Colebrook Consolidated School

Mrs. Pastore's Second Grade

                  GRADE 2-SECOND TO NONE!
    WHAT SECOND GRADERS ARE LIKE:
  They tend to be more independent, better at working in groups, but still in need of guidance.  Second graders can be extremely sensitive and emotionally vulnerable.  As a result they often try to solve their problems through their emotions.  "Fairness" is extremely important to them and tattling typifies the reaction to what they feel is "unfair".

         WHAT THEY SHOULD KNOW:

The "fundamentals" should already be in place.  They should be able to:
 

• Read simple books
• Write a short story and read it back to you
• Add and subtract through sums of 10
• Relate math to everyday life, such as with time and money

        Second graders will typically vary widely in their abilities however.  Some can barely decode words while others are reading fourth grade books.  Many of the "late bloomers" will "catch up" quickly, but a child who is not reading with ease by the middle of second grade should be evaluated to find out why reading is so difficult.  There may not be a major problem, but self-esteem quickly becomes an issue when friends are reading chapter books and they are barely getting through picture books.

Credits:  A Lesson Plan for Second Grade by Emily Sachar (Family Circle, 1992)
              Inside Second Grade (Redbook, 1995)

Back