Academics

English Language Arts

Wonders provides an explicit research-based ILA program that empowers students to take an active role in learning and exploration. It provides unparalleled opportunities for student-friendly self-assessments and self-expression through reading, writing and speaking. This strong educational program provides differentiation to ensure that every student has the opportunity to become a strong reader, writer and critical thinker. Teachers act as a guide while students read leveled texts, reinforce skills, practice reading strategies, and build independence while engaging in questioning and discussion.

Orton-Gillingham  is a multi-sensory approach to teaching all of the components of language development.  Lessons are prescriptive, diagnostic and individualized. The senses are engaged simultaneously to create the neural network that students need to manipulate the components of language structure.

Handwriting

Writing Our Catholic Faith: Introduction to Cursive for Grade 2  provides a brief review of manuscript handwriting before introducing the cursive alphabet:

• Catholic words, sentences, and pictures reinforce students' faith while they practice their handwriting
• Students review the manuscript alphabet and begin to learn cursive basic strokes, letters, joinings, and numerals
• Every cursive lowercase letter page includes cursive joining models to help students understand how letters connect
• Self-evaluation helps students recognize and immediately correct errors

Math

enVision Mathematics is a math program that combines problem based learning with visual learning to deepen students’ conceptual understanding. The lessons start with problem based learning. Students will think critically about real-world math problems, evaluate options, collaborate and present solutions. This is followed by visual learning to solidify the underlying math concepts. As a result, the children have a better understanding of math ideas. This program has received top honors for supporting students at all levels.

History and Science

Scholastic Social Studies is a student’s guide to the world. It maximizes student engagement with real-world content that reflects diverse experiences, identities and abilities - through read alouds, videos and activities. It also provides diversified language across curricular activities. Scholastic supports student well-being in all content areas with texts and activities that weave SEL competencies into academic instruction.

Mystery Science   is a hands-on curriculum that is fully aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Mystery Science’s units of study contain hands-on activities, engaging, real-world investigative phenomena, thoughtful discussions to build background knowledge, lesson & unit assessments to evaluate comprehension and curated, cross-curricular extensions. The ultimate goal is to ensure that our children grow to see that it’s an amazing world we live in, full of possibility and wonder—and that they develop the ability to figure things out for themselves.

Scholastic Science Spin addresses all three dimensions of NGSS. Students are introduced to 8 science and engineering practices, 12 core ideas, and a wide range of crosscutting concepts that span every scientific domain. It includes colorful, real world science and the latest science news as students examine patterns, cause and effect, scale, proportion, quantity, and systems.

Religion

Word of Life  centers on an initial proclamation of the gospel message. The curriculum is firmly rooted in Sacred Scripture and the history of salvation. Students will be immersed in the historical reality of God’s entering time and inviting all people into communion with Him. The Word of Life series has been strategically developed to present the fullness of the faith in a way that can resonate with students today. Students will be presented with practical situations and concrete examples of virtuous and holy character. The Word of Life series teaches students the truth about their identity, dignity, and purpose. Additionally, the curriculum not only prepares students for liturgical celebration but also equips them for ongoing reflection following their participation in liturgy and the sacraments.

Growing with God Safe and Sacred is a program that offers a practical and systematic approach to child safety, social development and emotional development. Students are taught to see themselves and others as children of God inherently deserving of respect and care.

*Sacramental Year: Second grade students receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion . The requirements are set by the parish and are completed throughout the school year.

Specials

Students meet once per week for 60 minutes in the following special subject areas:

Art 
The standards for second graders serve as building blocks for further Visual Arts instruction. Students will learn that art is a personal expression, has value, and teaches us about other times and places. It is also important for students to begin to develop an art vocabulary along with fine motor skills. Students will understand that their works of art are unique and valuable as forms of self-expression. Emphasis will be placed on the artistic process including idea development, production and reflection to achieve a final piece of art. Typical projects are inspired by artists or books initially discussed during the introduction of each project. Students are encouraged to use their creativity and be proud of everything they have created

Gym 
Second Grade Physical Education focuses heavily on developing fine, gross, manipulative, and non-manipulative skills to be able to apply them into a variety of group activities as well as individual ones. Our physical education program addresses the needs of all students through diversified skill development and activities designed to implement locomotor, non-locomotor, manipulative, non-manipulative skills, with and without equipment. The goal of our physical education program is to involve the body in developing lifetime skills necessary for individual and team sports..

Music 
Our Second Grade Music Exploration program is designed to nurture a love of music and provide young learners with a foundational understanding of musical concepts. Through age-appropriate activities, students will explore rhythm, melody, singing, movement, and basic music theory. Materials used in the curriculum include instruments like piano keyboards, rhythm sticks, handbells, and xylophones, as well as simple visuals, children’s songs, and recorded music. This curriculum aims to create a positive and engaging musical experience for students, fostering a lifelong love of music, and providing a solid foundation for their future musical education.

Spanish
The Spanish Language and Culture program for second grade is designed to introduce students to the Spanish language and its peoples while nurturing their faith through Catholic teachings and values. This curriculum seeks to develop students’ basic Spanish language skills, including listening and speaking, as well as introduce them to the diverse cultures and traditions of Spanish-speaking communities.

STEM
PLTW curriculum utilized in our STEM program is designed to empower students to thrive in an evolving world and focuses on connections to a variety of  New Jersey State Learning Standards for Computer Science, Math and English Language Arts. Holy Cross Academy partners with PLTW to offer a hands-on, project-based approach to learning for students in Grades K-8. The program incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) skills needed for future success. Second grade students are immersed in PLTW’s Launch program, exploring topics such as Properties of Matter. In addition to PLTW programs, students work on a variety of technology-based skills such as Google Tools for Education and Coding, all while incorporating and taking the Catholic values that we use in our real world with us into the digital world.