Second Grade
Physical Skills
2.1 Physical Approaches and Skill Development
Students will demonstrate physical development needed for writing. Each student will:
A. Use a correct and efficient pencil grip for writing
B. Stabilize paper with non-writing hand while writing
C. Position writing paper appropriately
D. Maintain sitting posture for writing
Printing Skills
2.2 Letter Skills
Students demonstrate skills in printing letter and number skills from memory. Each student will:
A. Demonstrate correct formation of letters and numbers
1. Start capital letters at the top
2. Start numbers at the top
3. Start lowercase letters (except d and e) at the top
4. Follow standard formation sequence for letters and numbers
B. Orient letters and numbers correctly (without reversals)
C. Place letters and numbers on a baseline (within 1/16″ above or below)
D. Write letters, numbers, and symbols in a grade-appropriate size
E. Follow the writing guidelines of various styles of paper (double and single lines)
2.3 Word Skills
Students write letters together to form words. Each student will:
A. Write names
1. Begin with a capital
2. Form each letter in a name, moving left to right
3. Write courtesy titles correctly (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss., Dr.)
4. Leave clearly defined space between title, first name, and last name
B. Write 2- to 10-letter words
1. Form each letter in the word, moving left to right
2. Use appropriate spacing (i.e., letters close together, NOT touching or overlapping)
3. Capitalize proper nouns
4. Place apostrophe correctly in possessives and contractions
5. End abbreviations with a period
2.4 Sentence Skills
Students write words to express thoughts, forming sentences. Each student will:
A. Write sentences with two to eight words
B. Write from left to right, returning to left margin of subsequent lines as needed
C. Use sentence writing conventions:
1. Begin with a capital letter
2. Leave a clearly defined space between words
3. Use ending punctuation (period, question mark, or exclamation point)
D. Use comma and quotation marks to indicate speech
2.5 Writing Conventions
Students will combine sentences to express ideas or opinions, using formatting conventions that are extensions of
handwriting skills. Each student will:
A. Write paragraphs using proper conventions
1. Write 3- to 5-sentence paragraphs
2. Indent the first line of each paragraph
B. Write titles of written works, capitalizing the first, last, and important words
C. Follow standard format for friendly letters
1. Write date, beginning at left margin or center of line
2. Write greeting, beginning at left margin
3. Write body, using paragraph skills
4. Write closing, matching starting point of date
5. Place name, matching starting point of date and closing