Second grade is a very impressionable time for children and this
is usually when they begin to master their addition and subtraction.
Normally this is when they are introduced to double and triple digits.
Most will begin learning the most basic fraction problems. Fractions
at that basic level would include learning what a half is, a quarter
is, a third and so on. Second grade math includes use of ordinal numbers
to 100th, comparing and ordering whole numbers to 1000, and will also
learn the grouping of numbers.
Second grade curriculum includes counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, 10s, 25,
50s and 100s. They will also master counting backwards starting with
various numbers. The concept of odd versus even numbers is conquered
as well as the ability to recognize money values by adding various
coins that would equal one dollar. By the end of the year second grade
math students should remember addition and subtraction facts from
memory.
Second grade math students learn which units are best to use when
measuring something such as inches, centimeters, feet, miles or kilometers.
Further they will also learn such things as linear dimensions, weight,
capacity, and temperature. Second grade also teaches the measurement
of time using clocks and calendars. They are taught the concepts of
minutes, half-hours, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Using
both Fahrenheit and Celsius thermometers, second grade math students
learn to demonstrate an understanding of temperatures.
Second grade also teaches the children the basic use of a calculator
and how to predict and create patterns. Second grade math students
learn to identify real-world patterns that are repeating, rotational,
tessellating, and patchwork. They use the symbols >, =, and <. During
this time they will learn to answer math questions that are posed
with multiple choice answers and the very basics on reading and interpreting
simple graphs and charts. This is also a time for the second grade
children to be introduced to probability at its most basic levels.
Basically at this point they would just determine whether or not an
event is certain, probable or impossible. Posed with various circumstances
such as coin tosses, for example, children will determine if events
are equally likely, most likely, or least likely to occur.
The basic concept of math is about problem solving. When children
are given math problems and allowed to come up with a chance to figure
out the problem themselves they usually do quite well. Second graders
tend to do better if math problems are read to them. For example they
would be asked if 5 + 7 is the same as 7 + 5. Then they should be
allowed to explain why they know that the solution is correct. Then
they should be allowed to justify their answers. Second graders seem
to do very well with visual reasoning. For example if you have a bag
of candy and they can actually see the results of dividing the bag
between friends. If there is a bag of 30 pieces of candy and they
divide the bag in half with their friend then they are only left with
15 pieces for themselves. Lessons such as this produce very good results.
This is a critical learning time for children and very important
for parents to keep an open line of communication with the teacher
so that the work can be supported at home as well. Keep math fun!
Play games like, I'm thinking of a number.....it's less than___ and
more than____ etc. Take your child grocery shopping and let them see
transactions that deal with cash money. Allow the child opportunities
to estimate and predict outcomes to see if they are right or not.