Second Grade: What's In Store

Wonder what's ahead as your child starts second grade? Here's our primer on what to expect.

What You Need to Know

Kids of this age are going through an interesting developmental stage which has its ups and downs, but by the end of second grade, expect longer attention spans, and a more settled child. School picks up where first grade left off, and while each state has their own standards, most will cover the following areas:

• Reading: Focus on reading longer stories, and building on the skills introduced in first grade.
• Writing: Lots of writing in store, with a new emphasis on spelling and punctuation.
• Math: Many new concepts--adding, subtracting, measuring, money, and time
• Science/Social Studies: Geography and historical timelines, as well as weather and geology.

How You Can Help

Read aloud at home, have them read to you, and talk about what might happen in the story before turning the page. Make this part of their special bedtime routine.

Encourage your second-grader to write letters to their family far away--or even to write an anonymous letter to a soldier serving overseas. It's great practice, and it will mean the world to the recipient.

Support math learning by asking your child to help you figure out how much your bill is going to be as you shop for groceries. Help them keep aware of time schedules by buying them an inexpensive watch, or a clock for their bedroom.

To aid in their understanding of timelines before they were born, talk about your childhood, and invite grandparents to do the same.

For more on this topic, see the complete article:

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Second_Grade_Settling/