Coursework for Grade Two Reading

The second grade English standards provided in this article are based on those listed on the California Department of Education website, www.cde.ca.gov. As each state has slightly different standards, it is recommended that parents speak with their child's teacher or research their state government to find their state's English standards for grade two.

When it comes to reading, second graders learn decoding and word recognition, vocabulary and concept development and various reading comprehension skills. By the end of this grade level, students should be able to recognize words through spelling patterns and basic syllabication rules.

Second graders should also be able to recognize common abbreviations, such as those for months and days of the week, and be able to identify and correctly use plurals. Second grade reading homework may include worksheets that adapt these and other skills.

Parents can aid students by practicing abbreviations and plurals. Parents are also encouraged to continue reading with their children to aid in their vocabulary development.

Reading Comprehension

Second graders should build upon the skills taught in the first grade. This includes using titles, tables of contents, and chapter headings to locate information in an expository text. Homework may include the following components:

• Stating the purpose of the text
• Questions about essential textual elements of exposition, including why, what if, and how
• Restating facts and details in the text
• Recognizing cause-and-effect relationships in the text
• Interpreting information from diagrams, charts, and graphs
• Following two-step written instructions

When children are presented with this kind of homework, parents should be aware of the steps and skills their child is using. Homework helpers must also ensure they are not simply completing the homework for the student. Instead, they should make themselves available to answer clarification and skill questions. Students must get used to doing their own work in order to fully develop their English skills.

Writing

Second graders should be able to develop a central idea in sentences and paragraphs. This writing should indicate the student has considered the audience and purpose as they progressed through the writing process.

A second grader should be able to group related ideas and maintain their focus on a central theme or topic. Additionally, second graders should be able to understand the general purpose of various reference materials, revise original drafts to improve their writing and have legible handwriting.

Often, writing assignments will de designed to expand a child's understanding of English. Writing assignments could include brief narratives or a letter. The letter should be complete with the date, salutation, body, closing, and signature.

When students are assigned a paragraph to complete at home, parents can aid by reviewing the child's completed work. Keep in mind the elements outlined above and make any suggestions to the child that may improve their understanding of these standards.

Writing Structure

Second graders continue their education in language conventions including sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. By the end of this grade, students should be able to distinguish between complete and incomplete sentences, as well as identifying the nouns and verbs in a text. Second graders will also learn how to use quotation marks, commas and conventions for capitalizing proper nouns.