Everything that a child encounters in his/her school day from the minute the student enters the building until he/she leaves to go home is considered the curriculum. This includes classroom experiences, lunchroom, gym, recess, and prayer as well as any other activity that occurs during the school day.
The second grade program at Sacred Heart School resumes the foundational work of the first grade program. The sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and First Eucharist, in conjunction with the parish religious education program, is the main focus of the Religion program on this grade level. The curricular groundwork of a strong literacy-based program is advanced and fortified. Students become more adept and self-reliant in their daily school work.
Continued emphasis is placed on Language Arts, Math, and Religion. All subjects that are taught have the strengthening of literacy skills as their primary focus. In the area of Penmanship, the students move from manuscript to cursive writing. Social Studies, Science, and other curricular areas are addressed according to the Archdiocese of Newark’s curriculum guidelines.
The curriculum consists of:
- Religion: Second graders prepare to receive the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist for the first time. They grow in their understanding of the mystery of the Trinity (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). They gain an understanding of the church as the people of God. They are introduced to the disciples of Jesus, and the Ten Commandments. They participate in prayer and master the following prayers: the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Prayer before Meals, and Guardian Angel Prayer. They also participate more fully in the Mass. The students attend the school Liturgy once a month.
- Reading/Language Arts: Our children participate in a regular and accelerated Reading/Language Arts Program on Fridays. This program focuses on each child’s learning style and ability.
During Reading, the students will understand and apply knowledge of sounds, letters and words in written English to become independent readers. They will read a variety of materials and texts with fluency and comprehension. Instruction also includes phonological awareness, decoding and word recognition, reading strategies that include before, during and after reading, vocabulary and concept development, and inquiry and research.
Writing is a challenging and rewarding process. The children find their voices as they creatively travel through the steps from prewriting and drafting, to editing, revising, and post-writing. Students will write in clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes. The students will demonstrate the use of correct mechanics and spelling in the various writing forms.
Students are taught to speak in clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes. Students will focus on a topic for discussion, participate in the dramatization or a play, and recite poems and/or rhymes.
Students will listen actively to information from various sources in a variety of situations. Students learn to distinguish between types of speech and are taught to follow multi step (at least two steps) oral directions. All students are expected to participate in class discussions.
Students will access, view, evaluate, and respond to print, non-print, and electronic texts and resources. Students will recognize the work of a favorite illustrator, recognize messages in simple advertisements and speculate about characters, events and settings in books, film, and television.
- Math: Our children participate in a regular and accelerated Math Program on Fridays. This program focuses on each child’s learning style and ability.
Through the study of mathematics, the second grade students will develop an appreciation of the order of unity of God’s creation and the relevance of mathematics in their daily lives. Students will be able to flexibly use mathematical concepts and procedures to complete daily tasks, reason mathematically, and analyze and respond to various situations in a logical and innovative ways.
The curriculum is based on The Archdiocese of Newark’s Mathematics Curriculum Map which identifies the content to be taught and student skills to be mastered at each grade level.
The 2nd grade map includes:
- Math Vocabulary
- Addition and Subtraction Facts/Strategies to 20
- Place Value and Expanded Form to Two Digits
- Fact Families and Fact Patterns
- Problem Solving
- Data and Graphing
- Estimation
- Compare and Order Numbers
- Multistep Problem Solving and Logical Reasoning
- Two and Three Digit Addition and Subtraction with Regrouping
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Place Value
- Time
- Money
- Fractions
- Probability
- Multiplication and Division Concepts
- 21st Century Problem Solving
- Simple Algebra
- Science: The Science curriculumincludes Earth, Physical and Life Science. The curriculum incorporates S.T.E.M – an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM Education attempts to transform the typical teacher-centered classroom by encouraging a curriculum that is driven by problem-solving, discovery, and exploratory learning. It requires students to actively engage in the situation in order to find its solution.
Our second grade students learn to recognize, investigate, and or demonstrate motion, force electricity sound, rocks, minerals, natural resources such as light and water, the Solar System, Earth-Sun-Moon system ( days, months, seasons, years) and weather conditions.
- Social Studies: Our second grade students investigate the different cultures that are part of the community, and the rights and responsibilities of community members. Students explore and demonstrate map skills including the use of cardinal directions, a compass rose and a map key. The students investigate and describe family history through three generations and compare life today with long ago. The students identify and explain the campaign and election process and identify local government officials.
- Music
- Computers
- Physical Education
- Art
- Library
- Introduction to World Language (Spanish)
