Second Grade

Ways in Which Parents can Supplement School

by Dr. Lyman C. Hunt, Jr.

READING - Parents can help in These Ways:

1. Develop a home library containing many kinds of reading material.
2. Encourage your child to read, by setting a good example.
3. Provide regular opportunity in the family schedule for reading activity.
4. Have your child take out his/her own public library card and encourage him/her to use the library regularly.
5. Help your child develop reading readiness by reading to him/her often.
6. Encourage your child to use their ability to read for practical purposes, such as to read the newspaper--to get enjoyment, to get answers to questions, to find out how to make and do things that are interesting.
7. Show interest in your child's reading development; commend progress.
8. Subscribe to a children's magazine such as Child Life, Jack and Jill, My Weekly Reader, and Highlights for Children.
9. Plan with teacher before attempting to teach your child reading at home.
10. Have a good dictionary and other general reference books in the home library and encourage their use.

LANGUAGE (Writing and Speaking) - Parents Can Help in These Ways:

1. Encourage your child to write cards and letters to friends and relatives.
2. Encourage your child to use their writing skills for practical purposes, such as writing shopping lists, telephone messages, diaries, and memos.
3. Have family bulletin board; encourage your child to write messages for it.
4. Help your child proofread letters he has written.
5. Be a good example by making your own handwriting legible.
6. See that your child writes his name and addresses letters legibly.
7. Allow your child to write with his left hand if he definitely prefers it.
8. Give your child freedom to talk in turn--allow him sufficient time to relate his activities, state his side of problems and have questions answered.
9. Set a good example in use of grammar in own speech by avoiding incorrect expressions such as: "can't hardly," "like these kind," "if I was you," "him and me," and "for you and I."
10. Be a good example in your own pronunciation of words- speak clearly and avoid such expressions as "jist" for "just," "kin" for "can," "git" for "get."
11. Be a good listener and encourage your child to do the same.
12. Give your child guided experiences he can write and talk about at school. For example, help him learn to observe carefully what he sees--what color is the bird, about how tall is that tree, what kind of fruit will that tree bear.
13. Teach your child to use the telephone courteously and correctly.
14. Help your child to learn suitable ways of introducing people.

Health - Parents Can Help in These Ways:

1. Provide your child with an adequate breakfast.
2. Make certain your child gets sufficient rest and sleep.
3. Encourage your child to get plenty of outdoor exercise.
4. Make certain that your child wears proper clothing, such as shoes that fit.
5. Make certain that your child develops good habits of health and cleanliness.
6. Teach your child to brush his teeth properly and regularly.
7. Get regular examination of your child's teeth, eyes, throat, etc., by physician.
8. Have a physician to whom your child is regularly referred for physical check-ups and treatment in case of illness.
9. Secure prompt correction of physical defect reported by school nurse.
10. Provide happy home life in which your child feels wanted and secure.
11. Make sure your child gets all the kinds of food a growing body needs.
12. Make certain that your child gets suitable kinds of recreation.

GENERAL - Parents Can Help in These Ways:

1. Permit and encourage your child to have hobbies and out-of-school interests, such as stamp collecting, etc.
2. Permit and encourage your child to join a youth organization, such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, and 4-H Club.
3. Discuss with your child's teacher on best ways of helping your child improve his/her schoolwork before attempting to give such help.
4. Show a steady interest in your child's daily schoolwork.
5. Help your child understand school report cards and help him plan ways of overcoming possible weaknesses.
6. Encourage your child to prepare lessons that have been assigned as homework.
7. Give your child opportunity to attend an organized summer camp.
8. Help your child get suitable recreation including family picnics in spots provided in local, state or national parks.
9. Get acquainted with your child's teacher; occasionally visit his/her classroom.
10. Take an active part in the PTA or Parent Club of the school your child attends.
11. Give active support to neighborhood youth organizations.
12. Attend meetings of School Board from time to time or in other ways keep informed on School Board actions and problems.
    

Second Grade Courses

1. September
1. Life Science – Animals
1. Life cycles
2. Vertebrates
2. October
1. Life Science
1. Animals, continued
2. Research
3. November
1. Earth/Space – Weather
1. Water cycle
2. Temperature
3. Weather
4. Instruments, reports
4. December
1. Life Science
1. Health
2. Nutrition
5. January
1. Physical Science - Properties of heat
1. Conductor
2. Insulator
6. February
1. Physical Science – Properties of light
1. Sources
2. Reflection/refraction
3. Translucent, transparent
4. Spectrum
7. March
1. Physical Science – Properties of sound
1. Vibrations
2. Transference
3. Opaque
8. April
1. Earth/Space – Weather
1. Storms
2. Weather safety
3. Air pressure
9. May
1. Health
1. Physical and emotional growth
10. June
1. Science Festival
1. Chemistry