2nd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Eve Hopkins has been involved in Lutheran education for many years. She has worked for Lutheran schools for 12 years, 5 of which were spent as the director of SAC here at Christ Lutheran. She then went on to teach kindergarten for 4 years at Ascension Lutheran School in Torrance; then returned to Christ Lutheran as the 2nd grade teacher for the last 3 years.
Previous to working in schools Mrs. Hopkins was always active in the Lutheran school system through her husband who was a principal of a Lutheran school and her three daughters who all attended Lutheran schools. Her oldest, Savannah, also works as a preschool teacher here at Christ Lutheran.
When not working Mrs. Hopkins can be found hanging out with her girls at the softball field or volleyball court. She also enjoys going on road trips with Steve, her husband of 25 years.
Curriculum Overview of 2nd Grade
LEARNING GOD’S WORD
PARAGRAPH In second grade, our students delve deeper into specific areas of the Bible. They look to both the Old Testament and New Testament to teach the students God’s Word. The parts of the Bible focused on in second grade are:PLACEHOLDER
- Old Testament
- How God made the world
- The Ten Commandments
- Bible Heroes
- New Testament
- Jesus is Coming
- The Miracles of Jesus
- How Jesus Saves Us
MEMORY
The second graders deepen their understanding of the Bible through their memory work. Each memory verse correlates to their Learning God’s Word curriculum. The focus is on scripture verses from both the Old and New Testaments.
SPELLING AND VOCABULARY
Our second graders work on memorizing words with the same spelling patterns. They focus on phonics through their different spelling activities. Throughout the year, they focus on different enrichment activities to solidify their weekly vocabulary. In addition, the second graders do proofreading practices and lessons focused on learning how to correctly utilize the dictionary.
LANGUAGE ARTS
In second grade, language arts is based on phonemic awareness. The second graders work on more complex words and letter sounds. They work on literature and comprehension as well as the mechanics of language. The curriculum is divided into:
- Phonics
- Literature
- Comprehension
- Writing strategies
- The parts of speech
- Writing mechanics
- Spelling
MATH
In second grade, the students continue to work on the basic mathematical skills they learned in first grade. They work on building their understanding of whole numbers and algebraic functions. In addition, they work on data analysis based on charts. In math, they will focus on the following areas:
- Number sense and numeration
- Concepts of whole number operations
- Whole number computation
- Fractions
- Money, temperature, and calendars
- Geometry and spatial relationships
- Measurements
- Data analysis and statistics
- Problem solving
- Algebra and algebraic functions
SOCIAL STUDIES
Students will work on five specific areas in social studies. Those areas are:
- Map skills
- Depending on others
- Knowing your family
- Living in our country
- People who have made a difference
SCIENCE
Science this year focuses on four major areas. Those areas of focus are broken down into subcategories. The four areas are:
- Life Science
- Animals
- Physical Science
- Matter
- Sound
- Heat
- Light
- Earth Science
- The earth
- Human Body
- How your body works
- Nutrition
ART
Once a quarter, a parent volunteer leads the class in an Art To Grow On project. The class is introduced to an artist and his/her works. Then the student makes their own interpretation of those works. There are also many seasonal art projects using various mediums. Art is incorporated into projects and activities across the curriculum.
The ART Attacks program is used weekly. This program gives instruction on the principles and elements of style, aesthetic valuing, specific artists and the history in which they created their art, and then allows the students to create their own masterpieces.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Gym time is twice a week. The students are introduced to and are taught different games that lay the foundation for individual and team sports. Perceptual motor activities are designed to challenge the senses through figure-ground discrimination, auditory identification, and kinesthetic awareness.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology is an integral part of second grade. The students have computer class twice a week. In addition, there are computers and IPads in the classroom which the students use for Accelerated Reading and Star Reader (individualized programs). Students also listen to weekly stories online and are introduced to many educational games during literacy rotations.
- Typingweb.com – each student has their own account to learn and improve on their typing skills
- “Techno Author” – learn how to format text and create illustrations; plan and organize story ideas to write an original fairy tale with formatting and illustrations (Microsoft Word)
- “Techno Fit” – intro to desktop publishing; create a food group guide, design a menu, create a side-fold card (Microsoft Publisher)
- Internet Safety
MUSIC
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
Plato
The music program at Christ Lutheran School (Grades K-6) employs the Orff-Schulwerk process, in which students, through play, movement, improvisation and creativity, learn musical concepts and theory. Singing and rhythm training is a regular part of the curriculum. Students are assessed in their ability to keep a steady beat, sing on pitch, and their understanding of basic music theory. The goal of the music program is not to create future musicians, but to foster a safe environment in which students enjoy the art of music, and are encouraged to be creative and expressive without judgment. Students learn to objectively asses what they hear or what their fellow students create.
“The fact that children make beautiful music is less significant than the fact that music makes children beautiful.”
Cheryl Lavender
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are held periodically throughout the school year to coincide with classroom learning. In addition, there is an end of the year field trip / fun day that is determined by the classroom teacher to celebrate the close of the academic year.