2nd Grade

The Child

Second graders’ imagination, interest, and focus are more attuned to learning. These students become increasingly aware of their experiences in the larger world and the values and perspectives of others. Savvy now to the ways of school, they retain the imitative and self-focused consciousness of early childhood even as they look more to the outer world to learn from the experiences of others. They are beginning to form the consciousness of self that exists independent of others, and they are looking for models in the world outside of family to guide their way. Their sense of community deepens even as they extend the security of “family” to classmates and teachers.

The Class

Students in second grade transition from the experience of one and the whole to duality and comparison. Exploring the archetypal notions of good and evil, fables from around the world offer lessons of morality and personal responsibility, while simultaneously appealing to the trickster personality of the second grader. Stories of the saints and of individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to humankind cultivate a sense of wonder and admiration for human striving. As reading skills continue to expand, independent reading — both silent and aloud — is encouraged. Independent writing also begins to play a greater role in language arts. During math lessons, place value, carrying, borrowing, long division and mental math are added to arithmetic skills. Multiplication tables from 1-12 are thoroughly mastered this year.

    • Four operations in vertical form with regrouping

    • Multiplication tables

    • Numerical patterns

    • Form drawing

    • Reading

    • Writing

    • Spelling

    • Intro to grammar & punctuation

    • World legends: fables & folk tales

    • Fables and folklore

    • Legends of “holy” people from various cultures who have made a difference

    • Native American stories & poetry

    • Spanish

    • Nature observations & stories

    • Pentatonic flute

    • Singing

    • Drawing

    • Free-hand geometric drawing

    • Watercolor Painting

    • Beeswax modeling

    • Sewing

    • Knitting

    • Crocheting

  • Eurythmy, developed by Rudolf Steiner, is an art of human movement set to music, poetry, or speech. It is intended to be a complement to intellectual learning. By studying eurythmy, students learn dexterity of movement, grace, poise, balance, and concentration. They also develop a sense for sound and space and a feeling for social harmony.

    • Group & collaborative games

    • Hikes