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Second Grade

Second graders are feeling confident as they transition to upstairs classrooms for the first time. With expanding vocabularies and strengthened reading skills, second-grade boys begin “reading to learn” rather than “learning to read.”
Boys begin to understand the importance of picking a “just right” book, and independent reading time becomes a treasure. Small group instruction provides a strong backbone, as these boys solidify reading, writing, and math skills. Making connections with the world around them, second-grade boys explore new roles as U.S. presidents, authors, zookeepers, and even worm salesmen.

Science comes to life in second grade. Boys apply their knowledge of animals while playing Zoolandia, a game designed to simulate real-world problems and push students to think critically and creatively to solve the issues.

Science comes to life in second grade. Boys apply their knowledge of animals while playing Zoolandia, a game designed to simulate real-world problems and push students to think critically and creatively to solve the issues.

Language Arts

  • Demonstrate understanding of decoding and word recognition skills when reading a variety of texts both silently and orally
  • Begin to self-monitor and apply comprehension strategies while reading independently
  • Identify story elements
  • Explore different genres of literature
  • Use the writing process to compose grade-appropriate narrative, informational, and opinion writing samples during Writer’s Workshop
  • Author a grade-appropriate book with developed characters, plot, and setting
  • Apply appropriate vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar skills effectively
  • Begin to understand parts of speech and their roles in a sentence
  • Identify the types and parts of sentences

Social Studies

  • Explore the state of Tennessee as a historian, geographer, and citizen
  • Identify and discuss ways in which students are connected to Tennessee communities of the past, present, and future
  • Discover the global connections that exist through imported and exported products of Tennessee
  • Begin to understand the requirements and responsibilities of both a U.S. president and U.S. citizen
  • Deliver a two-minute speech based on research about a U.S. president
  • Discover and understand the significance of national landmarks and symbols

Math

  • Understand place value concepts through the 1000s place
  • Memorize and quickly retrieve addition and subtraction facts
  • to 18
  • Add and subtract whole numbers to 1000 with and without regrouping
  • Solve expressions with missing addends or subtrahends
  • Divide regions into fractional parts and add or subtract fractions with like denominators
  • Understand and model repeated addition (multiplication) and equal shares (division)
  • Multiply and divide with 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10
  • Tell time to the minute
  • Identify, describe, and create 2-D and 3-D shapes
  • Count money amounts above $1.00 and make change up to $1.00
  • Use measurement tools to investigate length and weight
  • Collect, organize, and interpret data using graphs

Science

  • Classify living and nonliving things
  • Identify basic needs of all animals
  • Identify environmental conditions required for plants’ growth
  • Recognize ways animals adapt to the environment
  • Identify the five groups of vertebrates and classify animals based on traits
  • Begin to understand why animals become extinct or endangered
  • Identify the parts of a plant or seed and explain their purposes
  • Understand how living things are connected to one another and the environment
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We intentionally educate and nurture the heart, soul, mind, and body of each boy.

Guiding Principles

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We know, nurture, and love each boy as a unique child of God.

Guiding Principles

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We teach the Bible and model the Christian faith to our boys.

Guiding Principles

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We aren't just teachers; we are life-long learners and students.

Guiding Principles

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We push students to engage as thinkers.

Guiding Principles

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In an increasingly connected world, our curriculum has a global perspective.

Guiding Principles

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Flexible teaching strategies seek to maximize learning for each boy.

Guiding Principles

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Our assessments aren't just a way to measure learning — we want our boys to demonstrate understanding.

Guiding Principles

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We seek to enroll boys from diverse backgrounds.

Guiding Principles

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We seek balance and excellence in all we do.

Guiding Principles

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We aren't just boy-friendly; we're boy-specific.

Guiding Principles

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Our program sets a foundation of learning that will help boys thrive beyond PDS.

Guiding Principles

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We take time to make sure our faculty and staff are growing spiritually.

Guiding Principles

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We hold high standards for ourselves, pushing ourselves to reflect, renew, and grow.

Guiding Principles