Philosophy: All students can learn and all students are entitled to a high-quality education.  Students learn best when they approach their education with a Growth Mindset.  The second grade teaching team encourages students to develop a growth mindset by helping students understand that mistakes they make as they work toward their goals, will help them learn.  We have high expectations for all students and celebrate all the progress students make.  Teachers use data to drive instruction, meaning through a variety of assessments, teachers determine what type of academic support is needed to help students meet the learning goals.  Students are involved in monitoring their own progress and will maintain a student data notebook to chart their personal growth.

Description:  All second grade students receive instruction in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math on a daily basis.  During the first and fourth nine weeks, students will have social studies instruction.  Science instruction will take place during the second and third nine weeks.  All instruction is based upon the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE).  The GSE outlines what students are expected to know and do at each grade level.   

Students will also participate in special classes each week: P.E. (2 days per week), Music, Art, and STEM (one day with Science and Technology focus; the other day with Engineering and Math focus).

Major Course Goals (from the RCK12 Course Descriptions)

            ELA:  Students will develop their reading skills, particularly fluency and comprehension through increased word study.  They will read and listen to books that are increasingly more complex and from a variety of genres.  Students will become more independent with the use of the writing process as they continue to write in a variety of genres.  Their written and spoken language will become more complex.

            Math: Second grade math focuses upon four critical areas: 1) extending understanding of the base ten number system; 2) building fluency with addition and subtraction; 3) using standard units of measure; and 4) describing and analyzing shapes.

            Social Studies: Second grade social studies focuses upon our state of Georgia. The history strand focuses on important historical figures in Georgia, as well as the Creek and Cherokee cultures.  The geographical strand emphasizes the regions and major rivers of Georgia.  Map skills, beginning economics, and character traits will be interwoven with the social studies concepts.

            Science: Students will engage in raising questions and seeking answers about the world around them by making observations and exploring phenomena.  They will use their math skills in science activities.  They will push, pull, and manipulate objects to find out what will happen.  They will study the changing patterns of the moon and sun and the effects upon Earth.  This includes the night sky and seasonal changes.  Students will also study life cycles.

Assessment and Grading

Students will be given pretests at the start of each unit of study.  These will be used to determine how to proceed with instructions.  Throughout the unit, students will be given a variety of assessments (both written and performance based) to determine progress.  This year we will begin standards-based grading.  This means that student work will be compared to the appropriate standard from the GSE and the student rating will be based upon how much of the standard has been met.  There are four levels: 1) Beginner, 2) Developing, 3) Proficient, and 4) Distinguished.  Level 4 is given only when the students' work goes beyond second grade level expectations.  Rubrics have been created for each standard that is taught.  The rubric describes what is expected to reach the proficient ( a grade level) rating.

Classroom Expectations

All students are expected to attend school regularly and abide by all the rules in the Student Code of Conduct.  They are expected to work respectfully with peers and adults and put forth their best efforts.

Extra Help

There is a large amount of support in place for second grade students.  All students receive Tier One instruction at grade level.  Students also receive Tier Two instruction in small groups according to their particular needs (for example, reading groups).  Second grade classes are supported by an augmented teacher who will come into the class one or two days a week and work with students as needed in ELA and math; this is our Early Intervention Program model to bring students up to grade level.  For those students who have been identified with special needs, Special Education teachers (and/or paraprofessionals) will provide support as outlined in the student’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan).  Additionally, students who have been identified as gifted will participate in the ACE program.

Contacting the Teacher

For face-to-face conferences with the teacher, please make an appointment.  The teacher's planning time is from 1:20-2:05 and after dismissal duty.  Much of this time is already scheduled for trainings and meetings.  The school phone number is (706) 796-4918. Teachers will return phone calls as soon as possible.  For faster responses, please contact teachers via email or Class Dojo.  If you have not yet connected to Class Dojo and need instructions, please let your child’s teacher know as soon as possible.