Second grade is a busy year. The children do a lot of growing and maturing. We have a great deal of work to cover.      Reading and Language Arts are a priority in second grade. We develop reading fluency, so the children read well orally  without a lot of  hesitation. We also stress reading comprehension. Sometimes children are able to read books at a higher level, but have  no understanding of what they read. We develop reading comprehension as we discuss  stories and the children answer a variety of  questions. We also work hard to develop the children’s interest in a variety of literature and authors. We use the Effective Communicator  Program to develop  the children’s writing skills. The children work on 4 types of writing during the year: simple directions, descriptive paragraphs, statements of information, and point of view. We also write in journals,  and write letters. The children need to learn to begin paragraphs with an opening sentence, and close with a conclusion. They need to write complete detailed sentences with proper punctuation.      Another important subject in second grade is Math. We use the Oneida-Madison Math Project, which follows the New York State Math Curriculum. The  children review and continue working on Math skills such as addition and subtraction facts to 20, telling time  to 5 minute intervals, counting money to $4.99, and identifying and understanding numbers to  1000.  They also learn new skills such as addition and subtraction with trading. We do daily calendar activities that reinforce some of our Math skills      In Science second graders learn about energy, life cycles, sorting and classifying, habitats, and dinosaurs. In Social  Studies, the children learn  about communities, holiday, important Americans, and our country. We all also subscribe to a weekly magazine such as Scholastic and Time for Kids to teach current events.      Parents can help their second graders by encouraging them to read at home, and by reading to them. They can also  practice counting money, telling  time, and practice basic addition and subtraction facts at home. Working together, at home and in school, we can help your child achieve the necessary goals in second grade.  Websites used in second grade Plants - How to be a plant Math Kidport Money Mat: Coins and Bills Online Money Game Online Money Worksheet Vertical Addition with regrouping Making change Cross the Swamp Double Digit Addition without regrouping Double Digit Subtraction Double digit addition and subtraction (with regrouping) Math Facts Practice Symmetry Fractions Visualizing Fractions Equal Fractions Naming Fractions Identifying Fractions Deserts Deserts Desert Webquest Telling Time: Stop the Clock! Clock Practice Black Dog’s time clock game Sorting Venn Diagrams Underground Railroad  Post Office Mural - Dolgeville, NY New Deal Art Project - Underground Railroad, Dolgeville, NY Oceans National Geographic - Creature Features Welcome to Life in the Ocean Graphing Create a Graph Communities Scholastic Community Helpers