Math Skills Your Child Needs while Learning in 2nd Grade
Advancing from 1st to 2nd grade requires new skills. In 2nd grade, kids face complex forms of problems on math topics they learned in grade 1, and the assignments are of increased difficulty levels. So, parents must prepare their children for the new session by offering them online classes on math for kids during holidays.
But parents can’t do that effectively without knowing the areas their kids need to improve. If you are a parent who wants to help your child settle into 2nd grade math education this summer, here are the new skills a child should gain.
Counting within 1000
With math games, 2nd-grade kids can learn how to count to 1000 and within 1000 by heart. In grade 1, kids learn how to count to 10 and then to 100. Now, in grade 2, they have to learn that after 100, a repeated progression will enable them to reach 1000.
Counting is the foundation of math, and learning how to count to 1000 opens up the mind of a child to more complex numbers and their compositions. The skill also builds kids’ confidence in handling other concepts like addition and subtraction.
Understanding place value in three-digit numbers
The concept of place value is learnt in math for 2nd graders because kids are now counting within 1000. As children count, they will come across numerous 3-digit numbers, which means they need to learn the way place value works and the value of each number.
Students will also learn what hundreds, tens, and units mean and how to tell them apart in multi-digit numbers. Kids need time to master the complicated concept, so they will benefit from starting early before the school calendar begins. Therefore, practicing with a child at home or signing them up for an online class is a great idea.
Comparing three-digit numbers
You can also expect 2nd graders to learn how to compare three-digit numbers. Having the understanding of place value, they can compare three-digit numbers using the greater than (>), the lesser than (<), and the equal to (=) symbols. Signing your kids up for a math lesson online will make learning this math skill easier.
Adding and subtracting within 1000
Kids learned how to add and subtract within 100 in first grade; now, they must understand how to do the same within 1000. Depending on the numbers added, 2nd graders will also learn to add three-digit numbers to get either a 3-digit number or a 4-digit one. Online math classes contain practice lessons where kids can use fun games and videos until they get very good at the topic.
Measurement
In 1st grade, students learned vague comparisons to get an idea of measurement, but in the 2nd grade, they will learn terms like length, width, and height. As they progress, the idea of measurement will hit even more complex levels; however, practice makes perfect, especially in math.
Educators designed measurement math games to help kids understand measurement easily. You can use different online math games to ensure your child’s learning process is optimal. The more times a kid repeats these games, the easier they sharpen their measurement skills.
Telling time to the nearest 5 minutes
Time is a fundamental concept, and when kids learn it in 1st grade, they are more enamored by the complexities of an analog clock than time itself. However, in 2nd grade, they begin to learn how time works. The easiest way to learn time is to tell it in the nearest 5 minutes.
Learning what each 5 means regarding timing and implications is a repetitive process. First, they start with what o’clock implies, then they learn the past 5s, past 10s, and past 15s till they get to the half-past concept and back to the o’clock. Besides using games to teach this math skill, introducing math worksheets to the mix will completely change the game for the better.
Solving word problems surrounding money
In 1st grade, a child’s first encounter with money starts with the fundamental “what is money?” question. Then, they learn all denominations of the currency and their value. In 2nd grade, kids have to solve word problems with money, which means applying addition and subtraction skills.
The good thing about money-related math for kids is that money is a very realistic representation of math. Therefore, almost every moment is a teachable one. As a parent, you can help kids understand money word problems by sending them on errands wherever you go shopping together.
An example of a word problem can be incorporated when you visit the vending machine. ‘I have four cents; I wanted a pack of cheerios which cost 2 cents; I put in the 2 cents inside the machine and got my pack of cheerios; how many cents do I have left?’
Reading graphs
Towards the end of 2nd grade, a teacher will introduce your child to an exciting math topic called picture and bar graphs. Kids often enjoy learning this concept because of all the engaging moments involved in the learning process. However, for the same reason, they can get very distracted, missing the essence of the lesson in the first place.
You can ensure that when your child faces this topic in class, they are not lost or distracted by signing up for a class at home. You can also learn the skill of reading the graphs according to the common core principles. It will help you practice with your kids at home using math worksheets for 2nd graders.
Conclusion
It is good to stay in the loop to know what your kid is learning in their new grade. You can follow a few recommendations that are included in this article to help your child learn math skills before a resumption day. If you enjoyed reading the article, you would love to practice with your child even more, especially with games and videos.
Additional Math Resources:
- Read about how to recognize and overcome math anxiety at an early age.
- Discover the 5 signs your child has math problems and how to deal with them.
