Grade 2 English Language Arts: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 2 english language arts in the Nova Scotia Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- A1 Foundations of Language: Learners will apply listening, speaking, and non-verbal communication skills and strategies to understand and communicate meaning for various audiences, purposes, and contexts.
- A2 Foundations of Language: Learners will apply understanding of foundational language knowledge and skill when reading and writing.
- A3 Foundations of Language: Learners will apply knowledge of sentence structure, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation when reading and writing.
- B1 Comprehension: Learners will apply knowledge of text structures, features, and styles to comprehend texts in a variety of genres that represent diverse perspectives and experiences.
- B2 Comprehension: Learners will use reading, listening, and viewing strategies to comprehend a variety of texts that represent diverse perspectives and experiences.
- B3 Comprehension: Learners will apply critical thinking skills to deepen comprehension of texts and analyse how various perspectives and topics are communicated and addressed in a variety of texts.
- C1 Composition: Learners will apply pre-writing skills and strategies to develop various texts for a range of authentic audiences and purposes.
- C2 Composition: Learners will apply knowledge and understanding of text forms and genres to write a variety of texts.
- C3 Composition: Learners will use suitable and effective media, techniques, and tools to publish and present final texts in a range of genres.
Easy ways to practise english language arts at home
- Take turns reading a page aloud, and chat about what happened and why.
- Keep a short journal, with one or two sentences a day to start.
- Hunt for a new word a day and use it at dinner.
- Ask for a prediction before turning the page: “What do you think happens next?”
What each unit covers
Listen and Speak
Listening with care, taking turns, asking politely when you did not hear, and using a clear voice that fits the place and the people. These habits help friendships and learning.
Ask and Answer
Using who, what, where, when, why and how to ask good questions, and finding answers in short texts. Asking questions is how readers and listeners make sure they understand.
Rhyme Time
Hearing rhymes and spotting word families (-at, -ig, -op). Both help with reading and spelling new words.
Sound Detectives
Letter teams that make one sound (sh, ch, th, wh, ee, ai, oa) and clapping syllables.
Word Power
Building compound words, finding opposites and spelling plurals (-s and -es).
Grammar Gears
Using the right form of the verb “to be”, choosing pronouns, comparing with -er and -est, and picking joining words like but, or and because.
Build Sentences
Telling the four sentence types apart, spotting complete sentences, and joining two ideas into a compound sentence.
Super Sentences
Starting sentences and names with capitals, and choosing a period, question mark or exclamation mark.
Word Pictures
Spotting similes (comparisons with like or as) and repeated consonant sounds, and what they add to a text.
Text Features
Using a table of contents, charts and icons to find information, and following order words in steps and journal entries.
Reading Detectives
Reading short texts to work out who is telling the story, what will happen next, how characters feel, and how things are the same and different.
Story Builders
Reading short stories, then naming the character and setting, explaining why things happened, and retelling events in order.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Needs development
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Developing as expected
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Well developed
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Well developed and extending
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Nova Scotia report card guide.
Common questions
Take turns reading a page aloud, and chat about what happened and why. Keep a short journal, with one or two sentences a day to start. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Nova Scotia Curriculum Grade 2 english language arts units include listen and speak, ask and answer, rhyme time, sound detectives, word power, grammar gears.
Free printable Grade 2 english language arts practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.