Mrs. Kathleen Downing
​Teacher

Suggested Apps List
​
Practice Games
​Free Typing Game
​Spin&Spell
CoolMath
​APlusMath
​FunBrain

Second Grade

Welcome!  My name is Kathleen Downing and I have been teaching at St. Ignatius since 2004.  I am also a proud alumnus of the school.  My two daughters have also attended St. Ignatius since their preschool years.
We see a lot of maturity between first and second grade.  Second graders are expected to be role models to the younger students in our school.  With preschoolers and kindergartners across the hall, this is especially important.  Part of this requires that they be more independent throughout the day.  Second grade is a structured and organized classroom where learning is challenging and FUN!
Here are some of the highlights in the curriculum of second grade at St. Ignatius School:

​Religion
Second grade is exciting for students who are parishioners because they will be working towards receiving two sacraments, Reconciliation and their First Eucharist.  We will also be studying the actions, miracles, and parables of Jesus.  We receive the weekly magazine, “Good News,” in which we hear and discuss the gospel for the upcoming Sunday.  The service learning project in second grade is to write letters to St. Ignatius’ longtime parishioners.  We write a letter each month.  This project helps connect students to the parish in a meaningful way.

English Language Arts
Language Arts in second grade is full!  Some of the topics we cover include:

• Reading fluency
• Reading comprehension skills
• Vocabulary skills and strategies
• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Spelling
• Grammar (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
• Writing (narratives, opinions, informational)

Math
In second grade we cover the following topics in math:

• Fluently Add and Subtract to 20
• Work with Equal Groups (foundations of multiplication)
• Add within 100 Using Strategies
• Fluently Add within 100
• Subtract within 100 Using Strategies
• Fluently Subtract within 100
• Solving Problems Involving Addition and Subtraction
• Work with Time and Money
• Numbers to 1,000
• Add within 1,000 Using Models and Strategies
• Subtract within 1,000 Using Models and Strategies
• Measuring Length
• Shape attributes and partitioning

Science
We use Mystery Science to meet the Next Generation Science Standards.  The following units are covered during second grade:

• Animal Adventures
• Plant Adventures
• Weather
• Material Magic

Within these units, students work through the Engineering Design Process.

Social Studies
The units covered in second grade include:

• Map skills
• Government 
• Working World 
• Protecting the Earth 
• Financial Literacy
• Scholastic News 
• Address and phone numbers 
• Portland History

Technology  
Technology is integrated into the daily work of second graders, but we also have two designated classes a week. Second graders use laptops and the following programs:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Typsey (beginning keyboarding)
• Learning games on links through our class site

Digital Citizenship
In the fall, we work through our Digital Citizenship program.  For second graders, the following topics are covered:

• Device-Free Moments
• Digital Trails
• Let’s Give Credit
• Putting a Stop to Online Meanness
• That’s Private
• We are Digital Citizens
• Who is in Your Online Community 

Specialist Classes

• PE: 3 days a week
• Music: 3 days a week
• Library: 2 classes a week, including a day for check-out
• Technology: 2 classes a week