Welcome to Second Grade!

Social Studies:

  In second grade we study a variety of cultures in our social studies units. These cultural groups in San Francisco include Native Americans, Chinese-Americans, African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and Mexican-Americans. We have an Italian lunch in the classroom, a tour of Chinatown with lunch in a Chinese restaurant, a trip to the Japanese Tea Garden, and a visit to view the murals in the Mission followed by lunch in a Mexican restaurant. In science we study changes, the environment, simple machines, inventions and astronomy. We go to Slide Ranch, an environmentally conscious community, and during our astronomy unit we visit the Planetarium in Golden Gate Park.

 Math:

  We have math almost every day. For math we use the Everyday Mathematics curriculum which introduces content in a spiral format. A subject is introduced, taught and then revisited at a later time. There is an emphasis on problem solving, partner work and math games. Along with addition and subtraction, units include telling time, puzzle solving, measurement, geometry, math number stories, fractions and simple multiplication and division. Our math lessons are mostly whole class lessons with either independent, group work or partner work.

 Language Arts:

Our language arts curriculum includes ability based reading groups which meet every day. This increases the amount of teacher attention each student receives. We also have a writer's workshop program where each child works on his own creative stories. In addition we use the Rebecca Sitton spelling program to encourage students to spell correctly in their everyday writing. Students also participate in a silent reading period a few times a week.

 Other Activities:

Students have P.E. every day for 30 minutes, art once a week for one hour and ten minutes, and music three days a week for 30 minutes per day.