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Your Second-Grader and Math
Second-graders continue to learn about money and time. By the end of the year your child should master her addition and subtraction facts.
By GreatSchools Staff
In Your Child's Classroom What math concepts will my second-grader learn? "Second grade is the year for expansion and mastery of the math concepts introduced in the previous school year," explains Linda Eisinger, our teacher consultant and Missouri's Teacher of the Year in 2005.
Your child becomes a master of addition and subtraction skills that she began learning in first grade. You can expect your second-grader to focus on understanding number relationships in addition and subtraction — first, using physical objects like rods or blocks, and later, with paper and pencil. She also starts making the move to mental math, if she hasn't already, and can do simple problems in her head.
Eisinger notes: "Your child should be able to recall her basic addition and subtraction facts from memory by the end of second grade."
Money, telling time and number value Second-graders continue their work with money, time and number values from previous grades. Your child adds and subtracts money using the decimal point, solving equations such as $1.25 + $.20 = $1.45.
Your child works on telling time to the quarter-hour using both an analog and a digital clock.
He'll learn about place value in a three-digit number. For example, he'll figure out that 879 is eight 100s, seven 10s and nine ones. He'll compare whole numbers using the words greater than, less than or equal to and the symbols >, <, or =.
Controversy over calculators How much should elementary school students use calculators? The question has been debated by math teachers, university professors and parents. There is general agreement though that they should not be used as a substitute for learning basic arithmetic skills. Talk to your child's teacher about how calculators are used in your classroom. The pros and cons of calculator use are discussed in this Education World article:
Educators Battle Over Calculator Use: Both Sides Claim Casualties
What should my second-grader be able to do by the end of the year?
  • Count, read and write whole numbers up to 1,000
  • Know from memory the addition and subtraction facts for sums up to 18
  • Add and subtract two- and three-digit numbers that require regrouping
  • Tell time and the relationships of time, such as days in a month and hours in a day
What to Look for When You Visit
  • Graphs on display, pictures of geometric shapes, number lines used to practice addition and subtraction
  • Tiles, rods, blocks or other objects used for counting and sorting
  • Measuring devices such as rulers, scales, thermometers
  • Time set aside for paper-and-pencil practice with numbers
  • Lessons in problem solving integrated throughout the day ("If 15 of you are buying milk for lunch, and 10 are buying juice, how many more students are getting milk?")
Updated August 2008
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Comments From GreatSchools.net Users
09/17/2008:
"My daughter is also in second grade. I learned while she was in Kindergarten that Math was not her favorite subject. She is in a magnet school now which is quite different being in a Montessori school. I heard and read about Kumon (www.kumon.com) and decided to give it a try. She has been doing Kumon for a little over a year and I am very impressed with this method. Not only that my daughter is learning the very basic foundation of Math, I think she is loving it. She just finished multiplication and now doing division which I would have never imagined she can do if she is not in Kumon. I also think the public school system has to follow their schedule, and they give so many topics in a very short period of time. The students not only feeling overwhelmed, they are not really fully grasping what the teachers are teaching and become frustrated and just plain give up on it. I would recommend Kumon to any parent whose children are having difficulty in Math and Reading! or if you just want your children to be ahead. Most Asian parents like myself have children placed in Kumon at age 4 and we rave about our children's accomplishments in a very a short period of time, thanks in part to Kumon. Proud mom in Tampa"
09/17/2008:
"I just love my emails cause they really do help, because my son is now doing greater and lesser and bigger addition. thanks so much. ms.batts"
09/17/2008:
"My son is in second grade, and he's learning algebra in math. Some of his homework in math looks like a very complicated Sodoku puzzle! He did time, money, place values, and all that in kindergarten. I think you need to get with the times and check with the schools and the states they're in before you post."
09/17/2008:
"anybody have idea'a of how to get your kid exited about math?"
09/17/2008:
"My child has ADHD. He is in second grade, but can not understand the concepts of doing math. His short memory term does not allow him to do the math on his own. Sitting with me or other members of the family and his school teacher, he can somewhat do the work.This is the assignments Ive seen him try 34+20+12=, Money problems w/ coins showing and the addition and subtraction mixed on a page is very hard because he cant concentrate enough to change the signs. I dont know if you can understand what Im trying to say, but he needs alot of help. What can I do? Hurting for my child"
09/17/2008:
"It is wonderful to keep us informed like this. As parents, want to be engaged on a continual basis in our child's development. Such information is invaluable. Regards, Laurie and Jon Pietrak"
05/30/2008:
"My second grader was attending a low preforming school. I need advice to get him/she on target. I need suggests and website's to assist"
10/1/2007:
"I think these emails are great ways to teach my children how to excel in school. Keep up the good work. I have been helping my children excel in school, because of the knowledge these emails provide."
09/18/2007:
"As a parent of a second grader, I cannot believe what a challenge school has become. Now I can understand why so many children face problems especially with the exams that are given and the responsiblilties they give at such a young age. What is happening here ???? . What are we trying to prove? It is sad how they are working children of today. We need to speak up and put an end to it!!!! "
09/17/2007:
"Thank you for this feature. As a grandparent I appreciate knowing what my granddaughter is doing in school. It helps when purchasing educational gifts. When we play games its also nice to know.I can keep the games fun and interesting but still challenging. Thank you Great Schools, Gramma Monica"
09/13/2007:
"Thanks again for sending information regarding my son being in the 2nd grade. I need information on how to make counting money easier. I am not actually sure how to approach that. "
04/12/2007:
"My son has not memorized his addition and subtraction facts. He does well when he can take his time but does terribly on speed drills. Nothing I do seems to help him memorize those facts! Overall he is an A student and as decided that he hates math because he should know his facts better. HELP!!"
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