School Readiness Subjects, Activities, and Skills for Second Graders By Katherine Lee Katherine Lee Facebook LinkedIn Katherine Lee is a parenting writer and a former editor at Parenting and Working Mother magazines. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 17, 2020 Fact checked by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Westend61 / Getty Images Second grade is when most kids start to feel more confident as students. For many second graders, this will be their third year at school, after stints in first grade and kindergarten. For others who may have attended preschool, it may be their fourth or fifth year of being in a school setting. School routines, such as group meetings, sharing stories, independent and group work, and transitioning between second-grade activities will feel familiar. Regardless of the amount of time your child has spent in school or a school-like setting, second grade will inevitably bring some challenges. In second grade, subjects such as math, reading, and writing will become more complicated. Homework also will become more regular and require more time to do. This is a great time to set up a quiet homework area if you haven’t done so already. Skills Your Second Grader Will Develop This general guideline lays out what you can expect to see in your second grader as they tackle math, reading, and other subjects this school year. Social Skills As a parent, you're likely amazed by how quickly your child is growing up. It may seem like just yesterday you were sending them off to their first day of kindergarten. As your child continues to mature and develop, so will their social skills. Your second grader will: Develop close friendshipsBe better able to concentrate on lessons for longer periods of timeBetter navigate stumbling blocks and demonstrate increased patience and self-control Social Skills That Are Important for Second Grade Reading and Writing By now your child is probably a good reader and writer, but second-grade curricula will definitely help sharpen those skills. Your second grader will: Read more by themselves. Storytime will most likely continue in second grade, but there will also be more of an emphasis on independent reading, both during school and as a part of homeworkRead longer, more complicated stories, including age-appropriate chapter booksPredict what happens next in a storyBecome a better speller. More emphasis will be placed on spelling increasingly complex words correctly. Spelling tests will be a regular part of second gradeWrite longer and more complex essays and stories using correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphsWrite letters and/or keep a journalLearn to identify parts of speech: noun, verb, adjective, etc. Math Second graders will be introduced to math concepts that have everyday applications, such as counting money and telling time. Your second grader will: Understand the place value of numbers (tens, hundreds, etc.)Be able to mentally add numbers up to 20Handle more complicated addition and subtraction problems using methods of carrying and borrowingWork on problem-solving with numbersBe able to do simple fractionsTell time on an analog clockAdd and subtract money; learn how to make a change Science, Social Studies, and Technology In addition to basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, your child will be introduced to a range of new subject matter that may pique their interest. Your second grader will: Perform basic computer skills such as opening a new document, saving a file, and using the Internet with a teacher’s help and guidanceUnderstand how plants grow and spread their seedsLearn more about the earth, which may involve studying landforms (geology) and continents (geography)Learn about other cultures from the past and presentDiscuss current events Signs of Learning Difficulties in Second Grade 4 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Psychological Association. Cognitive and Social Skills to Expect From 6 to 10 Years. 2017. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Building Your Child's Listening, Talking, Reading and Writing Skills: Kindergarten to Second Grade. 2020. Common Core State Standards. Standards for Mathematical Practice: Grade 2. 2020. Nebraska State Board of Education. Nebraska’s College and Career Ready Standards for Science: 2017. By Katherine Lee Katherine Lee is a parenting writer and a former editor at Parenting and Working Mother magazines. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit