nd
2
rd
3
to
Grade –
What’s the Difference?
0 Students are expected to be critical thinkers
0 Reading: reading words vs. comprehension
0 Writing: genres & analysis
0 Math: understanding why answers are correct, problem
solving
0 Science & Social Studies: exploring how things work or exist in
the current state of the world
0 Students are expected to be more independent
0 Homework & planners
0 Projects
0 Problem solving (social & academic)
0 Self-motivation
Critical Thinking-Reading
0 Just because we can read the words in Harry Potter, it
doesn’t mean that we should be choosing that book!
0 Comprehension lies in whether students understand the
structure and meaning of the story
0 Important skills addressed in 2nd grade are: predicting,
inferring, summarizing, analyzing story structure, comparing
and contrasting, examining author’s purpose, and
interpreting.
0 What can you do to support the growth of these skills?
0 Talk about books!
0 Ask questions-”Why do you think the author wrote that?”
“What do you think Harry meant when he said that?”
0 We may love to write about our cute new
puppy, but she can’t be ALL we write
about!
0 Students are learning different genres of
Critical Thinking:
Writing
writing and when it is appropriate to use
them.
0 Genres addressed in second grade are:
personal narratives, fairy tales, persuasive
pieces, non fiction, and poetry.
0 As with reading, students need to be
critical of their writing, as well as other’s:
does the organization make sense? Does it
flow? Is there a strong beginning? Is my
spelling as accurate as can be?
0 What can you do to support the growth of
these skills?
0 The more we read and write, the better we
read and write!
0 Make writing fun! Create family pieces,
responses to movies seen over the
weekend, summaries of family vacations,
or write letters to family members.
Critical Thinking - Math
0 How do you KNOW that your answer is correct?
Can you prove it?
0 Students need to understand the processes in problem solving
and be able to explain them
0 Answers can be discussed & dissected
0 Facts are also important and can make problem solving and
more advanced computation easier!
0 What can you do to support the growth of these skills?
0 Flash cards for fact practice (0-20 addition and subtraction)
0 Look for math all around! Create story problems, have kids
help make change at the store, study driving distances
Help Students Be More
Independent
0 Homework & planners
0 Complete independently &
discuss with your child
0 Projects
0 Should be completed by
student and supported by
parents
0 Problem solving (social &
academic)
0 Model & practice at home
rather than solving right away
0 Self-motivation
0 Goal setting & positive
reinforcement
0 Accepting responsibility for
actions and choices