Beth Chamberlain

Jamie Rosenquist

 

S econd grade is a vital and exciting time for students.  Our team strives to ensure that every student has the opportunity to become a member of a community of learners that is constantly growing and learning.  Our curriculum is one that engages students and excites them as they learn through a variety of styles.

W e have an extended block of daily literacy instruction, in which students are members of small reading groups.  These groups learn and practice specific literacy skills, from decoding and word attack skills to comprehension and reading different genres.  Also during this time writing and spelling is taught, using whole group instruction, small group work, and independent practice.  Being able to communicate ideas and share thoughts is an important part of the writing process, and using students own writing for skill and spelling instruction are key components of our program.

M ath is an exciting and active part of our instructional day.  Wide use of manipulatives and games helps keep students involved and interested as they learn and explore mathematical concepts and practice computation skills.  Use of the Investigations curriculum leads students to question and discover concepts in a way that they are able to internalize and grasp new ideas and relate them to real life.  Math is learned as a part of daily life, instead of an isolated skill.

U se of the FOSS (Full Option Science System) modules are a major part of our Science curriculum.  These hands-on exploratory units include weather, water and insects, as we explore the world around us, and ways in which we interact with this natural world.  Independent science units are also taught throughout the year.

I n Social Studies we have the opportunity to learn about our own country from our community to the state of Alaska.  The use of maps and globes is also a major focus throughout the year.  As we look at the world around us, we focus on the country of Australia, and ways in which this part of the world is different, and the same, as our own.  Our goal is to have students feel they are indeed members of a world community, a community in which they can play an important part.  To this end, our community service project is working with Unicef to provide for some of those who are less fortunate.

W e are lucky to have a large number of classroom volunteers to help us deliver this curriculum, from CU students to parents.  These volunteers are a vital part of our program, and add much to the educational experience of students.

T hroughout the year, we take several field trips.  These trips range from the Denver Art Museum, the Botanical Gardens, and the Denver Natural History Museum, to nearby facilities such as NCAR and CU Museums.  These trips add much to the student's experience, enriching the curriculum and giving the opportunity to further participate in our community's offerings.

W e work hard to make second grade a fun, fast-paced, exciting experience.  We help foster the growth necessary to meet the future challenges of the intermediate years.