show respect for school and personal property, and others.

Parent Visitation-10/24 policy

Parent involvement is encouraged; yet, at an appropriate time. If you ARE STOPPING BY and the
VISIT will last over 10 minutes an appointment must be set up with a 24 hour notice. However, if
students are engaged in instruction, I may ask for you to wait or schedule a time to meet. If your
VISIT will last less than 10 minutes, an appointment is not necessary. BE SURE TO CHECK IN THE
OFFICE TO RECEIVE YOUR VISTIORS PASS. The best time to meet with your childs teacher is
before or after school, to not interfere with classroom instruction.

Second Grade Curriculum

Language Arts-Reading
Key Ideas and Details

Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in
a text.

Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical
procedures in a text.

Craft and Structure

Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending
concludes the action.

Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its
characters, setting, or plot.

Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from
different cultures.

Describe how reasons support specific points the author makes in a text.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, poetry and informational texts, in the grades 2
3 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

Phonics and Word Recognition

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Fluency

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

Language Arts-Writing
Text Types and Purposes

Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that
support the opinion, use linking words (e.g.,because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding
statement or section.

Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide
a concluding statement or section.

Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe
actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.

Production and Distribution of Writing

With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and
editing.

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report;
record science observations).

Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Conventions of Standard English

Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Knowledge of Language

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and
content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.

Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including
using adjectives and adverbs to describe (e.g.,When other kids are happy that makes me happy).

Mathematics
Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking
from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions.

Add and subtract within 20.

Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies.

Work with equal groups of objects to gain foundations for multiplication.

Determine whether a group of objects (up to 20) has an odd or even number of members.

Use addition to find the total number of objects arranged in rectangular arrays with up to 5 rows and up to 5 columns;
write an equation to express the total as a sum of equal addends.

Understand place value.

Understand that the three digits of a three-digit number represent amounts of hundreds, tens, and ones; e.g., 706 equals
7 hundreds, 0 tens, and 6 ones. Understand the following as special cases:

Count within 1000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s.

Read and write numbers to 1000 using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form.

Compare two three-digit numbers based on meanings of the hundreds, tens, and ones digits, using >, =, and < symbols
to record the results of comparisons.

Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.

Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the
relationship between addition and subtraction.

Add up to four two-digit numbers using strategies based on place value and properties of operations.

Add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of
operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method. Understand
that in adding or subtracting three-digit numbers, one adds or subtracts hundreds and hundreds, tens and tens, ones and
ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose or decompose tens or hundreds.

Mentally add 10 or 100 to a given number 100900, and mentally subtract 10 or 100 from a given number 100900.

Explain why addition and subtraction strategies work, using place value and the properties of operations.

Measure and estimate lengths in standard units.

Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and
measuring tapes.

Measure the length of an object twice, using length units of different lengths for the two measurements; describe how the
two measurements relate to the size of the unit chosen.

Estimate lengths using units of inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.

Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a
standard length unit.

Relate addition and subtraction to length.

Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve word problems involving lengths that are given in the same units.

Represent whole numbers as lengths from 0 on a number line diagram with equally spaced points corresponding to the
numbers 0, 1, 2, and represent whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number line diagram.

Work with time and money.

Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.

Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and symbols appropriately.
Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?

Represent and interpret data.

Generate measurement data by measuring lengths of several objects to the nearest whole unit, or by making repeated
measurements of the same object. Show the measurements by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked
off in whole-number units.

Draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. Solve
simple put-together, take-apart, and compare problems1 using information presented in a bar graph.

Reason with shapes and their attributes.

Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal
faces. Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.

Partition a rectangle into rows and columns of same-size squares and count to find the total number of them.

Partition circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, thirds,
half of, a third of, etc., and describe the whole as two halves, three thirds, four fourths. Recognize that equal shares of
identical wholes need not have the same shape.

Science

Pose questions and design experiments

Use laboratory instruments
Gather and record data
Weather conditions
Identify external structures of insects
Life cycle of insects
Solids to liquids by heating or cooling
Rotational motion

Social Studies

Elements of neighborhoods
Economical interdependence
Adaptation to physical environments
See individuals as unique
Generate possible solutions to problems or issues
Laws and rules
Resources
Global issues

Supply List
*These are the general supplies needed for your child. Each second grade teacher will
provide you with a specific one for your childs classroom in the Fall.
Individual Supplies

(2) pocket folders

(1) 1 WHITE binder
(5) 1 subject notebooks-- wide ruled

Class Consumables

(1) Boxes of pencils

(2) Boxes of crayons (24 pack)
(4) glue sticks
(1) pack loose-leaf paper (lined)
(2) boxes of Kleenex
(2) bottles of hand sanitizer
Erasers (pink eraser- 2 pack)
Scissors
Clorox Wipes

*Please note that the supply list is slightly different than the one posted on the website. Many of the
supplies with be used as class consumables rather than individual supplies.
*Markers and colored pencils are not needed at this time.

ACTIVITIES FOR SUMMER FUN

RECOMMENDED BY SECOND GRADE TEACHERS
1.) Join a Library summer reading program.
2.) Read to your little brother or sister, grandparents, a pet, or a stuffed animal everyday!
3.) Try to read an entire series of books. (Example: Cam Jansen, Nate the Great, Magic Tree
House, Magic School Bus, The Littles).
4.) Read the same book as a friend and then talk about it. Write a book review together.
5.) Read your cereal box and other boxes of food, too.
6.) Read and try to follow a recipe or a craft project.
7.) Read the signs around your community.
8.) Keep practicing those addition and subtraction facts FAST!!
9.) Use tools to measure. For example, help to measure out a garden, weigh foods at the
grocery store, measure how much you grow this summer, measure how tall your plants grow, or
use capacity containers to measure water and sand.
10.) Find examples of arrays, patterns, and fractions in your home and neighborhood.
11.) Play Monopoly substitute with different monetary amounts.
12). Get a watch and practice telling time.
13.) Save your own money and use it to buy things you want. Practice counting out change or
deciding how much change you might get back.
14.) See how many different states license plates you can spot this summer. Color the states
you find on a US map.
15.) Make a lemonade stand or have a garage sale. Make your own posters and price tags.
Decide how you will use the money you earn to get what you need or want.

16.) Continue to visit different communities. Can you tell if you are in a rural, suburban, or
urban community?
17.) Collect postcards from places you have visited.
18.) Be a keen observer of nature all around you. Use all of your senses. Sketch and label what
you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell in a special scientists notebook. Dont forget to look up,
down and all around!
19.) While you are camping or hiking, look for rocks, plants or insects and describe them to your
family.
20.) Write a book or keep a journal about a trip or about your summer vacation.
21.) Write a letter to a teacher, friend, relative, sports star, movie star or T.V. star.
22.) Before you visit a place this summer, go to the library or check the internet to research
some information about that location.
23.) Play school with a brother, sister or friend. You get to be the teacher!
24.) Make a map of places you visit this summer. Make sure you include a title, compass rose
and a map key.
25.) Lay on your back and look at the clouds in the sky. Decide what type of clouds they are,
what type of weather they may bring and what objects they look like.
26.) Stay up late with your parents to see if you can identify any planets, stars or
constellations in the night sky.
27.) Go grocery shopping with your parents. Write the shopping list and estimate your total
grocery bill. Check your parents change.
28.) When you take a trip in your car or van, check the odometer when you leave and when you
return. Calculate how far you traveled in miles.
29.) Send an e-mail to someone you know.
30.) Write a book or a story for someone who is special to you.
31.) Read both FICTION and NONFICTION books (use comprehension strategies while reading
(making connections, predictions, summarizing, retell in sequential order))

WEBSITES FOR SUMMER FUN

RECOMMENDED BY SECOND GRADE TEACHERS
*http://www.xtramath.org
*http://www.starfall.com
*http://www.henryanker.com
*http://www.turtlediary.com
* http://pbskids.org/lions/stories
* http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/unmatching/index.html
* http://www.gigglepoetry.com/
* http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain/MathBrain.html
* http://www.switchzoo.com/
* http://www.earobics.com/gamegoo/gooey.html
*http://theandrewslibrary.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6
5:dra-list&catid=34:andrews-content (Gives a list of books at each reading level
will help with selecting appropriate books)

Practice these words daily! Make flashcards if needed.

Complete Dolch Word List Divided by Level
Pre-primer
a
and
away
big
blue
can
come
down
find
for
funny
go
help
here
I
in
is
it
jump
little
look
make
me
my
not
one
play
red
run
said
see
the
three
to
two
up
we
where
yellow
you

Primer
all
am
are
at
ate
be
black
brown
but
came
did
do
eat
four
get
good
have
he
into
like
must
new
no
now
on
our
out
please
pretty
ran
ride
saw
say
she
so
soon
that
there
they
this
too

under
want
was
well
went
what
white
who
will
with
yes

Grade One
after
again
an
any
ask
as
by
could
every
fly
from
give
going
had
has
her
him
his
how
just
know
let
live
may
of
old
once
open
over
put
round
some
stop
take
thank
them
then
think
walk
were
when

Grade Two
always
around
because
been
before
best
both
buy
call
cold
does
dont
fast
first
five
found
gave
goes
green
its
made
many
off
or
pull
read
right
sing
sit
sleep
tell
their
these
those
upon
us
use
very
wash
which

why
wish
work
would
write
your

Grade Three
about
better
bring
carry
clean
cut
done
draw
drink
eight
fall
far
full
got
grow
hold
hot
hurt
if
keep
kind
laugh
light
long
much
myself
never
only
own
pick
seven
shall*
show
six
small
start
ten
today
together
try
warm

In a single subject notebook, write 3-5 sentences for each topic.

JUNE
Sun

Mon
17

16

Tue
18

Wed
19

20

This summer,
I would like
to
24
25
My favorite
place to read
is

23/30

Sun

Mon

Thu

Fri

Sat

21

22

28
I feel happy
when

29

What makes
a good
friend?
26
I am good
at

Tue

27

Wed

2
3
It drives me
crazy when

Thu

Fri

Sat

4
4th of July
means

8
9
Something
special about
me is

10
When Im
bored, I.

11

12
My favorite
animal is

13

14

15

16
If animals
could talk.

17

18
I wish I
could

19

20

21

22
Favorite
movie
Why?

23

24
25
Favorite
book Why?

26
Favorite
game
Why?

27

JULY

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

28

29

30
31
I like when
my teacher

5
At the
beach

Thu

1
I wish my
parents
would

7
8
It makes me
laugh
when

Fri

Sat

9
I like summer
because.

10

11

18

12

13
14
If I had a
magic school
bus, I would
go to.

19
20
What should
your 2nd
grade
teacher know
about you?

15

16

17

23
Make a list
of your top 5
summer
memories

24

Make a list of
8 places you
would like to
go.

21
22
Make a list
of things you
look forward
to doing in
2nd grade.

JULY/AUGUST

Have a great summer!