Pre-K | Kindergarten | First Grade | Second Grade | Third Grade | Fourth Grade | Fifth Grade



Second Grade uses the central theme title: Making a Difference Where We Live, Neighborhoods within the Community. The theme is divided into nine monthly sub-themes. Each theme focuses on many different kinds of communities and neighborhoods. This study begins with the school neighborhood and works its way outward to neighborhoods and communities beyond where the children live. The children learn about such things as majority rule, rules and laws, taxes, working together, goods and services, and types of production (unit versus assembly line). Students learn basic map skills and how to read different kinds of maps. This theme encourages students to be active and responsible citizens within the many communities in which they belong. Students learn that they belong to many different groups which work together to solve problems and get things done. These concepts are taught through a hands-on approach, and all of the academic areas are integrated as much as possible.

Language Arts in the Second Grade will include the following skills: learning to use effective problem solving strategies such as rereading, decoding, and asking questions when reading various texts, retelling longer stories with detail and correct sequencing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts to locate specific information, reading and writing an extended list of high frequency words correctly, learning to choose and appreciate a variety of genres for independent reading, learning to use prior knowledge and experiences to understand different texts, learning to compare and contrast information, identifying main ideas or themes within a text, learning to draw inferences, comparing texts to self, the world and other texts, learning to read and form opinions based on personal interpretations of a text, classifying and categorizing information, using journal writing as a way of promoting self expression and fluency, learning the steps of the writing process to create and publish work (pre-writing, drafting, revising, proofreading, and publishing), writing in various forms such as narratives, letters, tall tales, and poetry, using authors' styles to improve own writing, using knowledge of regular spelling patterns when writing, using correct capitalization and punctuation, using descriptive words to add detail to writing, writing to communicate ideas and maintaining a single focus, writing both simple and complex sentences, understanding subject-verb agreement, using appropriate parts of speech, and using reading and writing as tools for research and critical thinking. Students in the Second Grade write daily in different formats and express appreciation for different types of literature through discussion and activities. Printing and cursive handwriting using the Handwriting Without Tears Program is taught in the second grade.

Reading Renaissance (also referred to as Accelerated Reader) is a reading incentive program in place at The Cathedral School in 2nd-5th grades. The program is based on the fundamental principal that practice improves reading. It combines computer technology, teaching strategies and reading practice. At our school, Reading Renaissance is used as a supplemental reading program that simply manages student reading practice and measures reading growth over the school year. Each classroom has scheduled into their day a minimum of 30 minutes of reading practice. Three times during the school year, students take an individualized reading assessment in the computer lab, called STAR Reading. Then, each teacher schedules a conference with each student to show them their results and plan their reading program for each nine weeks. If you don't know where you started, how will you know if you have made progress? For this reason, students learn their reading level, are helped by the classroom teacher to find a book that is on their level, and are then given time to read. The teacher monitors their reading, taking the opportunity to teach in "mini-lessons" as needed. After finishing the book, students take a quiz on the material to check for comprehension. If they pass, they move on. If they don't, the teacher guides them to continue to practice their reading skills on another book of the same level. The beauty of this program is each teacher knows exactly where every student in her class is in their reading development and each student can progress at his or her own pace. Students can see their growth and it only inspires them to keep going.

The focus of Second Grade Math is place value (through hundred throusands), addition and subtraction with and without regrouping (3 and 4 digit), comparing numbers, number patterns, skip counting, adding and subtracting money, counting money and change, telling time, fractions (part to whole as well as addition and subtraction of fractions), congruent and symmetrical shapes as a foundation for geometry, plane figures, solid figures, classification, collecting data and graphing it, standard and non-standard units of measurement, reading a thermometer, estimating reasonably, multiplication and division using concrete models and abstract problem solving..

Science for Second Grade consists of three major units. In Unit A, the students will define living and nonliving things and explain how living things grow and change. Unit B focuses on various habitats for plants and animals and how these habitats can be changed. In Unit C, students will discover how we use earth's resources and how rocks, soil, plants, and water are a big part of our everyday lives. In the Space and Weather Unit, students will use a calendar to see how the moon changes. They will determine the cause of rainfall through the water cycle. In Unit E, the students will observe and measure matter. They will experiment with solids, liquids, and gases. Our last unit includes the discovery of how magnets and force work together. The students will also explore sound and how it travels.

Students use lines in art and identify colors in response to feelings, music and poetry. They identify and describe organic shapes in the environment and identify silhouettes and outlines. Students practice building shapes in two and three-dimensional forms and use primary and secondary colors. They identify patterns and the use of patterns in the environment. Balance and proportion is emphasized in executing art work. Art work is often integrated with the classroom curriculum..


All students at The Cathedral School are given the opportunity to define, practice, and apply creativity during enrichment classes. The classes focus on the development and evaluation of ideas. The children think about the steps in the creative process during their lessons. They learn to make judgments, evaluate using their own criteria, and reflect upon decisions. The children are introduced to thinking styles and personality types, learning to use individual strengths.

The Spanish program is designed to: instill an interest in the study of a foreign language, foster an awareness of cultural and linguistic differences among peoples, create a sense of tolerance, understanding and appreciation of these differences, and to offer students opportunities and experiences which allow them to communicate in a range of content areas both in the target language and in the target culture.

Instruction in Second Grade introduces students to pronunciation and intonation patterns. Students are introduced to the Spanish language through a variety of activities: games, songs, stories, computer activities, films, etc. Topics are introduced in these grades for recognition and familiarization initially and subsequently reintroduced and expanded for limited skills acquisition. This level of skill getting is designed to encourage students to continue to use their limited language base without strict adherence to accuracy in pronunciation or sentence structure. Topics reflect core classroom instruction.

Students learn to articulate and comprehend: colors, shapes, feelings, salutations, classroom objects, command phrases, pets, family, weather, alphabet, months, days of the week, holidya/traditions, numbers, polite terms of expression, body parts, simple math (adding and subtracting) and translation dictionary skills.

Students discover the arrangement of books in the library: fiction, non-fiction, biography, fairy tales and folk tales. Dictionary skills, reading for content and the extraction of facts is emphasized.

Music is an integral part of the curriculum at The Cathedral School. Music studies are promoted and encouraged through participation, performance, listening and worship. Students are exposed to music in all areas of the campus daily life. Performances and student participation are encouraged with presentations of The Cathedral School Christmas Pageant and Grand Friends' Day musical reviews. Students sing in chapel and take their music to outreach opportunities in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

	Melody: Students identify movement of pitches and learn the difference between line and space notes. They recognize leaps, steps, repeats, octaves and major tonalities.
	Rhythm: Students recognize meter in 2/3's and identify note relationships.
	Harmony: Students create harmony with rounds, ostinatos, descants and partner songs.
	Form and Style: Call and response songs, and songs of other cultures are explored.
	Expressive Qualities: Orchestra instruments are identified by sight and sound, and voice categories, tempo and dynamics are a part of the experience in music.

The students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade participate in physical education activities and skill acquisition as an intentional component for educating mind, body and spirit. Students learn and demonstrate the following during physical education class at the appropriate level:

	Health related fitness
	Movement /motor skill
	Active lifestyle
	Personal and social behavior
	Academic integration
	Safety

The purpose of the religion curriculum at The Cathedral School is to nurture the spiritual growth of the child by providing:

	Time in the daily schedule for praying together as a class community
	Space in the physical building where materials are kept and classes taught
	Teachings from a trained and experienced Catechist of the Good Shepherd Christian Formation
	A Chaplain to teach and lead the liturgies of the gathered community and to respond to the students and families in need of special nurturing at times of illness, death, tragedy, divorce, etc.

Students are offered an experiential method of encountering God; a community experience in worshipping, studying and supporting one another; and the opportunity to participate in a liturgy which can express the living, spiritual "breathing" of children aged 5 to 12, and the adults who love and support them.


In Second Grade, students are reviewed in general technological awareness, and introduced to basic keyboarding skills. They extend their knowledge of painting, graphics and drawing programs and add skills to word processing projects. Students continue the use of information systems/CD Roms in the classroom and in the computer lab.