Mrs. Sherwood-Dixon’s Class

About Second Grade
By second grade, most children have adjusted to the routine and pace of the school day.  Their experiences in the earlier grades have given them a sense of comfort and confidence when approaching learning activities.  Therefore, most time is spent on “academic” activities.  There is greater emphasis on specific subjects like science and social studies.

Second-graders now have writing and verbal skills that better match their lively imaginations and growing interests  These students can write about fictional and non-fictional events.  They are more capable of memorizing, recalling and connecting details and ideas.

Parents should see a marked increase in time needed to complete homework assignments and independent projects.  Parents can help by working with their children to plan and organize their time and work space.

As you work with your child, please remember that it will take most children the entire year to master the following skills and concepts:
 

• Write complete sentences with appropriate spelling, capitalization and punctuation.
• Write three or more sentences about one idea.
• Use the writing process (rough draft, editing and final copy) to complete writing assignments.
• Write for different purposes, e.g., to persuade.
• Read smoothly.  Pause at commas and stop at the end of sentences.
• Use a variety of strategies, including phonics, pictures and context clues, to increase understanding while reading.
• Recall the details of stories including the people, where the story took place and what the story was about.
• Explain the difference between fiction and non-fiction.
• Use a table of contents to locate information.
• Present information orally to the class.
• Put words in alphabetical order using the first and second letters.

• Explain different ways to solve a math problem.
• Use mental math or paper and pencil to add and subtract number combinations up to 20.
• Write and recognize the one’s, ten’s and hundred’s places in three-digit numbers.
• Identify the parts (2 halves, 3 thirds, 4 fourths, 6 sixths, and 8 eighths) that equal one whole.
• Use symbols and words to compare two numbers using greater than >, less than <, equal to =, and not equal to .
• Tell time to the hour and half hour.
• Tell time in five-minute intervals.
• Write the value of coins using decimal points and dollar signs.
• Identify shapes (square, triangle, cube, pyramid, etc.) by the number of sides, angles.
• Sort and label objects according to size, shape, etc.
• Use tally marks and graphs to represent and organize information.

• Identify the three basic components of soil.
• Use different instruments and tools (funnels, filter and magnifying glass) to conduct simple tests on soil samples.
• Observe and record how plants grow in different types of soil.
• Describe the life cycle of a living thing (plants, butterfly, frog, etc.)
• Use a balance pan scale to weigh and compare objects.
• Explain how different forces (wind, water, magnetism, etc.) cause objects to move.
• Plan a menu to show the types of foods that should be eaten each day.
• Describe things that they should do to have a healthy body (exercise, do not drink or use drugs, eat vegetables and fruits).

• List several positions of leadership that are filled by election.
• Explain or give examples that show the difference between “responsibilities” and “rights”.
• Explain the differences between and give examples of instances when they are “consumers” and “producers”.
• Use maps and globes to identify the continents and oceans.
• Use directional words (north, south, east and west) to describe locations on a map or globe.
• State several similarities and differences between present-day life in the United States and colonial times (dress, food, transportation, inventions in the 1700s).
• Describe the customs, houses, foods, etc. of early Native Americans in Delaware