About the Teacher
Mrs. Johnston
Second Grade Teacher
Salem Lutheran School
Mrs. Johnston’s enthusiasm and passion for teaching challenges her students to develop sound moral character with Jesus Christ at the center of their lives. She holds high standards for her students and nurtures them to develop to their fullest potential.
Mrs. Johnston was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and graduated from
Concordia College – St. Paul, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development. She has taught over 25 years in Lutheran elementary schools.
For the past 8 years Mrs. Johnston has been teaching second grade at Salem.
Open Court Curriculum from SRA/McGraw-Hill is a research-based curriculum grounded in systematic, explicit instruction of phonemic awareness, phonics, word knowledge, comprehension, inquiry, and writing. As children read classic and contemporary literature, they discover the importance of clarity of thought and word. They enjoy an abundant reading experience that moves them toward independent, self-directed learning.
Through various genres, children progressively deepen their understanding of the thematic learning units presented in each grade level.
Part One – Preparing to Read
Sounds and letters; phonemic awareness; phonics and fluency; and word knowledge
Part Two – Reading and Responding
Comprehension skills and strategies; and inquiry
Part Three – Language Arts
Spelling; vocabulary; writing process strategies; writer's craft; English language conventions; grammar, usage and mechanics; listening, speaking and viewing; penmanship; and basic computer skills.
Saxon Mathis unique because the entire program is based on introducing a topic to a student and then allowing them to build upon that concept as they learn new ones. Topics are never dropped but are instead increased in complexity and practiced every day, providing the time required for concepts to become totally familiar.
This incremental approach to math differs from most traditional programs, which are "chapter-based." In these traditional texts, students are expected to learn an entire mathematical concept in one day. The homework consists of twenty or thirty problems, all of which deal with that concept. The topic is then only reviewed prior to a test, if at all. Saxon textbooks, however, divide concepts into smaller, more easily grasped pieces called increments. A new increment is presented each day and students work only a few problems involving the new material. Thus, every assignment (and every test) is a cumulative review of all material covered up to that point.
Salem Lutheran School 2013-2014
Second Grade
Curriculum
Information
Salem Lutheran School
1211 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, California 91202
818-243-8264
Ghada Huleis
Principal
Second Gradeis a year of grasping new concepts. Children will confidently build upon what they learned in first grade as they improve their reading and comprehension skills.
Students will explore literature and poetry, and understand an author’s point of view. They will use a dictionary and glossary, be introduced to multiplication, and learn how to write in cursive.
Subjects covered in second grade include, but are not limited to:
Science– Scott Foresman
Students will learn about scientific methods through a series of classroom experiments. Units will cover sound, light, botany, zoology, ecosystems, and weather patterns.
Math -Saxon Common Core StandardsSecond graders will expand their knowledge of numbers, identify operations and procedures of story problems, learn about money values, measurements, fractions, time, multiplication facts to 5, and basic geometry. They will also use manipulative to recognize numerical relationships, patterns and equivalents.
Handwriting We begin the school year reviewing handwriting learned in 1st Grade. Second semester, we will be introduced to cursive handwriting.
SpanishChildren are exposed to Spanish twice a week through songs, flash cards and stories.
MusicChildren in grades first through sixth will develop skills in singing, playing instruments and movement.
Physical EducationSecond graders attend P.E. class in the gym three times a week. Fitness, health, and sportsmanship are taught through games, sports and exercise.
ComputersSecond graders expand on computer usage in Salem’s computer lab once a week. They learn to use Save As, and Save in a different location, and how to make a New Folder. Through basic word processing, students will produce three or four sentence paragraphs and format the text for Boldand Underline. They will also create a simple animation slide show, and access the Internet using hyperlinks.
Social Studies– McGraw Hill Time Links
Second graders will learn to use maps and globes and strengthen their knowledge of geography. They will learn about neighborhoods, regions in the United States and national holidays. Children will gain an understanding for historical timelines, and learn about early American history such as colonial life, the Revolutionary War and American heroes.
Language Arts– Open Court
Phonics and phonemic awareness build upon the student’s mastery by reviewing vowel sounds, vowel-consonant blends, suffixes,prefixes,compound words and contractions. Second graders will improve upon their reading skills by learning to summarize, preview and predict, identify problems and solutions, recognize humor, cause and effect, feelings and reactions, and by grasping the concept of a writer’s craft. Children will read for facts, read out loud with expression, and identify types of literature.
ArtSalem is blessed to have two very creative art teachers who make the art classes relevant, fun and challenging. Students will develop artistic awareness and hands-on skills by using a variety of tools and mediums. Students in grades first through sixth will study well-known artists and works of art, as well as create age appropriate art projects.
Religion– One In ChristThe focus is on creation, Moses & the people of Egypt, 10 Commandments, the life of Jesus and acts of the disciples, emphasizing prayer by example, memory verse and observation of the church calendar.
All students (Junior Kindergarten through Sixth Grade) attend chapel services each Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. Parents are always welcome to attend chapel.