Lower School - Second Grade Mathematics

Second grade Everyday Mathematics content emphasizes the following content strands, skills and concepts.

Numeration – Counting; reading and writing numbers; identifying place-value; comparing numbers; working with fractions; using money amounts.

Operations and Computation – Recalling addition and subtraction facts; exploring fact families; adding and subtracting with tens and hundreds; beginning multiplication and division; exchanging money amounts.

Data and Chance – Collecting, organizing, and interpreting data using tables, charts, and graphs, exploring concepts of chance.

Geometry – Exploring 2- and 3-dimensional shapes; classifying polygons.

Measurement and Reference Frames – Using tools to measure length, capacity, weigh, and volume; using U.S. customary and metric measurement units.

Patterns, Functions, and Algebra – Exploring number patterns, rules for number sequences, relations between numbers, and attributes.

Within the content of Everyday Mathematics, emphasis is placed on:

• A problem-solving approach based on everyday situations that develops critical thinking.

• Frequent practice of basic skills through ongoing program routines and mathematical games.

• An instructional approach that revisits topics regularly to ensure full concept development.

• Activities that explore a wide variety of mathematical content and offer opportunities for students to apply their basic fact skills to geometry, measurement, and algebra.

Leadership in Mathematics

Self awareness – Students must demonstrate and explain their own problem solving methods, and set individual math goals.

Academics – Students must explain their thinking orally and in writing.

Coaching (mentoring) – Frequent games, partnership, and working with Falcon Friends.

Reading – Each unit begins with a literature selection which encourages students to find a mathematical connection. (Second Grade saves 2000 for the Statue of Liberty)

Adversity/Challenges/Opportunities –  Daily math messages and Math Boxes are utilized.

Explorations lessons, strategy sharing

Leadership Observation – The class studies mathematical thinkers who are represented among the Leadership Portraits that line the walls of Gerstell Academy.