Personal Focus Walls Houghton Mifflin 2nd Grade
Mrs. Saoud Primary Graffiti
Personal Focus Walls Houghton Mifflin 2nd Grade
Personal Focus Walls Houghton Mifflin 2nd Grade
Focus walls are recommended to lend support to students during instruction and work time. This resource is posted on a bulletin board for students to reference through the week. Included on the wall is the theme topic, selection title and author, anthology picture, genre poster, comprehension strategy and skill posters, phonics words, spelling rule and words, vocabulary, vocabulary skills, high frequency words, grammar, writing skills, AND phonics library titles. To access focus walls or vocabulary picture cards, click the linked title or aligned vocabulary cards.
HM 2nd Grade Theme One
Silly Stories
Theme 1: Silly Stories
silly: To be funny in a cute way.
Selection 1: Dragon Gets By
By: Dav Pilkey
Genre: Fantasy
a story with fictional events and
talking characters
Comprehension Strategy:
Summarize
tell a story
in your own
words
Comprehension Skill:
Story Structure
Beginning Middle End
© Cheryl Saoud
Phonics: Short Vowels (a, i); Base Word and Endings
apple iguana
Spelling bag his has
win ran if
big dig sat
an picnic was
am scratch is
High Frequency bought front roll
kitchen until goes
gone their begun
began thought there
very
Vocabulary Skills:
Homophones
Words that sound alike,
have different spellings,
and mean different things.
mail male
Grammar Skills:
What is a sentence?
Theme 1: Silly Stories
silly: To be funny in a cute way.
Selection 2: Julius
Author: Angela Johnson
Illustrator: Dav Pilkey
Genre: Fantasy
a story with fictional events
and talking characters
Comprehension Skill:
Fantasy and Reality
Comprehension Strategy:
Monitor and Clarify
© Cheryl Saoud
Fantasy Reality
Phonics: Short Vowel (o, u, e); VCCV Pattern
octopus umbrella
Spelling fox fun any
wet went of
nut mop red
job block hug
leg every from
High Frequency
brought again give
reason animal live
special every love
Vocabulary Skills:
Synonyms
Words that have the same
or similar meanings.
chef cook
Grammar Skills: Naming Parts of a Sentence
elephant
Who or What
Theme 1: Silly Stories
silly: To be funny in a cute way.
Selection 3: Mrs. Brown Went to Town
By: Wong Herbet Yee
Genre: Fantasy
a story with fictional events and
talking characters
Comprehension Skill:
Predicting Outcomes
Comprehension Strategy:
Predict and Infer
© Cheryl Saoud
use schema
(know and read)
to identify
more than the
author tells
the reader.
use schema
(know and read)
to predict
what will
happen next.
Phonics: CVCE (a and i)
Spelling late side hide
bite have line
size fine give
made write same
ate shake bite
High Frequency different floor move
letter poor word
eight enough first
four second three
two
Vocabulary Skills:
Multiple Meanings
Words that have more than
one meaning.
Grammar Skills: Action parts of a sentence
l a t b i t
what’s happening
bat bat
Theme 1: Silly Stories
silly: To be funny in a cute way.
Focus on: Poetry
Genre: Poetry
describes something, paints a
picture, tells a story, and
expresses a feeling
Comprehension Skill:
Understanding Poetry
Comprehension Strategy:
Monitor and Clarify
© Cheryl Saoud
Rhyme
Rhythm
Stanza
Imagine
Describe
Phonics: short and long vowels
Spelling pal skip just
bump yet dime
tape wipe wide
pile gave like
huge whisk
High Frequency climb fly know
long morning right
some thought long
wall morning want
Vocabulary Skills:
Sound Words
Words that describe a
sound.
Grammar Skills: Correcting Run-on Sentences
more than one naming
and action part hoot oink
Onomatopoeia
Theme 1: Silly Stories
silly: To be funny in a cute way.
Progress Monitoring
George and Martha: The Surprise
Ranger Rick: Hippos
Genre: Fantasy
a story with fictional events and
talking characters
Comprehension Skill:
Review
Comprehension Strategy:
Review
© Cheryl Saoud
Phonics: Spelling Review
am dig fox
nut leg hide
late ran job
fun wet bite
made ate sat
mop hug went
size his
Challenge Review scratch block
every shake
write
Vocabulary Skills:
Review
Grammar Skills: Review
High Frequency Review surprise special reason poor
brought bought front else
kitchen until roll edge
letter floor word more
together before different
HM 2nd Grade Theme Two
Nature Walk
Theme 2: Nature Walk
a walk on a nature trail, especially
with an experienced guide.
Selection 1: Henry and Mudge: Starry Night
By: Cynthia Rylant
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Skill:
Compare and Contrast
Comprehension Strategy:
Question
© Cheryl Saoud
Question parts
of the story
you don’t
understand.
Phonics: CVCE (o, u and e); 2 Sounds for G
Spelling bone hope mule
robe have note
rope those one
cute close home
use these nose
High Frequency beautiful laugh quiet
straight mother saw
already ready sure
always father even
year
Vocabulary Skills:
Compound Words
Words made up of two
smaller words.
Grammar Skills: telling sentences and questions
n o t c u t
tells what someone or
something does or is Earth worm
Theme 2: Nature Walk
a walk on a nature trail, especially
with an experienced guide.
Selection 2: Exploring Parks
with Ranger Dockett
By: Alice Flanagan
Genre: Non-Fiction
facts about real things, people, or
events.
Comprehension Skill:
Fact and Opinion
Comprehension Strategy:
Evaluate
© Cheryl Saoud
To determine if
what your reading
is informative
or entertaining.
amphibian cute
Frogs are...
Phonics: Consonant Clusters (r,l,s); 2 Sounds for C
Spelling trip nest next
swim club glad
step slip lost
brave storm frog
stone space
High Frequency important later busy
touch young saw
already mother sure
always father ready
laugh
Vocabulary Skills:
Antonyms
Words that mean the
opposite.
Grammar Skills:
Commands
tells someone or
something what to do Wicked
Witch
Good
Witch
Theme 2: Nature Walk
a walk on a nature trail, especially
with an experienced guide.
Selection 3: Around the Pond
with Ranger Dockett
By: Lindsay Barrett George
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Skill: Categorize and Classify
Comprehension Strategy:
Monitor and Clarify
© Cheryl Saoud
dairy vegetables fruit
Phonics: Double Consonants; VCV Pattern
Spelling bell add will
off shell well
all skill hill
mess grass kiss
egg across
High Frequency across found
around great
found brother
because front
caught water
Vocabulary Skills:
Multiple Meanings
Words that have more than
one meaning.
Grammar Skills:
Exclamations
bat bat
Theme 5: Family Time
Focus on: Chapter Books
Genre: Fables
A short story that teaches a
lesson using animals as people.
A moral is learned.
Comprehension Skill:
Understanding Fables
© Cheryl Saoud
Fable
Lesson
Moral
Comprehension Strategy:
Predict and Infer
use schema
(know and read)
to identify
more than the
author tells
the reader.
Phonics: Final /k/ Spelled k and ck
Spelling ask pack woke
lake lock kick
sick poke take
neck wreck make
lick package
High Frequency enough hear idea
hungry laugh learn
little people more
people water
Vocabulary Skills:
Exact Words
A word that describes an
exact action.
Grammar Skills: Revising Stringy Sentences
too many ands
She is paddling
down the river
Verbs
Chick Bike
She is not
moving down the
river.
Progress Monitoring
Owl Moon (Realistic Fiction)
Owls (Non Fiction)
Comprehension Skill:
Review
Comprehension Strategy:
Review
© Cheryl Saoud
Theme 2: Nature Walk
a walk on a nature trail, especially
with an experienced guide.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Phonics: Spelling Review
these swim use
glad mess all
club hope add
bone trip egg
cute lost off
next stone hill
brave grass
Challenge Review drove storm
mule across
space
Vocabulary Skills:
Review
Grammar Skills: Review
High Frequency Review beautiful straight quiet even
important touch reason year
young later across busy
different brother stand great
brought special surprise move
HM 2nd Grade Theme Three
Around Town
Theme 3: Around Town
a town is larger than a village and
smaller than a city.
Selection 1: Chinatown
By: William Low
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Strategy:
Summarize
tell a story
in your own
words
Comprehension Skill:
Making Judgments
He is brave!
Phonics: consonant diagraphs (th, sh, ch, wh)
Spelling whistle than wash
sheep dish then
lunch teach both
catch teeth then
which chase when
High Frequency during lion find
heard until hold
shoes watch move
kitchen winter
Vocabulary Skills: ABC Order through
3rd Letter
Grammar Skills:
Naming Words (nouns)
person, place, or thing
Theme 3: Around Town
a town is larger than a village and
smaller than a city.
Selection 2: A Trip to the Firehouse
By: Wendy Lewison
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Strategy:
Question
Comprehension Skill:
Topic and Main Idea
Question parts
of the story
you don’t
understand.
Phonics: Vowel Pairs (ay, ai); Compound Words
Spelling train pay rain
tray sail they
mail hay stay
play great day
trail subway nail
High Frequency clothes order guess
brought touch roll
different poor wear
special work
Vocabulary Skills:
Dictionary Beginning, Middle, End
Grammar Skills: Special or Proper Nouns
a specific person,
place, or thing
Play
Theme 3: Around Town
a town is larger than a village and
smaller than a city.
Selection 3: The Big Bushy Mustache
By: Gary Soto
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Skill:
Problem Solving
Comprehension Strategy:
Predict and Infer
use schema
(know and read)
to identify
more than the
author tells
the reader.
Rainy and Wet
Umbrella
Boots
Phonics: Vowel Pairs (ou, ow); Suffixes (ly, ful)
Spelling cow brown towel
how sour mouse
now found around
house out could
clown frown should
High Frequency behind soldier story
children kind eyes
family school very
straight floor
Vocabulary Skills: Using Context
(synonym, example, definition,
contrast, inference)
Grammar Skills:
One and More than One
(singular, plural)
Theme 3: Around Town
a town is larger than a village and
smaller than a city.
Selection 4: Jamaica Louise James
By: Amy Hest
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Skill:
Making Inferences
Comprehension Strategy:
Evaluate
To determine if
what your reading
is informative
or entertaining.
Rainy Fishing
Phonics: Vowel Pairs (ee, ea); Common Syllables (tiom, ture)
Spelling clean keep eat
tree please mean
feel read we
the be people
he stream steep
High Frequency believe lady whole
beautiful people girl
reason quiet idea
surprise later
Vocabulary Skills: Dictionary: guide words
Grammar Skills:
Plural Nouns
Child
Children
Progress Monitoring
Grandpa’s Corner Store
Barrio
Comprehension Skill:
Review
Comprehension Strategy:
Review
© Cheryl Saoud
Theme 3: Around Town
a town is larger than a village and
smaller than a city.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Phonics: Spelling Review
which sheep we
teach found eat
wash chase be
tray train tree
frown mouse than
when please play
teeth lunch
Challenge Review lunch snail
whistle sheep
around
Vocabulary Skills:
Review
Grammar Skills: Review
High Frequency Review during heard winter lion
clothes behind soldier story
believe lady whole year
across beautiful special order
surprise important guess
HM 2nd Grade Theme Four
Amazing Animals
Theme 4: Amazing Animals
Selection 1: Officer Buckle and Gloria
By: Peggy Rathman
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Fantasy
a story with fictional events and
talking characters
Comprehension Strategy:
Monitor and Clarify
Comprehension Skill:
Drawing Conclusions
Use what you
know and what
you’ve read to
determine a
conclusion.
Phonics: r controlled (ar)
Spelling hard party car
warm smart arm
smart part are
department farm yard
carpet barn park
High Frequency board listen told
bought never hear
important stand story
letter word
Vocabulary Skills: Dictionary: Entry Words
Grammar Skills:
Pronouns
Words for Nouns
Theme 4: Amazing Animals
Selection 2: Ant
By: Rebecca Stefoff
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Non-Fiction
facts about real things, people, or
events.
Comprehension Skill:
Text Organization
Comprehension Strategy:
Question
Question parts
of the story
you don’t
understand.
Phonics: words that end in ng, nd, nk
Spelling king think bang
thank bring end
hand sign send
sing thing long
grand young and
High Frequency between weigh care
carry piece climb
World pull busy
head
Vocabulary Skills: Thesaurus
Grammar Skills: Singular Possessive Nouns
shows ownership
Theme 4: Amazing Animals
Selection 3: The Great Ball Game
By: Joseph Bruchac
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Folktale
stories passed down for generations
that passes on a truth or lessons
Comprehension Skill:
Cause and Effect
Comprehension Strategy:
Summarize
tell a story
in your own
words
Phonics: Long o and Vowel Pair oa/ow
Spelling boat gold hold
cold old most
road load toe
blow snow so
rainbow show goal
High Frequency ago field war
half across more
behind great most
during once soon
Vocabulary Skills: Parts of a Dictionary
Grammar Skills: Plural Possessive Nouns
shows ownership
more than one
Theme 4: Amazing Animals
Focus on: Biography
Genre: Biography
A true story about someone’s
life. Biographies give facts and
events about a person’s life.
Comprehension Skill: Understanding Biographies
© Cheryl Saoud
biography
champion
event
facts
information
president
Comprehension Strategy:
Evaluate
To determine if
what your reading
is informative
or entertaining.
Phonics: R Controlled: or
Spelling born core horn
sport short torn
morning sort fork
snore four fort
forest forty store
High Frequency about friend write
afraid beautiful years
believe surprise near
watch
Vocabulary Skills:
Abbreviations
A short way to say or
write a word.
Grammar Skills: Nouns and Pronouns
Sport
Theme 4: Amazing Animals
Progress Monitoring
Little Grunt and the Big Egg
Mighty Dinosaurs
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre:
Fantasy and Non-Fiction
Comprehension Skill:
Comprehension Strategy:
Vocabulary Skills:
Grammar Skills:
High Frequency Review board told listen care
weigh between field ago
half war
Phonics: Spelling Review
load snow sing
party blow boat
cold farm park
road smart thank
think thing hold
most bring yard
hand send
Challenge Review rainbow grand
department goal
young
HM 2nd Grade Theme Five
Family Time
Theme 5: Family Time
Selection 1: Brothers and Sisters
By: Ellen B. Senisi
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Non-Fiction
facts about real things, people, or
events.
Comprehension Skill:
Drawing Conclusions
Use what you
know and what
you’ve read to
determine a
conclusion.
Comprehension Strategy:
Evaluate
To determine if
what your reading
is informative
or entertaining.
Phonics: two syllable words ending with er
Spelling flower better other
water father over
under sister
after brother
center mother
High Frequency middle trouble uncle
clothes brother young
friend guess
listen thought
Vocabulary Skills:
Word Families
Grammar Skills:
Verbs
Action Words Cat, Hat, Sat
Theme 5: Family Time
Selection 2: Jalapeno Bagels
By: Natasha Wing
© Cheryl Saoud
Comprehension Skill:
Follow Directions
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Strategy:
Question
Question parts
of the story
you don’t
understand.
Phonics: Contractions
Spelling I’ll isn’t it’s
we’ve didn’t we’ll
you’ll can’t I’ve
you’re they’re I’m
wouldn’t
High Frequency Early instead hair
Bought care roll
Care hungry war
Weigh whole order
Vocabulary Skills: Dictionary: Word Meaning
Grammar Skills: Verbs that tell about now
Anna sweeps the floor.
Theme 5: Family Time
Selection 3: Carousel
By: Pat Cummings
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Strategy:
Predict and Infer
use schema
(know and read)
to identify
more than the
author tells
the reader.
Comprehension Skill:
Making Judgments
He is brave!
Phonics: The Sound of Y at the End
Spelling puppy very many
baby lady only
lucky funny happy
silly furry angry
cookie
High Frequency aunt million pair
believe between even
field lion told
ago
Grammar Skills: Verbs that tell about the past
Tim hiked the mountain.
Vocabulary Skills:
Homophones
Words that sound alike,
have different spellings,
and mean different things.
mail male
Theme 5: Family Time
Selection 4: Thunder Cake
By: Patricia Polacco
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Strategy:
Monitor and Clarify
Comprehension Skill:
Sequence of Events
Beginning Middle End
Phonics: -ed and –ing endings
Spelling batted getting pinned
running shopping sitting
clapped stepped stopped
hugging
High Frequency air child heavy
hour afraid early
only warm half
heard winter
Vocabulary Skills: Dictionary: Word with Ending
Grammar Skills: Verbs
is/are was/were
Click Image
Theme 5: Family Time
Focus On:
Chapter Books
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Chapter Books
Chapter books divide stories into
different parts.
Comprehension Skill:
Understanding Chapters
Comprehension Strategy:
Summarize
tell a story
in your own
words
Phonics: -Homophones
Spelling tail tale plane plain
sail sale to too
two hole whole for
four threw through
High Frequency already began could
door front great
move special other
together
Vocabulary Skills: Puns: uses different meanings
of the same word and are
often meant to be funny.
Grammar Skills: Words that tell how
Loudly, quickly
What do you call a
sleeping bull?
A bull dozer
Theme 5: Family Time
Progress Monitoring
A Curve in the River
and Slippery Siblings
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
And Non Fiction
Comprehension Strategy:
Comprehension Skill:
Vocabulary Skills: Grammar Skills:
High Frequency Review middle uncle trouble hair
early instead aunt pair
million air child hour
heavy
Phonics: Spelling Review
hugging sister I’m
better happy lady
stopped getting baby
mother clapped I’ll
brother silly it’s
sitting you’re I’ve
isn’t
Challenge Review jogging other
wouldn’t angry
they’re
HM 2nd Grade Theme Six
Talent Show
Theme 6: Talent Show
To have a skill or ability to
do something well
Selection 1: The Art Lesson
By: Tomie dePaola
© Cheryl Saoud
Comprehension Skill:
Author’s Viewpoint
Author’s Viewpoint is what the
author thinks or feels about the
topic.
The reader can figure out what the
author thinks or feels by paying
attention to details.
Comprehension Strategy:
Evaluate
To determine if
what your reading
is informative
or entertaining.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Phonics: different sounds of oo
Spelling zoo tooth hook
moon book soon
took good room
foot you who
High Frequency fair gold woman
aunt color hair
lady learn pair
trouble uncle
Vocabulary Skills:
Word Families
Grammar Skills:
Other Irregular Verbs
do/did, go/went Cat, Hat, Sat
Theme 6: Talent Show
To have a skill or ability to
do something well
Selection 2: Moses Goes to a Concert
By: Isaac Millman
© Cheryl Saoud
Comprehension Skill:
Noting Details
Details in
stories and
illustrations
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Strategy:
Summarize
tell a story
in your own
words
Phonics: long I patterns
Spelling sky fly right
find try mind
night light eye
high dry buy
High Frequency heart alphabet mind
air instead fair
middle million hour
soldier important
Grammar Skills:
Adjectives
The red telephone rang.
Vocabulary Skills:
Multiple Meanings
Words that have more than
one meaning.
bat bat
Theme 6: Talent Show
To have a skill or ability to
do something well
Selection 3: The School Mural
By: Sarah Vasquez
© Cheryl Saoud
Genre: Realistic Fiction
fictional characters but events could
really happen.
Comprehension Strategy:
Question
Question parts
of the story
you don’t
understand.
Comprehension Skill:
Problem Solving
Rainy and Wet
Umbrella
Boots
High Frequency below alphabet heart
should board heavy
neighbor child mind
trouble woman
Grammar Skills:
Comparing Adjectives
adding er or est
Vocabulary Skills:
Using Context
Using clues in the text to
determine a phrase or a
word.
Phonics: -ed and –ing endings (drop final e)
Spelling liked chased hiding
hoping making named
baked closed riding
using teasing decided Click Image
Thank You for Downloading my Personal Focus Walls
Acknowledgements (click image to link)
I provided this file as a free resource to assist parents and students with HM content.
Please do not distribute copies.
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