Second Grade Language Arts

Family Literacy & Skills

We have taken all the guesswork out of Language Arts and simply offer lesson plans that are effective, efficient and fun. Our CGA program provides activities families can do together along with specific grade-level appropriate material that cover all the academic needs. This program is the easiest to follow because each weekly lesson is provided and sequences weekly for parents to follow. Additionally, the power standards checkpoints are provided throughout the year. So you can easily upload the submissions into Ally and check that your child is competent.

Family Literacy and Skills Overview of Program

Family Literacy and Skills Curriculum Map by Grade Level

Week 1: Homepage with Links to the First Lesson for grades K-3.

Explanation of the Family Literacy and Skills Program.

Each week, there will be three days of skill practice in order to:

  • Increase in knowledge.

Family literacy is available for all grades and reading levels placing an importance on phoneme awareness, phonics and decoding, but then going beyond with syntax, morphology, and semantics.  Reading needs a brand new circuit of knowledge and the Family Skills Literacy program can change the thinking through a print and digital adaptive, blended instruction. Each week they will connect the world around them to their own experiences through fluent cognitive awareness.  

  • Expands vocabulary.

Family Literacy expands vocabulary by exposing the students to new words and ways they can sound out and find the meaning of words through the science of reading, by increasing their ability to expand their vocabulary, spelling, grammar skills and helping the student be a part of this entire comprehension, systemic approach to literacy. 

  • Sharpens the mind. 

Family Literacy sharpens the mind through being a part of the entire comprehension and engaging the students’ brains tapping into their critical analysis and empathy to help make judgments and focusing on the importance of messages in a single word and simple phrases so by the end of the year students will have an automatic, fluent, comprehending brain. 

  • Enhance the imagination.

Reading and writing are great entertainment and have to be part of this entire comprehensive process. Family Literacy will allow your student to travel to a new world each week connecting their thoughts and feelings. Reading is not only about uncovering new discoveries, but a vehicle to challenge and reflect.

  • Early Learning

We have the absolute best academic support for early learning, engagement, and mastery.  CGA family literacy helps build a sense of self understanding and facilitates evaluation of individual needs. The more a student knows about a word, the quicker the student will read and comprehend words and stories. 

Language Smarts

This fun, mind building book teaches standards-based language arts and develops critical thinking skills. Language Smarts™ can serve as a complete curriculum for language arts or as a supplemental resource. Empower your student’s mind as you improve their vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, reading, and writing skills.  Teaching and practicing language arts skills and concepts has never been easier! No lesson preparation needed! Each section introduces a specific topic, followed by appropriate practice and application activities. These engaging and colorful lessons develop critical thinking and language arts skills through a variety of activities and different genres: Common Phrases, Palindromes, Pangrams, Mnemonics, Nursery Rhymes, Poems, Folk Tales (Fairy Tales and Fables), Fiction, Non-fiction, Reality, Fantasy, Rhyme, Riddle, and Word Play. Learn More

Notes: Covers all language arts skills and doesn’t need much parent involvement. Colorful pages. Add a spelling curriculum.

Sing, Spell, Read & Write

With challenging puzzles, word searches, decoding games, riddles, sing-alongs, and more, learning is so enjoyable for your second graders, they won’t think of it as school work! Building upon the Level 1 program, this comprehensive and multisensory curriculum integrates phonics, spelling, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, grammar, cursive writing, proofreading, and more.

Full-color student workbook pages include a wide variety of exercises arranged by “steps.” Tracing, drawing, games, fill-in-the-blank, and other simple workbook-activities provide plenty of practice opportunities. The answer key booklets featured reduced-size student pages with the correct answers overlaid. The cursive writing pamphlet provides a few scripted sentences that instruct children on how to write each upper and lower-case letter. Learn More

Logic of English

Foundations teaches children age 4-7 to read real books without guessing or memorizing sight words while developing their writing, spelling, and language skills.   In Foundations students gain phonemic awareness, learn to read and write the 74 basic phonograms and increase reading fluency through structured but playful activities. The innovative Rhythm of Handwriting™ method aids students in developing fluid handwriting. Step by step, students grow as readers, moving from phrases to sentences to paragraphs to books.  Using evidence-based reading instruction methods, Foundations combines multi-sensory learning with the latest in linguistic research to provide students the best possible foundation for education: strong reading and writing skills.  lLearn More

Comes with: Level A Teachers Manual and Student Workbook,  Doodling Dragons,  Phonogram and Spelling Rule Quick Reference (cursive or manuscript), Rhythm of Handwriting Quick Reference Chart (for cursive only), Rhythm of Handwriting Tactile Cards, (cursive or manuscript, optional for K only), Phonogram Game Cards-2 sets,
Basic Phonogram Flash Cards, Phonogram Game Tiles, Spelling Analysis Card

Notes: Logic of English is a very solid phonics foundation that is multi-sensory in nature.  It is parent intensive. Help Me Choose link

Shurley English

This program is highly structured. Lessons are taught with continual teacher-student interaction. Students then complete worksheets or writing assignments from their workbooks. CD’s present jingles and the question and answer flows for different types of sentences. The teacher’s manual explains the methodology and offers useful teaching tips and some creative ideas. Learn More

Notes: Because the methodology and concepts are repeated from year to year. You can begin to use this program at any level—you need not go back to level 1.

Moving Beyond The Page

Get your hands dirty investigating solids and liquids. Create your own animal and describe how its design aids in its survival. Develop an appreciation for cultures by reading “Cinderella” stories from around the world. Dress like a pirate and go on a “Measure Hunt”. Practice math skills at a “Home Carnival”.    In the 6-8 year-old curriculum, your child will explore all subject areas using a hands-on and investigative approach. Oftentimes, homeschoolers are only taught reading, writing, and math during the early years, but a truly comprehensive curriculum will expose them to science and social studies as well. These subjects can be the most engaging and exciting for a young child. The curriculum is also filled with quality literature to enjoy with your child. Learn More

Comes with: Each Concept comes with a variety of  Literature, Manipulatives, a Teachers manual and Student Activity book.

Notes: Moving Beyond The Page is a literature based curriculum.  It does become overwhelming with so many activities.  Our favorite way to use it is to pick and choose between activities and not become bogged down by doing all of them. No additional curriculum needed.  Placement test

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See all the Moving Beyond The Page materials available for children ages 6-8

See Materials

All About Reading

Get ready to make reading your student’s favorite subject of the day! This is a delightful, developmentally appropriate method for learning to read. All About Reading is a scripted, open-and-go program, developed for busy parents, teachers, and tutors who want to teach reading in the most effective way possible.Learn More

Needs: Teacher Manual,  Student Activity Packet, 2 Readers, Interactive kit.

Notes: All About Reading is great for struggling readers, but it can be too repetitive for quick learners.   Placement test

Explode The Code

Content provides research-based, multi-sensory instruction best for beginning and struggling readers.  Reinforcement for every skill in the “1/2 books” series allows for extra practice. Consistent exercise formats with simple directions and concrete examples allow students to work and learn independently. Learn More

Needs: Semester 1- Book 3,  Semester 2- Book 4 (1/2 books are available only if extra practice is needed)

Notes: Great for the child who is beginning to read but needs practice.  Add Spelling and Grammar.

Reading Eggs (Online)

Makes learning to read interesting and engaging for kids, with great online reading games and activities. Children love the games, songs, golden eggs and other rewards which, along with feeling proud of their reading, really motivate children to keep exploring and learning.  Learn More

Headsprout(Online)

Headsprout from Reading A-Z is an online reading program that teaches K-5 students critical reading fundamentals and comprehension strategies. The program’s adaptive sequencing automatically adjusts its early reading instruction to meet the needs and learning pace of every student. Learn More

Spelling You See – Wild Tales

Wild Tales will continue your student’s journey through the skill development stage of spelling.  For the first seven weeks, your student will continue to work with the nursery rhyme theme from Jack and Jill before transitioning into nonfiction passages about animals beginning in Lesson 8. Students will read a passage with the instructor each day. Guided reading helps readers of all ability levels become familiar with the passage. Students will also “chunk” the appropriate letter patterns indicated for that day’s lesson and will have opportunities for copywork, free writing, and writing from dictation throughout the week. Learn More

Needs: Instructors Handbook and Student Pack.

Soaring with Spelling

The spelling and vocabulary worksheets in Level 1 start with a gentler  approach by introducing the student to simple one and two-syllable list words for each lesson. The list words for the Level 1 spelling worksheets demonstrate simple long and short vowel sounds, as well as an introduction to vowel and consonant  blends. The complexity of the list words  and the concepts they cover become more difficult as the Levels progress. Learn More

Comes with: Workbook and Answer Key.

All About Spelling

All About Spelling is a building block program: each level builds upon the previous one. In order to build a strong foundation, most students start with Level 1.

If your student is a beginning reader, we recommend completing All About Reading Level 1 or the equivalent first, and then add in the All About Spelling program, beginning with Level 1. This gives students a solid start in reading, and a strong basis for successful spelling. To learn more, read the article All About Spelling—The Right Time to Start.

Spelling Workout – B

Spelling Workout has all the components you need to lead students from simple sound-letter relationships to more complex spelling patterns.  Students learn spelling skills based on phonics through unique, cross-curricular reading passages, practice, and high-interest writing activities. Packed with flexible lessons, motivating activites, including fun riddles and puzzles, this dynamic program leads students to spelling success! Learn More

Notes: My personal favorite Spelling program as it is phonics based and includes writing and editing.

Writing with Ease

Level 2 – Provides easy-to-use materials for introducing this comprehensive writing approach to young students; an approach that understands the need for one-on-one instruction and focuses on copywork (putting words on paper) and narration (putting ideas into words). Learn More

Comes with: This is a stand alone book.

Four Square Writing

Grades 1-3 – Teach writing skills using this innovative new approach. The Four Square method can be used with all forms of writing and will fit any reading or language arts program. This step-by-step approach is built around a simple graphic organizer that first shows students how to collect ideas and then helps them use those ideas to create clear and polished prose. Open-ended reproducibles make the technique accessible to writers of all ability ranges. Learn More

Notes: A writing method that is easy to teach and understand.

Winning with Writing

This level covers introduction to sentences, different types of sentences, organizing your thoughts for writing, main topics, details, detail sentences, choppy sentences, rambling and run-on sentences,
creative writing, and how-to writing, among other things.  Learn More

Brave Writer

You will act as secretary and transcriptionist, giving your child’s young, quirky, brilliant voice access to the world of print. Your little bundle will discover that a writer already lives inside. These ten engaging writing projects include word play, photography, teatimes, body art, and fairy tales, to name a few!

The Jot it Down! program product:

  • Developmentally appropriate writing projects
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • A weekly and monthly plan

Jot It Down! is visually engaging, easy to use (open-and-go), and lasts an entire school year.

The projects are equally valuable to Charlotte Mason fans, classical homeschoolers, and unschoolers alike! How you home educate will be supported by both the specific, helpful instructions, and the wide open space to interpret the projects individually. Adapt this product for older students by handing the pencil to them. Learn More

Growing with Grammar

Practicing with sentences, practice with subjects and predicates, joining sentences, capitalization, plural nouns, irregular nouns, object and subject pronouns, using I, me, we, and us, action verbs, subject-verb agreement, past and future tense verbs, irregular verbs, linking verbs, using a, an, the, using do, does and did, using has, have and had, contractions, adjectives that compare, commas, using a dictionary, writing a friendly letter. Learn More

First Language Lessons

A complete beginning grammar text that uses copywork, narration, picture study, and other classical techniques to develop the young student’s language ability. Scripted lessons give the teacher direction and confidence, while exquisite pencil reproductions of great paintings are used to encourage children in oral composition. Learn More

Notes: Is very structured and requires parent involvement.

Editor in Chief

Beginning 1 (grade 2-3) Improves students’ grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and attention to detail using a standards-based thinking approach rather than drill and practice. This effective method teaches students to carefully analyze and edit stories. This book includes 16 lessons in grammar and mechanics. Students identify and circle errors in each story and write their correction. The grammatical and mechanical errors in the paragraphs are based on general instructional guidelines for specific grade levels; the content level, however, is ungraded, allowing usage of these materials at many instructional levels. Writing styles and content are varied to sustain interest and to broaden the students’ exposure to different writing formats, such as letters, stories, and dialogue. The illustrations integrated into the context of the activities further spark student interest. The skills developed can be applied to the students’ own writing. Detailed answers are also included. Learn More

D’Nealian

D’Nealian Handwriting is the original continuous stroke handwriting program! It’s based on a few simple connecting strokes that children then use to write in cursive.

Four units are included in this Grade 2 workbook: Getting Ready to Write, Writing Manuscript letters, Writing Lower-case Cursive Letters, and Writing Capital Cursive Letters. The first unit features pre-writing skill practice in the form of writing slanted letters and learning either the right or left-handed position for writing. The other units feature letters, words, and sentences for students to trace and write independently. Learn More

Zaner Bloser Cursive

Zaner-Bloser Handwriting is a complete handwriting program that can be taught in as little as 15 minutes a day! The Zaner-Bloser style teaches a vertical manuscript alphabet that is made up of only four simple strokes and is similar to the letter forms most widely used in everyday print; the cursive alphabet that is made up of four basic strokes: the undercurve, downcurve, overcurve, and slant.

This second grade cursive workbook focuses on the mastery of manuscript handwriting along with the introduction of cursive handwriting. Colorful and engaging exercises include tracing and writing individual letters, words, sentences, numbers, plus some original writing; review and application exercises are included throughout. Students will think about shape, size, spacing and slant as the keys to legibility. Students will begin learning cursive letters with letters based on the type of stroke with which the letter begins. Learn More

Zaner Bloser Manuscript

This second grade manuscript workbook focuses on the mastery of manuscript handwriting. Colorful and engaging exercises include tracing and writing individual letters, words, sentences, numbers, and some original writing; review and application exercises are included throughout. Students will think about shape, size, spacing and slant as the keys to legibility. Learn More

Handwriting Skills Simplified – B

Handwriting skills are needed in every facet of life, not just in the classroom! Children will be taught legible handwriting through practice and more practice! Handwriting Skills Simplified provides a direct, easy to do, “trace and write” method. Each page provides tracing and writing practice for each letter of the alphabet, along with individual words and sentences. Soon your students will have achieved legible, improved manuscript handwriting! 64 pages, softcover. Grade 2. Learn More