Learning to Read in Second Grade

Is your second grader struggling with reading? Needing to understand key areas where they need support? Unsure what the reading curriculum goals are for second graders? Below, will explore the foundational skills essential for second grade reading proficiency and outline the curriculum goals designed to help your child succeed. We'll also let you know how our tutors can help!

Foundational Literacy Skills

  • Phonological Awareness

    • Groups of words with common patterns or letters that produce the same sound (e.g., -ain).

  • Phonics and Word Recognition

    • Involves knowing letter-sound relationships and decoding unfamiliar words using the alphabetic principle.

      1. Despite irregular English spelling, recognizing common letter patterns aids in decoding most words.

  • Fluency

    • Helps bridge word recognition and comprehension.

    • Fluent readers recognize words automatically and read with expression (prosody), enabling better comprehension.

    • Non-fluent readers read slowly and struggle with comprehension.

    • Fluency impacts children’s enjoyment and motivation to read.

    • Non-fluent reading can lead to a lack of enjoyment and practice, hindering skill improvement.

    • Fluency helps students handle increased reading demands in middle and high school.

Understanding Second Grade Reading Standards

Second Grade Standards for Literacy, provided by the Office of Public Instruction, outline specific learning goals for students such as:

  • RF.2.3 Apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

    • RF.2.3.a Distinguish long and short vowels when reading regularly spelled one-syllable words.

    • RF.2.3.b Know spelling-sound correspondences for additional common vowel teams.

    • RF.2.3.c Decode regularly spelled two-syllable words with long vowels. R

    • RF.2.3.d Decode words with common prefixes and suffixes.

    • RF.2.3.e Identify words with inconsistent but common spelling-sound correspondences.

    • RF.2.3.f Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.

  • RF.2.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

    • RF.2.4.a Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

    • RF.2.4.b Read on-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

    • RF.2.4.c Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction's guide on early literacy instruction, as referenced above, build on the aforementioned foundational reading skills.

In second grade, students should have a basic grasp of phonological awareness and phonics. They should be able to recognize commonly used "sight" words common in the english language. Students should also begin to read "fluently". Fluent reading sounds automatic, accurate, and expressive. Dysfluent reading sounds like slow, laborious reading with repeated words and robotic monotone reading.

We Can Help!

If your child is struggling with any of the grade-level appropriate reading and language arts standards, Big Sky tutoring can help! Our tutoring program is committed to ensuring that your child builds a strong foundation in reading by utilizing the tools and strategies outlined above. We align our instruction with the Montana Content Standards for Literacy. Through systematic and explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, and word recognition, we create an engaging and supportive learning environment that not only aids in decoding and comprehending text but also fosters a genuine love for reading. Trust that our dedicated tutors are fully equipped to guide your second grade child towards literacy success and lifelong learning.

Resources for Parents

To support your second grader's reading practice at home, consider exploring these valuable resources:

  • Starfall - A free public service that helps kids learn to read and write through fun activities and games.

  • Reading Rockets - Offers strategies, lesson plans, and activities for teaching children how to read.

  • Scholastic Parents - Provides various resources including book recommendations and tips on fostering a love for reading.

  • PBS Kids Reading Games - Engaging games centered around reading skills designed for young learners.

  • Epic! - An extensive digital library offering thousands of books for kids, accessible through a subscription.

Utilizing these resources can enhance your child's reading skills while making the learning process enjoyable.