Language Websites

In second grade we will focus on the following in Language Arts:

 

Writing:

  • Writing complete sentences with appropriate capitalization and punctuation for the sentence type
  • Capitalization of proper nouns (names of people, places, and things), titles, days of the week, months of the year, and holidays
  • Writing related sentences and, later, paragraphs
  • Writing friendly letters

Listening/Viewing:

  • Repeating and following 4-step oral directions
  • participate in orderly discussions and conversations
  • Using graphic organizers to record information gained through listening/viewing
  • Delivering facts and details related to a topic orally
  • Improving vocabulary (general, academic, and content area)
  • Participating in questioning and answering questions about a given topic

Encouraging Your Child's Vocabulary Development and Reading Comprehension Skills

(adapted from www.vocabulary-vocabulary.com)

 

    The data is irrefutable; your child's success in grade school, high school, college and later in his or her career is dependent almost entirely on vocabulary. Words are how we communicate; words are what we use to comprehend new information and words are what we use to communicate our understanding of new information; and finally words are what we use to communicate our ideas. Words are our tools of thought. Without these tools we are limited in our abilities. With these tools, we have no limitations.

 

    Make sure your child has the requisite tools for success in grade school and beyond. There are a number of ways you can encourage your child's vocabulary development, but the most important and effective is through reading and comprehension.

 

The Importance of Reading AND Comprehension

 

    The bottom line is that reading is still the best way for your child to develop his or her vocabulary. The secret to success is making sure your child is comprehending what he or she is reading. Too often children think reading is simply reading aloud the words they see on a page. This is reading, but not necessarily comprehension.

 

Vocabulary Development and Reading Comprehension (Grades 1st through 3rd)

 

    Your responsibilities for assisting your child's reading and comprehension will change as they progress through grade school. Initially, you will read to your child as well as having your child read back to you. As you do this, be sure to stop and evaluate words. Ask your child what different words mean. This will get your child in the habit of making sure they think of word definitions and meaning in addition to pronunciation. Taking note of word meaning is critical to helping your child develop his or her reading comprehension skills.

 

Vocabulary Development and Reading Comprehension Summary

 

    In order to help your child, you need to be actively involved in your child's reading and use their school lessons to further challenge their vocabulary development. By taking extra steps to help your child build his or her vocabulary while reading for school, you will provide your child with the tools needed for academic and career success. Remember words are our tools for thought; the more words your child learns, the more tools he or she will have to achieve great things.

Increasing Your Child's Vocabulary (adapted from www.learninggresourcecenter.net and

http://www.christian-mommies.com/ageless/school-and-homeschooling/12-ideas-for-improving-vocabulary/)

 

1.  Talk to your child! 

  • Ask 'Do you know what this means' when your child reads an unfamiliar word.
  • Talk to your child about many different things using new words.
  • Take your child to different places, then talk about what you see.
  • Explain everyday activities using the special vocabulary specifically associated with such activities.

2.  Read together!

 

3.  Play word games together online.

4.  Play word games together off line.

 

5.  Have family game nights and use any of the following games as enjoyable, exciting, and spontaneous vocabulary building tools: 

Scrabble * Scrabble Jr. * Balderdash * Wheel of fortune * Finish Lines * Scatt * Upwords * Bethump * Outburst * Boggle * Smart Mouth * Guesstures * Comotion * Mad Gab *  A to Z * Outburst Jr. * Quiddler * Password * Boogle Jr. * Concentration * Malarky *A to Z Jr.