Life Skills in Second Grade

In our second grade classroom, we are growing not only as learners, but as capable and compassionate children of God. Each day is an opportunity to build strong foundations in character, responsibility, and kindness. We intentionally practice “Life Skills” that prepare students for life both inside and outside the classroom.

So far this year, our students have been busy learning skills they can use right now in their everyday lives!

So far, we have practiced and learned:

• How to tie their shoes

• How to fold shirts neatly

• How to wash their hands properly (about germs and why hygiene matters!)

• How to pause and think before we respond

• How to take deep breaths to calm down (learning how to pause, breathe, and settle our bodies when we start to feel upset or overwhelmed)

• How to organize our desks and take responsibility for our space

Our latest life skill has been about giving, saving, and spending money.

We’ve been talking about how, even as second graders, they can begin learning how to save. We’ve discussed the importance of being wise with what we are given and how to be smart spenders. We talked about the difference between wants and needs and how saving takes patience.

Most importantly, we connected this learning to our faith. We talked about how, as Christians, we are called to serve others with generous hearts. We can serve through our actions, our words, and our time and we can also serve by thoughtfully giving from what we have.

These Life Skills lessons may seem small, but they are shaping confident, capable, and compassionate hearts.