Reading - Lead 21
Lead 21 is our reading program at Winkelman. Students meet with me (their teacher) for guided reading sessions, daily. While I meet with each reading group, the remainder of our class is working on the Daily 5. The Daily 5 is a literacy management system that teaches children how to read and write for uninterrupted periods of time, so that they can work thoughtfully and independently on language activities, doing so with a sense of urgency. Students are also taught various reading strategies, through our CAFE Literacy Menu. This menu is developed throughout the year as a way to learn about specific reading strategies, to help students become thoughtful, careful and strategic readers. Students will learn how to find books that are the right match for them: not too hard and not too easy, but - Just Right!
So, what exactly do 2nd graders learn about during our reading time?
- Phonemic Awareness
These concepts are necessary to master to be thoughtful, careful, strategic readers - at any age!
In order to use Tumble Books (listening to books online from home) you will need to go to the Winkelman page, on our district website. You will find the Tumblebooks link there, which is in the form of a blue box. :)
Here is a link that will take you to the common core state standards:
During writing time, we will learn how to write for longer periods, learning how to build our writing stamina! During writing time, we will learn how to:
- Organize our ideas
- Learn to apply voice and style
- Use capital letters correctly
- End sentences with the correct punctuation
- Make sure our sentences are full of interesting, descriptive details!
- Use writing as a form of expression and communication
- Have fun with writing!
Students will work on writing daily, learning how to do free writing (students choose what they prefer to write about), narrative writing (story writing), informational writing (factual writing) and opinion writing (point of view writing).
Students will learn math with their regular classroom teacher. Math concepts we learn are related to the Common Core State Standards. Students will be exposed to multiple learning strategies, problem solving skills, critical thinking and practice of important basic mathematics algorithms.
The four main areas of 2nd grade math concepts are:
- Operations & Algebraic Thinking
- Number & Operations in Base Ten
- Measurement & Data
A link to the common core state standards:
Science is going to be a blast this year! We will start off the year with learning about Properties of Matter.
Standards of 2nd grade science students will be expected to learn:
- Structure and Properties of Matter
- Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Plants and Insects
- Earth's Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth - Slow and Fast
- Engineering Design: Bridges Project
Next Generation Science Standards link:
Students will be learning about many interesting topics related to social studies. Some social studies themes we will explore are:
- American civics and government
- Famous Americans from history
- Life in America in the past (up to 100 years ago)
- Inventors and inventions
- National symbols
- Communities and cultures
In health, students will learn all about:
- Personal cleanliness
- Dental hygiene
- Basic nutrition
- Preventive measures
- Socialization and Feelings
Some topics we learn about in LifeSmarts: