GRADE TWO I. ORAL LANGUAGE WORK ORIGINAL EXPRESSION. 1. Conversation Exercises. 2. Observation Lessons and Reports. 3. Story-Telling. 4. Small Beginning in Oral Narration of Real Experiences, Descriptions, and Simple Exposition. IMITATIVE EXPRESSION. 1. Memorizing Work. 2. Dramatization. 3. Language Games. II. WRITTEN LANGUAGE WORK ORIGINAL EXPRESSION. 1. Simple Sentence Work (early part of year). 2. Small Written Compositions: (a) Simple letter form; (b) Compositions involving Narration, Description, and Simple Exposition. IMITATIVE EXPRESSION. 1. Copying Work. 2. Dictation Exercises. DESK WORK. III. GENERAL WORK VOCABULARY WORK. PURPOSES AND AIMS As outlined in the first year's work, oral language should receive the greater emphasis this year. The work to be done here is very similar to that outlined for the first grade, the chief difference being that the extent and intensity are somewhat increased. The purpose of the year's work is, therefore, to develop the ability to think to a definite end and to express thought in reasonably correct language. By the end of the year the child should be able to speak or write four or five logically related statements on one subject. In the written work a knowledge of certain matters pertaining to capitalization, punctuation, and form should be demanded. The work of correcting bad habits of speech in all recitations should be kept up unceasingly by the teacher. The correlation of nature study, hygiene, history, local geography, etc. with language work should be more systematically introduced in this grade than was possible in the first year. If the language work of this year is a success, a steady development of originality and spontaneity in thought and its expression will be seen. GRADE TWO I. ORAL LANGUAGE WORK ORIGINAL EXPRESSION 1. Conversation Exercises. Conversation exercises should be continued this year along the lines suggested in the first grade. In this grade, however, the exercises are more definitely planned to achieve certain given ends. Special periods may be devoted to discussions of matters of general interest to the children, such as the circus, the county fair, the first frost or snow, the overflowing of the river, Christmas, etc. Matters connected with good manners and correct personal habits should also be given a place here. In the discussion of these various subjects effective correlation of civics, hygiene, local geography, history, etc. may be obtained. In this grade conversation is both a means and an end. Besides its purpose described above, it is the means by which the various types of language work, as well as the recitations in all other branches, are introduced. Better results will be achieved in all of the recitation work throughout the eight grades if the teacher can make the pupils lose sight of the formal side of the recitation and feel that they are simply talking with the teacher and with each other about the various topics that arise. Correct and complete statements should continue to be the goal here, as in all grades throughout the course. In each sentence the teacher may make cor description, and exposition. The life and industries of each community will afford abundant material for observation in this work. The world of nature affords great opportunities for training in observation, while in rural districts much elementary knowledge of |