Grade 2 English Language Curriculum Summary (U.S.)

Students engage more with nonfiction books and learn to locate information using text features.

Objectives:

• Identify the main topic and key details of a paragraph or page

• Use text features (headings, glossary, captions, diagrams)

• Compare and contrast two texts on the same topic

• Explain the purpose of images and charts

• Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions

Common Topics:

• Animals, planets, historical figures, natural disasters, inventions

In Grade 2, students solidify their decoding and fluency skills, aiming for automatic and expressive reading.

Objectives:

• Decode multisyllabic words and common spelling patterns

• Read grade-level sight words fluently

• Self-correct when reading

• Read aloud with expression, accuracy, and appropriate pace

Phonics & Word Study Skills:

• Long/short vowel patterns

• Consonant blends and digraphs (e.g., sh, th)

• R-controlled vowels (e.g., car, bird)

• Homophones (e.g., two / too)

Writing becomes more structured and organized, moving beyond sentences to well-formed paragraphs.

Types of Writing:

1. Opinion Writing – State an opinion and give reasons
   “I think recess is the best part of the day because…”

2. Informative Writing – Explain or describe a topic with facts
   “Penguins live in cold places. They have flippers instead of wings…”

3. Narrative Writing – Tell a true or fictional story with events in order
   “One day I found a box in the woods…”

Writing Elements:

• Clear topic sentence

• Supporting details

• Transition words (first, then, next, finally)

• Conclusion sentence

• Use of descriptive words

Mechanics Taught:

• Capital letters at the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns

• End punctuation (periods, question marks, exclamation points)

• Use of apostrophes in contractions and possessives

• Correct spelling using phonics and sight word knowledge

Students continue developing the ability to speak clearly, listen actively, and collaborate.

Objectives:

• Ask and answer questions about a speaker’s presentation or a text

• Build on others’ ideas in group discussions

• Tell stories or recount experiences with clarity and details

• Use complete sentences when speaking

• Use audio or visual aids when presenting

Activities Include:

• Book talks

• Story retelling

• Partner reading and response

• Short presentations on researched topics

Students develop an awareness of grammar rules and vocabulary strategies to strengthen their writing and speaking.

Grammar Skills:

• Use of collective nouns (e.g., team, group)

• Irregular plural nouns (e.g., mice, children)

• Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself)

• Past tense of irregular verbs (ate, ran, saw)

• Adjectives and adverbs

Vocabulary Skills:

• Use of glossaries and dictionaries

• Understanding prefixes/suffixes (e.g., un-, -ful, -less)

• Word relationships (synonyms, antonyms, homonyms)

• Using context clues to determine meaning