Second Grade at Pioneer Academy | Best Private School in Passaic County

Pioneer’s K–4 Language Arts program is based on the reading and writing workshop model developed by Teachers College at Columbia University. This focused approach ensures that each student develops the skills needed to excel as a reader, writer, speaker, and listener. Our classroom libraries are loaded with engaging titles from our students' favorite series, all of which are ideal for elementary school libraries.

Through read-alouds, guided reading, and book groups, children develop listening and comprehension skills and learn to express their ideas. “Read, Stop, Think!” strategies are taught to build skills in predicting, visualizing, summarizing, and making inferences.

Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary are integrated as students master mechanics while writing for a variety of audiences and in a wide range of genres. The writing process includes pre-writing, revising, and editing. Each student is encouraged to develop skills that lead to a lifelong love of reading while guided in developing a voice as a writer.

Each session begins with a mini lesson. Kids sit with a long-term partner while in the mini lesson.
The mini lesson ends with the kids being sent off to their own independent work.
As students work, the teacher confers with them and leads small groups.
Partway through independent work time, the teacher stands and delivers a mid-workshop teaching point.
The workshop ends with a share.

Reading
‍Grade 2 Students focus on developing good reading habits at the start of the year. Reading skills are taught in a variety of settings, including whole-class mini-lessons, small, skill-based reading groups, and one-on-one conferences between students and teachers. Second graders learn the value of talking about books in ways that support and ensure comprehension. Students begin to use reading logs in second grade. This assignment enables each child to be responsible for their daily reading.

‍Writing
‍Students learn to write with increasing independence in second grade. They are encouraged to write more frequently and to modify, reconsider, and rewrite with more ease. Students investigate elements of good writing in a variety of reading and writing assignments, including numerous crafts and writer's tools, as well as more fundamental ones like structure, attention, and detail. Narrative writing, writing with writers as mentors, writing and revising realistic fiction, expert projects, writing to learn and teach about a topic of personal knowledge, and poetry are some of the units of study. Technology is blended into writing and Chromebooks are used as an invaluable tool for a storytelling project.
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‍STANDARDS AND SKILLS:‍

Make predictions, inferences, and retell what has been read
Spell grade-level words conventionally
Use beginning and ending punctuation and capitalization
Write clear and complete sentences
Sequence writing with a beginning, a middle, and an end

All students will acquire the knowledge and skills to think analytically about how past and present interactions of people,cultures,and the environment shape the American heritage. Such knowledge and skills enable students to make informed decisions that reflect fundamental rights and core democratic values as productive citizens in local, national, and global communities.

In grades K-4, students learn fundamental concepts about government, citizenship, geography, economics, and history. The focus of instruction is on developing an understanding of core democratic values, the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, and how key people and events contributed to the development of the American heritage. Exploration of cultural universals enables students to realize how the availability of resources, the changing environment, and innovation impact everyday life.

Grade 2 Social Studies builds on the topics covered in Kindergarten and Grade 1. In the first unit students will closely examine their community with an emphasis on types of communities, needs and wants, goods and services, producers and consumers, and earning and using money. Students will gain an understanding of how a proper running community functions and operates.

The second unit will concentrate on using maps and globes in connection with the world. Students will participate in numerous activities using maps and globes to tell direction, relationship between physical features, and specific locations. Students will also examine the causes of night, day, seasons, and different climates.

The third unit will explore the United States of America and New Jersey's history and government. Locations of neighboring countries and states will be examined, as well as the location of capitals. Past important leaders and historical documents will also be discussed in detail. Students will examine other cultures from around the world and be able to highlight any differences or similarities.
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STANDARDS AND SKILLS

Understand need for community norms
Appreciate differences and similarities
Understand influence of climate and location
Understand and use time-sequence terms, change over time
Understand concept of goods to market

Our inquiry-based science program encourages children to satisfy their curiosities through experiences. Presented with open-ended questions, students gather evidence, conduct experiments in the lab and in the field, propose solutions, and collaborate with one another to defend their thinking. Experiential lessons deepen content knowledge in relevant ways. Students gain awareness of the natural world while enhancing skills needed in a world of rapidly expanding scientific knowledge. Students connect concepts, develop critical-thinking skills, and gain confidence in communicating their ideas clearly.

Second graders use questioning, observing, measuring, and concluding skills while exploring the properties of matter.

Students begin to build a knowledge of the world's animal biodiversity in second grade science. They look into animal taxonomy and the characteristics that distinguish each group.

The attention then shifts to habitats and how the surrounding environment influences which creatures live in a given habitat. Through hands-on research, students continue to investigate the needs of plants. They investigate why and how plants disseminate their seeds, as well as what those seeds require to grow and what adult plants require to survive and prosper.

Students investigate the effects of water on the Earth's surface. Students build and use mountain models to explain how water flows downhill, transforming massive rocks into the little grains of sand found at the beach. Students also build and use model hills to figure out what causes erosion and how to solve erosion-related problems. Students investigate the properties of matter and materials! They characterize and classify many types of materials based on qualities such as hardness, flexibility, and absorbency, and they look into how these properties might help meet basic human needs (such as clothing and cooking). They also look into how heating and cooling alter material qualities.

MYSTERY SCIENCE is a curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and supports Common Core. It features rigorous lessons in science and engineering that inspire students to love science. Each Mystery begins with a question that is explored through hands-on scientific investigations, discussion questions, engaging videos and experiences that connect to real-world phenomena.

Grade 2 Planning Guide

Pioneer Academy's STEM Program for second grade offers an engaging and comprehensive curriculum that focuses on both engineering and technology concepts. Students explore a variety of units designed to develop their skills and understanding in these fields.

In the Engineering Units, second-grade students participate in science labs where they actively engage in hands-on experiments, fostering their curiosity and understanding of scientific principles. Through these labs, students gain valuable experience in observation, experimentation, and data collection.

The Engineering Design Challenges unit presents students with real-world problems and encourages them to apply their creativity and critical thinking skills to design and construct solutions. This unit promotes teamwork as students collaborate and communicate ideas to solve engineering challenges.

Using K'Nex, students are introduced to the foundations of engineering and construction. They learn to build structures, explore design concepts, and develop spatial reasoning skills.

The VEX Go Robotics unit offers students the opportunity to delve into the exciting world of robotics. Using the VEX Go Robotics platform, students learn about robotics design, coding, and problem-solving as they construct and program robots to complete specific tasks.

STEM Kits provide hands-on activities and projects that allow students to explore various STEM concepts and apply their knowledge in a practical setting. These kits engage students in critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

In the technology units, second-grade students receive an introduction to computers, learning about their functions and basic operations. They also explore the importance of digital citizenship, focusing on responsible and safe behavior while using digital tools and platforms.

Digital Design introduces students to the principles of design and provides opportunities for them to create digital projects using age-appropriate tools and software.

To enhance their technological literacy, students develop typing skills, handwriting abilities, and engage in spelling and writing activities that integrate technology.

The use of Google Chrome and Google tools is introduced, providing students with foundational knowledge of digital tools for collaboration, research, and productivity.

Throughout the curriculum, Math Connections are made to demonstrate the relationship between technology and mathematics, highlighting how computational thinking can be applied to solve mathematical problems.

Pioneer Academy's second-grade STEM Program offers a well-rounded and interactive learning experience, combining engineering and technology to develop students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and technological skills. By engaging in hands-on activities and projects, students develop a solid foundation in these fields, preparing them for future STEM pursuits.

Physical Education gives opportunities for children to be creative, cooperative and competitive and to face diverse challenges both as individuals and in groups.

A “good workout” helps ease anxiety, tension and stress and will result in improved attention in class.

Lower School Physical Education Classes give students the opportunity to grow outside of the classroom. The Curriculum is focused around locomotor movements, teamwork, communication, and cooperation.

Pioneer Academy’s Physical Education program promotes the use of Life Skills to help children develop physical and social skills and a lifelong love for healthy physical activity. The program’s four essential components are reinforced through play and practice:

Pioneer Academy’s Physical Education program promotes the use of Life Skills to help children develop physical and social skills and a lifelong love for healthy physical activity. The program’s four essential components are reinforced through play and practice:

Sportsmanship—Each student learns positive social behavior through movement and interaction with others.
Physical fitness—Students learn to develop and maintain the best possible level of performance, understanding, and appreciation for physical fitness.
Skill acquisition—Each student learns specific skills, such as throwing, catching, striking, and kicking.
Self-image—Students develop a positive self-image that includes awareness and understanding of one’s body, the use of the body as a means of expression, and the body as an instrument for self-realization.

Physical education classes begin with warm-up activities. Jogging, jumping rope, parachute games, tumbling, and dance activities build aerobic and anaerobic endurance. Games designed to develop physical skills that include agility, balance, object manipulation, spatial awareness, directionality, and creative movement are enjoyed in large and small groups.

Foundational sports skills of jumping; catching and throwing; kicking, trapping and dribbling; and volleying and striking are learned in a fun, noncompetitive atmosphere. All partner and group play is supervised to help children develop positive personal skills, self-esteem, and ease in cooperative social situations.

Upon completing second grade, each student will be proficient in the skills taught, and be prepared for the more advanced skills encountered in third grade.

PIONEER

Second Grade

At Pioneer Academy, second grade is a memorable time full of hands-on learning, active exploration, and genuine fun.

Second Grade

At Pioneer Academy, second grade is a memorable time full of hands-on learning, active exploration, and genuine fun.

Curriculum