FREE SHIPPING on orders over $60
Return to previous page

Second Grade: Ready or Not?

Is your child ready for second grade? Every child is special and unique and develops at their own pace, but certain skills and knowledge sets are essential for social and academic growth, development and achievement in school. This checklist is designed to help you prepare your child for second grade. As you explore it, remember:

  • Success in second grade requires children to be much more independent learners than they were in first grade.
  • Parents are teachers and role models. Every day your child is learning as you talk, play and work together.
  • Readiness is a combination of age, individual growth and experiences.
  • Children develop at their own rate; however, your involvement strongly promotes readiness.
  • Your child will learn by doing.
  • Play is an essential part of learning.
  • Your child learns best when engaged in activities that are interesting and fun.

 

Second Grade Readiness Checklists

Second Grade Skills Checklist  Print PDF

Social & Emotional | Reading & Language Arts | Math | Social Studies | Science

Math

Numbers, Operations & Problem Solving

  • Counts by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s
  • Identifies, orders and writes numerals from 0 to 100
  • Knows addition and subtraction facts to 50
  • Adds and subtracts two-digit numbers to 99 without regrouping
  • Shows beginning understanding of place value
  • Makes reasonable estimates of quantities
  • Identifies whole, half, thirds and fourths
  • Names and uses ordinal numbers, such as first, second, third, etc.
  • Plots and identifies positive whole numbers on a number line

 

Geometry & Measurement

  • Identifies and draws basic shapes
  • Explores and solves simple spatial and measuring problems using manipulatives (hands-on objects that can be counted or sorted) and drawings
  • Recognizes and uses standard measuring tools, such as rulers, scales and thermometers
  • Understands basic concepts of spatial relationships, symmetry and reflections

 

Math in Action: Telling Time, Money, Real-World Math

  • Recognizes and adds money to $1.00
  • Tells time to the hour and half-hour
  • Uses drawings and words to describe mathematical thinking
  • Collects and records data using tallies, lists, charts and graphs
  • Reads a graph or chart and derives conclusions
  • Classifies, sorts and compares physical objects by a variety of classification schemes and patterns (likeness, difference, sound, color, texture, size, weight, temperature, length of time, etc.)
  • Makes, copies and extends patterns with actions, objects and words

 

Tips for parents to help children feel confident in dealing with numbers and number tasks:

  • Create a coin jar where you toss spare change and give your child the regular chore of sorting and counting these coins (with your help) on a regular basis.
  • Keep a master family calendar and have your child mark off days, count the days until up coming events, and keep track of birthdays.
  • Encourage your child to help sort the cans and boxes in your pantry by size or weight.
  • Include your child in simple cooking activities and model using measuring cups or spoons; describe what you are doing as you use these measuring tools.
  • Play counting games when you are in the car or out for walk; pick a "magic number" and challenge your child to spot that many dogs, then the magic number of big trees, or red cars, etc. 

 

See all math activities >

 

Social & Emotional | Reading & Language Arts | Math | Social Studies | Science

Math Games

Explorer Game Cartridge: Get Puzzled

Play challenging puzzle games as you guide spaceships, build bridges, create monsters and more!

shop math games >