What your child learns in 2nd grade in Texas
In 2nd grade, reading becomes smoother and writing gets longer. Math moves to numbers up to 1,200, adding and subtracting within 1,000, money, time and fractions. Science looks at matter, forces, weather and life cycles, and social studies looks at communities, maps and people who made a difference in Texas and the nation.
2nd grade subjects in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: place value to 1,200, adding and subtracting within 1,000, fractions and money
- Algebraic reasoning: even and odd numbers, 10 or 100 more or less, and equal groups
- Geometry, measurement and data: shapes and solids, length, area, time, and bar graphs
19 units, including Numbers to 1000, Bigger or Smaller, Skip Counting, Even, Odd and Ordinals.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Foundational language skills: vowel teams, silent letters, contractions, and prefixes and suffixes
- Comprehension, response and genres: character traits, plot, poems and information text features
- Author's purpose and craft, and composition: descriptive and figurative language, and editing for grammar and punctuation
14 units, including Rhyme Time, Sound Detectives, Story Builders, Word Power.
Science
Focus areas
- Solids and liquids, and changing materials
- Pushes and pulls, and sound
- The Sun and Moon, weather records, wind and water, and severe weather
14 units, including Solids & Liquids, Changing Materials, Animal Life Cycles, Push & Pull.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- History: celebrations, landmarks, and people who influenced Texas and the nation
- Geography: map elements, continents and oceans, and how people change the land
- Economics: work and income, saving, and producers and consumers
12 units, including Work, Saving & Resources, Citizens & Leaders, Maps of Our World, Then & Now.
Printable 2nd grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Look for fluent reading, longer writing, adding and subtracting with regrouping, and the ability to explain thinking.
Texas has no statewide report-card scale in 2nd grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
The TEKS process skills apply in every grade. Read about Process skills.
The four practice steps in 2nd grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the learning standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the learning standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Ready for 2nd grade?
2nd grade builds on what your child practiced in 1st grade. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Numbers to 20, Numbers to 100, Count It Up, Jump by Tens, Make 10
- English Language Arts: Blend It, Short Vowels, Word Families, Sh, Ch, Th, Sight Words
- Science: Length, Area & Weight, Objects & Structures, Living Things, Ideas from Nature, Sky & Seasons
- Social Studies: Maps, Our Land, My Community, Community Services, Earning, Saving & Sharing
Common questions
2nd grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). In 2nd grade, reading becomes smoother and writing gets longer. Math moves to numbers up to 1,200, adding and subtracting within 1,000, money, time and fractions. Science looks at matter, forces, weather and life cycles, and social studies looks at communities, maps and people who made a difference in Texas and the nation.
Texas has no statewide report-card scale in 2nd grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
2nd grade builds on 1st grade. In math, that means Numbers to 20, Numbers to 100, Count It Up. In English language arts, that means Blend It, Short Vowels, Word Families.
About 15 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Practice math facts in short bursts, such as five minutes while dinner cooks. Take turns reading a page aloud, and chat about what happened and why. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice 2nd grade skills with Gradelings
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