Literacy

Reading

Our Grade 2 Reading Program builds on foundational skills from first grade and helps students develop into confident, fluent, and thoughtful readers. Grounded in the Science of Reading, the program emphasizes systematic instruction in phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies—the key building blocks of skilled reading.

Throughout the year, students receive explicit instruction in how written language works, learning to decode multisyllabic words, build automatic word recognition, and use knowledge of morphology (like prefixes, suffixes, and base words) to unlock meaning. Fluency practice is woven into daily lessons, helping students move from sounding out words to reading with prosody, appropriate rate, and expression, which supports comprehension. Students also develop their oral language, background knowledge, and comprehension strategies through rich discussions, vocabulary study, and engaging texts.

Our year is structured around four engaging units:

Unit 1: Second Grade Growth Spurt

In this unit, students build fluency, stamina, and comprehension by learning how to read for longer periods and tackle "hard words" using decoding strategies. They learn how to monitor their understanding, apply word-solving strategies, and think deeply while they read. Teachers guide students to decode accurately and read connected text smoothly, building the skills necessary for comprehension.

Unit 2: Reading Nonfiction

Students explore nonfiction text structures and features to deepen their understanding of the world. They learn to use text features like headings, captions, and diagrams, develop nonfiction vocabulary, and ask questions like “What does the author want me to learn?” to support comprehension. They apply strategies like identifying main ideas and supporting details, comparing and contrasting texts, and integrating information across paragraphs—key skills for understanding increasingly complex texts. This unit also connects with social studies, helping students build background knowledge about cultures around the world.

Unit 3: Bigger Books Mean Amping Up Reading Power

As students read longer books, they learn fluency strategies like scooping words into meaningful phrases, using a “reading voice,” and paying attention to punctuation and dialogue. They practice comparing different versions of the same story, building comprehension and text analysis skills. Students also learn to set goals, monitor their reading growth, and provide peer feedback—important habits for becoming self-directed, resilient readers.

Unit 4: Series Book Clubs

Students dive into character study by reading book series like Judy Moody. They analyze how characters respond to problems, interact with others, and change over time, building understanding of story structure and inference skills. They make predictions, explore how authors use precise language to shape meaning, and learn how to visualize characters and events—a key comprehension strategy.

Across the year, we integrate word study, fluency practice, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategy instruction, aligned with the Science of Reading. Our goal is for every student to become an independent, fluent, and reflective reader—able to tackle complex texts with confidence and joy.

Writing 

Our Grade 2 Writing Program helps students grow as writers by combining explicit, systematic instruction with plenty of opportunities for creative expression. Guided by the Science of Reading, we know that strong writing depends on oral language development, vocabulary knowledge, syntax, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly in text. Our writing instruction helps students develop these essential skills while building a love of writing.

Throughout the year, students learn how to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish their work. They receive direct instruction in how to use precise language, organize ideas, and write sentences that are grammatically correct and meaningful. Writing is connected to reading and speaking: students discuss ideas with peers, learn from mentor texts, and read their own work aloud to ensure it makes sense.

Our writing program is structured around four engaging units:

Unit 1: Lessons from the Masters

Students study published authors as mentors, learning how to write small moment stories that capture events in sequence. They use descriptive details—actions, thoughts, and feelings—to make their narratives come alive. Students also learn how to reread and revise their writing to ensure clarity and sense. This process builds oral language, vocabulary, and sentence structure skills, essential for strong writing and reading comprehension.

Unit 2: How-To Guide for Nonfiction Writing

Students explore the text features and structures of nonfiction, such as headings, diagrams, and lists. They write step-by-step guides to share their expertise, building their ability to organize ideas clearly and communicate information effectively. This unit strengthens their background knowledge and language comprehension, both key pillars of the Science of Reading.

Unit 3: Writing About Reading

Students learn to write opinion pieces by sharing their ideas about books they’ve read. They learn how to consider their audience, use evidence from texts (including quotes), and craft introductions and conclusions to support their ideas. This unit connects reading and writing, helping students deepen their comprehension by reflecting on what they’ve read and communicating their thoughts clearly in writing.

Unit 4: Poetry

Students develop a poet’s eye, learning to find inspiration in everyday observations, emotions, and experiences. They explore poetic structures, experiment with precise language, and use comparisons to create vivid images. This unit helps students play with language, develop an ear for rhythm and word choice, and gain confidence in reading their poems aloud. Through the writing and sharing process, students develop oral fluency and a deeper understanding of how language works.

Across the year, students engage in rich discussions, build their vocabulary, develop sentence structure, and learn to communicate ideas clearly in writing. These skills support both reading comprehension and written expression, ensuring that our young writers are equipped with the tools they need to become confident, independent communicators.

Foundational Skills 

Using UFLI Foundations, students in grade 2 build foundational decoding skills through a research-based phonics sequence.

Inquiry

Inquiry units are designed to offer students authentic experiences where they generate questions and tackle complex issues, as individuals and teams.  Social Studies based units are aligned to the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards, and they build understanding of concepts across the domains of the discipline - civics, economics, geography, and history.  Science phenomena-based units are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which integrate core disciplinary ideas, cross-cutting concepts, and the practices of the discipline.

In Grade 2 Inquiry, students expand their understanding of responsibility in communities beyond the classroom.  They consider roles and responsibilities of different members of a community, as well as the goods and services that are needed in our local communities.  At the same time, in Science inquiry, students are exploring interdependent relationships in the natural world.  Through these experiences, students begin to understand how we are all connected.  Digging into the concept of culture through an inquiry into different traditions and celebrations, students also begin to understand similarities and differences among us, and finally how we can have a positive impact in our communities.  Students will also investigate slow and fast natural processes that shape our Earth, and the properties of different materials.

In all units, active questioning drives learning and concepts help us to organize our ideas.  Through concept-based inquiry, students develop transferable understanding around core ideas and practice the skills of the disciplines, including:

AERO Social Studies Practices

1. Develop Questions and Plan Inquiries

2. Evaluate the Credibility of the Sources and Relevance of the Information to the Inquiry

3. Construct Coherent, Reasoned Arguments and Explanations

4. Communicate Conclusions From an Inquiry

5. Take Informed Action for the Common Good

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices

1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems

2. Developing and Using Models

3. Planning and Carrying out Investigations

4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data

5. Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

6. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

7. Engaging in Argument from Evidence

8. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information