Welcome to the First and Second Grade Page
Below you will find information about our curriculum. For an introduction from our First and Second grade teacher, click here.
First Grade
Religion: We start in the Old Testament learning the Bible stories, and ending with the New Testament. In each lesson, we review the Bible story and discuss ways that it applies to our lives. We memorize two Bible verses every week.
Math: We begin with writing our numbers. We learn about money (coins), addition facts, subtraction facts, time, shapes, and word problems. Towards the end of the year, we learn two digit addition with carrying.
Social Studies: In the first grade book, we start out learning about school and what goes in to making a school. We then learn about communities, transportation, jobs, and citizenship. We enhance the learning by doing projects throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Science: In the first grade book, we learn about habitats, life cycles, food chains, earth science, matter, movement, sound, and energy. We enhance the learning by doing projects and experiments throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Reading: In first grade, reading, phonics, spelling, and writing are all a part of the curriculum. We learn to read using phonics and sight words. We have a spelling test on the words that we have studied for the week. We do a writing activity once a week to learn and practice new writing skills. We read two stories each week: one to practice reading aloud and one to practice reading skills such as making predictions and summarizing.
For further guidance on reading readiness in 1st grade, read this memo from the INDOE.
English: At SPI, we use the Shurley Method of learning English. We learn the different parts of the sentence, as well as how to form a correct sentence. By the end of first grade, we are diagramming full sentences, and the students are quite good at it.
Math: We begin with writing our numbers. We learn about money (coins), addition facts, subtraction facts, time, shapes, and word problems. Towards the end of the year, we learn two digit addition with carrying.
Social Studies: In the first grade book, we start out learning about school and what goes in to making a school. We then learn about communities, transportation, jobs, and citizenship. We enhance the learning by doing projects throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Science: In the first grade book, we learn about habitats, life cycles, food chains, earth science, matter, movement, sound, and energy. We enhance the learning by doing projects and experiments throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Reading: In first grade, reading, phonics, spelling, and writing are all a part of the curriculum. We learn to read using phonics and sight words. We have a spelling test on the words that we have studied for the week. We do a writing activity once a week to learn and practice new writing skills. We read two stories each week: one to practice reading aloud and one to practice reading skills such as making predictions and summarizing.
For further guidance on reading readiness in 1st grade, read this memo from the INDOE.
English: At SPI, we use the Shurley Method of learning English. We learn the different parts of the sentence, as well as how to form a correct sentence. By the end of first grade, we are diagramming full sentences, and the students are quite good at it.
Second Grade
Religion: We start in the Old Testament learning the Bible stories, and ending with the New Testament. In each lesson, we review the Bible story and discuss ways that it applies to our lives. We memorize two Bible verses every week.
Math: In second grade, we build on the things that were learned in first grade. We review addition facts and subtraction facts progressing to two digit and three digit addition. We begin to learn borrowing with subtraction. We learn money, time, fractions, word problems, and geometric shapes. Towards the end of year, we begin to learn and memorize multiplication facts.
Social Studies: In the second grade book, we continue to learn about communities. We study our government, maps, land and people on the earth, and a brief history of America. We enhance the learning by doing projects throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Science: In the second grade book, we start out learning about animals and their habitats. For the rest of the year, we learn about weather, sound, simple machines, rocks and minerals, and forces and motion. We enhance the learning by doing projects and experiments throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Reading: In second grade reading, phonics, spelling, and writing are all part of it. We review phonics skills learned in first grade as well as add new phonics patterns to reinforce the skills learned. We have a spelling test on the words that we have studies for the week. We do a writing activity once a week to learn and practice new writing skills. We read two stories each week: one to practice reading aloud and one to practice reading skills such as making predictions and summarizing.
For further guidance on reading readiness in 1st grade, read this memo from the INDOE.
English: At SPI, we use the Shurley Method of learning English. We review what we learned in first grade. We diagram full sentences adding new parts of sentences as we go. We begin to learn how to write a paragraph.
Math: In second grade, we build on the things that were learned in first grade. We review addition facts and subtraction facts progressing to two digit and three digit addition. We begin to learn borrowing with subtraction. We learn money, time, fractions, word problems, and geometric shapes. Towards the end of year, we begin to learn and memorize multiplication facts.
Social Studies: In the second grade book, we continue to learn about communities. We study our government, maps, land and people on the earth, and a brief history of America. We enhance the learning by doing projects throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Science: In the second grade book, we start out learning about animals and their habitats. For the rest of the year, we learn about weather, sound, simple machines, rocks and minerals, and forces and motion. We enhance the learning by doing projects and experiments throughout the year as well as taking field trips.
Reading: In second grade reading, phonics, spelling, and writing are all part of it. We review phonics skills learned in first grade as well as add new phonics patterns to reinforce the skills learned. We have a spelling test on the words that we have studies for the week. We do a writing activity once a week to learn and practice new writing skills. We read two stories each week: one to practice reading aloud and one to practice reading skills such as making predictions and summarizing.
For further guidance on reading readiness in 1st grade, read this memo from the INDOE.
English: At SPI, we use the Shurley Method of learning English. We review what we learned in first grade. We diagram full sentences adding new parts of sentences as we go. We begin to learn how to write a paragraph.
Classroom Management
In our classroom, we take a Law-Gospel approach to discipline. The goal is not "punishment," but "discipline." As the Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he shall not depart from it." Consequences for violating classroom rules vary upon the action and are meant to help the child understand appropriate behaviors.
Here are some general classroom rules we follow:
1.) No talking while others are talking. Raise your hand before speaking.
2.) Stay quiet in the hallway
3.) Keep hands, feet, and body to yourself
4.) Be nice to others (this includes not arguing)
5.) No playing in the bathroom
6.) No toys, video games, etc. allowed out at school
Here are some general classroom rules we follow:
1.) No talking while others are talking. Raise your hand before speaking.
2.) Stay quiet in the hallway
3.) Keep hands, feet, and body to yourself
4.) Be nice to others (this includes not arguing)
5.) No playing in the bathroom
6.) No toys, video games, etc. allowed out at school