Every year of your child’s academic career is vital for learning and development, and the second grade is no exception.
As your child’s world expands, providing them with an enriching and supportive academic environment is vital for their future success. All parents aspire to support their children in the best way possible throughout every stage of the educational journey, including the second grade.
This article provides a framework to help your child prepare for second grade and fully embrace their new and exciting learning experiences.
What Does the Second Grade Experience Entail?
Going from first grade to second grade is a big step, as second grade is often referred to as “real school” with longer school hours and a shift from mostly play-based learning to more structure and academic concepts.
Now that your child has some foundational skills, the second grade curriculum includes a bigger emphasis on math and reading. There are several milestones that a second grader can accomplish, including:
- Addition and subtraction of larger numbers
- Ability to read confidently aloud
- Learning about different animals within an ecosystem
- Solving problems independently
- Being able to identify their city on a map
- Developing writing skills
These skills will build on each other, so your child doesn’t have to learn everything at once! Instead, think of the second grade as a way to begin an academic foundation that continues to expand in the third grade.
How Can You Help Your Second Grader Succeed?
Academic success is a team effort, and parents can help their second graders succeed by creating an enriching environment at home that supplements and supports what their child is learning in the classroom.
We recommend the following activities:
- Read more at home: one of the most effective learning techniques is to practice, and this includes reading at home. At this grade level, you and your child can take turns reading to each other and acting out fun characters!
- Practice self-management skills: Second graders are learning how to be independent, and you can support this at home by encouraging them to start a lemonade stand or earn an allowance.
- Expand vocabulary: Ditch the boring flash cards and make learning new words into a game. You can incorporate a “Word of the Day” into your daily routine and give your child prizes for consistency.
- Incorporate math skills into everyday home activities: Math in an abstract academic setting can feel intimidating, but it is a very real-world concept, and you can teach your child math while doing everyday activities. Examples include counting or adding items during cooking and using real money to buy things at the store.
It’s also important to note that not all success in primary school is based on academics. There are also social and emotional skills your child can learn in the classroom. Being able to interact with people outside of the home and immediate family helps your child to adapt to new situations, and this skill will be instrumental in adolescence and adulthood.
Start Second Grade Off Right at HTES
Starting your second grader off at a great private school is one of the best ways to ensure a quality learning experience, thanks in part to smaller class sizes, more personalized attention, and a community of involved parents.
Contact Holy Trinity Episcopal School today at 281-459-4323 to learn more about what our second grade program has to offer your child.
You can also reach us by sending an email to [email protected] or filling out our inquiry form here – https://htes-tx.client.renweb.com/oa/inquiry.cfm
