Second Grade

The children make a great leap from First to Second Grade, perhaps one of the biggest leaps in their school career. Writing, which was virtually an extension of drawing in Grade One, now stands on its own; numbers, whose qualitative aspect was stressed last year, now are recognized as quantities, extending in space and time. And the world of Fairy Tales, although not completely absent, now makes way for the Lives of the Saints – biographies of men and women with an historical verity – and fables.

If the circle is a picture of First Grade, all whole and unified, each part sustaining the rest, the Second Grade may be seen as two parallel lines. For the child is no longer carried by the dreamy sense of security in all that encircles him, but begins to experience a delicate quality of “apartness”, of “identity”. At this age, criticalness may suddenly appear, along with a tendency to squabble endlessly, or feel persecuted by “everybody”, bereft of friends. The Fables point out the foibles suddenly appearing all over; the Saints’ legends calm, console and reassure.

Second Grade Curriculum

Second graders continue their studies with the following core subjects: form drawing, language arts, mathematics, science, art class, gardening, music, handwork, games, drama, and Spanish. Each subject is brought in an enlivened and developmentally appropriate way which is made relevant to the child through stories, songs, rhymes, verses, activities that move the physical body and artistic endeavors that move the soul.

We start the year with form drawing, introducing ‘mirrored’ forms, which help children to ‘see’ the other side of the equation through their drawing. In mirroring a form the child has to be able to see its sister form across the horizontal or vertical midline and be able to recreate it with accuracy. We also bring flowing forms, creating the foundation for cursive writing which will be introduced later in the year. As in first grade, form drawing integrates the whole body as we walk, run, draw in sand, with chalk, with our feet, sculpt with our bodies and eventually bring the form to the page with pencil.

With the introduction of all of the capital letters in first grade we are now ready to bring the lower case letters to the children. Working with songs, poems, verses and rhymes the children write what they have already memorized through recitation. Once these words are on the page they can already read what they have written. The budding ability to read in first grade is now expanded and strengthened. The children are now at a point where they can start to create their own sentences, with the aid of the teacher, as they recall yesterday’s story of a great being or fable. The teacher writes this on the board as they collaborate in capturing the essence of the story. Finally, the children write it for themselves as they author their own main lesson books and enliven them with pictures. As the year progresses, grammar is introduced with liveliness and humor by acting out stories in which the children can experience the contrast between doing words, naming words and describing words.

Mathematics continues in deepening the children’s understanding and practical knowledge of the four processes. Through stories and games the children will expand the size of the numbers in which they are able to confidently work with. Place value is taught in an imaginative way. As well as the concepts of carrying-over and borrowing. The children will expand their acuity with the multiplication tables up to 12×12, which will continue to be reinforced for the next several grades. Manipulatives are still used but more and more focus is placed on mental math as the children internalize their knowledge of numbers.

Nature study continues with our weekly nature walks and field trips. Our Friday ‘outdoor classroom’ at exquisite Sanborn Park joins us with the first graders and older kindergartners. We will also take trips to the beach, farm and other venues that will enhance the curriculum and the children’s exposure to nature in all its beauty and forms. Using nature journals we will continue to focus their observation skills, seeing the signs of the changing seasons and the

details of the world around us. Main lesson work is brought out of the children as we explore the world: reciting our times tables as we march up the mountain, singing seasonal songs, drawing forms in the dirt with a stick, creating geometric forms with branches, or simply trying to figure out how to fit 15 peo

ple in four cars. Most importantly the children start to find themselves and their place in the world at a deeper level through the challenges (rain, cold, steep climbs) and majesty of the natural world.

In addition to water color painting and bees max modeling which the children explored in First Grade, we will now expand the mediums in which we workto include the fabric arts, clay sculpting and potting, painting with other types of paint, paper modeling, weaving and other crafts. These activities are all integrated into the curriculum to bring another side to the learning, reinforcing what they have learned and brining it deeper into their soul life.

Music continues to deepen as the Second Graders become more fluent with their recorder. Music theory and note reading are brought along further through games and fun activities. Listening, however, continues to be the most important facility that is developed. Students mimic the tones their teacher makes with their recorder and their voices. Ms More moves the children along in song and games and introduces various instruments to enhance their appreciation, dexterity and skill development. Although formal music class is once per week, each day is filled with singing and flute playing. As well each Wednesday the entire school (and willing parents) come together for a community Sing-along.

Form Drawing

Handwork skills progressed rapidly in First Grade and the students are now ready to take on more complicated stitches and projects. Purling and crocheting will be introduced and the children will create practical (wash cloths) and fun (gnome dolls) items that they will be able to use and treasure. Their math and cognitive skills are enhanced as they plan their projects and keep constant track of where they are. Neurological development is nurtured; it is said that the hands are the window through which the brain develops. The stillness and repetition of the stitches allow time for inner contemplation and reflection. And the pride of accomplishment when they finish their hard labored efforts is unlike anything else.

Spanish, Gardening and Games classes continue to further develop the children’s skills as well as their appreciation for the world, other people and cultures, their own bodies and their developing inner awareness.