Second GradeA year of growing confidence, curiosity, and independence.
Children begin to discover that they are capable of more, eager to take on new challenges while still delighting in the wonder and imagination that make learning come alive. Over four days each week, the class deepens its academic journey through stories, movement, nature, and meaningful work.
Rhythm and Story
Each morning begins with rhythm as songs, verses, and movement prepare children for the Main Lesson. Fables, legends, and stories of remarkable people become the heart of the year's language arts. Through these rich tales, children strengthen listening comprehension, expand their vocabulary, practice beautiful handwriting, and grow as readers and writers.
They move from copying thoughtfully written passages to composing their own sentences and sharing their ideas with increasing confidence.
Mathematics builds upon the strong foundation of first grade. Through stories, games, movement, and hands-on activities, children gain fluency with the four mathematical processes, master the multiplication tables, strengthen mental math, and work with larger numbers, regrouping, and division with remainders.
Mathematics is experienced as something living, practical, and filled with patterns waiting to be discovered.
Mathematics Through Movement
Those same patterns continue in handwork, where children develop patience, precision, and perseverance while creating beautiful and useful projects. As their hands become more capable, so do their powers of concentration, observation, and mathematical thinking.
Movement nurtures coordination, balance, confidence, and joyful cooperation through games and active play.
Working with the Hands
By year's end, second graders have become more confident readers, writers, and mathematicians while developing greater independence, compassion, and an enduring sense of wonder about the world around them.
The natural world remains an essential teacher. Children spend generous time outdoors tending the garden, caring for the goats and chickens in our little barn, observing the changing seasons, and exploring the life cycles of plants.
These experiences cultivate responsibility, careful observation, and a growing sense of stewardship for the living world.
Life Outdoors
Maggie Fichtner
Our Teacher
Many of our community members may recognize Maggie as she was our beloved Handwork Teacher (grades 1-4) and has been our intrepid summer camp teacher for the grades. Maggie is a fully trained Waldorf teacher with over 10 years of Waldorf classroom experience. She is also the mother of 3 boys who attended Cedar Springs Waldorf School.