2nd Grade Math

Learning does not end in the classroom. Students who have supportive families who practice math at home do better in school. These students also feel that school is important.

ways to help your child with Second grade math
 

• Play board games that involve dice or money to give your child practice with adding. Games like this build strong number sense.
• Triangle flash cards are helpful for learning the addition and subtraction facts. They have three numbers, one in each corner of the triangle, that make a “fact family” – two of the numbers add up to the other number. One of the numbers is covered up, and the child comes up with the missing number by either adding or subtracting as needed. If your district uses Everyday Mathematics, your teacher probably has sets of these cards and can show them to you.
• Most math programs that are used in our schools come with games that are helpful for building skills. Ask your child's teacher if there are some games that can be used at home.
• There are lots of free websites with simple games that give practice with adding and subtracting. A couple to try are www.ixl.com and www.mathplayground.com.
• Make a number line with chalk on the sidewalk (or draw one on paper) that starts at 0 and includes only the tens (10, 20, 30… 100). Ask your child to find various numbers, like 24 – would it be in the middle, or closer to 20, or closer to 30?
• Also with the number line, ask your child to add 40 + 15 (for example) and show where it would be on the number line. Children use several different strategies to find the answer. Always ask your child to explain her thinking.
• The most advanced math for second grade involves adding and subtracting two-digit numbers, like 76 – 23. Number lines are helpful for this too. Many second grade students count back to get this answer, or count back by tens and then by ones. Let your child figure out how to find the answer. Your child doesn't have to master the standard written for adding and subtracting (the “borrowing” and “carrying” method) in second grade.
• You can use this number line as is, or cut it and tape it together to make the full number line.
• Measure all kinds of objects in your home using rulers. Larger objects can be measured in feet (and rounded off to the nearest foot) – like the length of a bed or a room. Smaller objects can be measured in inches. Have your child keep a written record of the objects measured and their lengths.
• Working with time and money is important in second grade. Let your child count your coins. He may enjoy drawing the coins and writing the amounts of each one before adding them.
• Help your child recognize time on clocks with hands and on digital clocks. The standard for this grade is to tell time to the nearest five minutes, but that works best on clocks with hands. On a digital clock, ask your child to read the time and then tell if it’s closer to the hour or the half hour (3:20 is closer to three thirty, 8:55 is closer to nine).

Overall strategies for school success

• Meet your child's teacher as soon as the new school year starts.
• Ask the teacher about the process for regular communication between home and school.
• Read what comes home from school and keep in touch with your child's teacher, especially when you have concerns.
• Attend parent-teacher conferences.
• Establish a consistent routine to make sure your child gets homework done. Show an interest in your child's work.
• Always talk about school and the teacher in a positive way, even if you have concerns. It is important for children to see home and school as united.
• Establish regular routines for morning, after school, homework and bedtime.
• Make sure your child is getting enough sleep, so he can focus at school.
• Talk to your child daily about school and how she feels it is going. This shows the value of education.
• Monitor and limit your child's use of technology (TV, computer, internet, video-games, phone and social media).
• Encourage healthy eating and exercise habits.
• Celebrate your child's school success at home.