Second Grade

Core Academic Subjects

• Standards based Math
• Reader’s Workshop
• Writer’s Workshop
• Individualized Skill work
• Book Clubs/Literature Circles
• Flexible grouping
• Higher order thinking skills
• Multiple modes of learning (Readiness, Interest, Learning Style)
• On-going Formative Assessments
• Pre-assessments
• Small group instruction
• Student reflection/debriefing
• Student written and/or understanding of Standards
• Teacher knowledge of identified students
• Technology literacy full scope and sequence of activities
• Technology available for individual use

Enrichment Activities

• Artist in Residence
• Celebration of Talent - each year all students are invited to share their talent with others. 
  • All students who love visual art submit their personal best work for display in the halls.  This can include art class work, art residency works, homemade works in any medium or any size
  • All students who love performing arts audition and perform in a spring Talent Show that we hold at Murray Junior High. 
• Ordway Theater each year
• U of M Physics Force Field Trip
• Walking field trips to Public Library monthly
• Cross-grade mentoring and activities
• Family/School Reading Celebrations
• Family Science Night -a very strong program that sponsors Family Science Nights for grades 1-3 students during the year 
• Leveled reading materials for reading groups- all year
• Minneapolis Fire Department visit
• Officer Friendly- a safety program with the St. Paul police
• Visual Arts class weekly
• Running Club
• Track and Field Day

Academic Rigor Definition:

Every licensed professional at SAP sets the highest academic expectations for every student.

Academic Rigor:

• sets the high expectations for each child squarely in each individual classroom, and with every professional in the building
• uses data to know each student with precision towards high student achievement
• is a Principle of Learning and part of the Project for Academic Excellence staff development
• is integrated among subjects
• looks at the whole child, learning styles
• helps define the extra enriched fieldtrips or activities and projects each room selects to use
• assesses the need for student acceleration in subjects
• high expectations and accompanying actions are fluid and can change yearly
• helps give students tools to find information, evaluate that information, and to use it

Enrichment Definition:
Those subjects and activities that go beyond or add a further dimension to make core curriculum stronger for all students as part of our focus on the whole child.

Enrichment Activities:

• planned enhancement to any curriculum or theme
• integrated to have meaning for what is being taught
• acceleration activities for students who can move beyond the core curriculum 
• can happen for the whole group or flexible groups
• considers the depth or breadth of a subject
• address multiple learning styles
• is supported, in part, by SAPSA funding and grants
• activities that meet kids where they are and move them higher in some dimension
•  enrichment activities relate to best practices within the classroom

Following are instances of the field trips we have attended in past years.

The Ordway

We have a fantastic opportunity to attend a performance of StepAfrika sponsored by the Ordway, presented at Northrup Auditorium.

Public Library

We take walking field trips every month to the St. Anthony Park Branch of St. Paul Public Library just up the street. The staff shares good books with us, and each child has a chance to check out books as long as their library account is in good standing. The library does not impose fines, so it is fine to wait until we go the next time to return books, otherwise you are free to visit and return on your own.

Physics Force

The physics department at the U of M plus other scientists and teachers who love physics put on a number of family friendly shows each winter,  highlighting the Fun of Physics and how learning about our world can be a blast - literally!

The Bell Museum

Each grade in St. Paul participates in a STEM field trip specific to grade level standards. We are lucky enough to go to the new Bell Museum for lessons and experiences on bees and pollinators. This coordinates with a unit on pollinators taught with Mr. Schrankler.

St. Paul Saints Baseball

As a special reading award, the 2nd grade goes to cheer the Saints on at their annual Education Day in May. It's a home run!