Reading help for 2nd graders that is free and fun is easier to find than you think. Second graders can be tough with getting them to enjoy reading. They might be more interested in playing on their tablets or watching television. However, you can get your 2nd grader to improve their reading skills and actually enjoy reading. 

What online reading help for 2nd graders are free and fun? 

There are tons of reading programs and apps online to help kids improve their reading, but not all of them are free. Here are some of our favorite free and fun apps you can use at home:

1. Rewordify can help with reading comprehension. It takes complex texts and simplifies it into much simpler and understandable sentences. You can also create vocabulary quizzes and exercises based on the text you input. 
2. Sight Words is a great app to help your child if they do not have as many sight words as they should by now. There are plenty of word games to help them learn new sight words. 
3. News-o-matic is used by many teachers to incorporate current events to their lessons. However, you can use it at home to help your child improve their reading and learn the importance of keeping up with current events.
4.  Reading Rainbow is a classic television show that has encouraged kids to read and to read often. The program now has its own app that is essentially an on-the-go library. 
5.  Chicktionary is an app that helps with spelling and word recognition. This fun word game app helps your child learn to perfect their spelling skills. 
6. Readability is the ultimate reading help app. While not free, it offers a 7 day free trial. The app works like a virtual private tutor for your child and uses speech-recognition technology to help recognize their fluency. It provides real-time feedback to your 2nd-grade reader and also provides you with progress reports.
   

What should a 2nd grader be able to read?

The best way to know how to help your 2nd grader is to know what is expected from their reading level. Generally in 2nd grade, your child is likely reading more complex texts and expanding their reading comprehension by now talking about what they are reading. They should also be able to:

• Read more complex, two-syllable words.
• Read about 220 sight words by the end of 2nd grade. 
• Read and understand the meaning of common prefixes and suffixes.
• Read and understand common irregular words such as irregular verbs like wrote and bought.
• Read a variety of genres and be able to distinguish between fiction and non-fiction texts.
• Understand the structure of a story.
• Understand and recognize the main ideas versus details of a text.
• Make connections within and between texts such as comparing and contrasting.
• Read with much more fluency with an increase in accuracy, pace, expression, and comprehension.
• Recognize and self-correct errors and re-read when necessary.

As you can see, 2nd graders are learning and reading at a much more advanced level. There are many skills that they are trying to acquire in just one year. Many students succeed by the end of the school year and are reading at the appropriate level. But there are plenty of students that struggle and need extra help outside of school.

How can I help my child who is struggling to read?

For children that are struggling to read or are behind their reading level, giving them time to practice at home as much as possible can help them to get back on track and helping them sooner rather than later will improve their reading almost instantly. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 95 percent of children who receive reading help early on go on to read at their grade level successfully. There are different techniques you can use at home that can help that are free and fun:

1. Read to them every day to help model good reading habits but also make reading a habit for them. 
2. Play word games so that they can improve their sight words. Word games can be played anywhere and everywhere! You can play a game where you pick one word and they have to think of all the words that rhyme with that word. 
3. Let them choose what they read so they are invested and actually interested in the reading material. 
4. Center family discussions around books that they are reading. This shows that you are interested in their progress and also helps them with reading comprehension.
5. Use audiobooks as a way to boost their reading comprehension and overall fluency. Research shows kids who read and listen to a book at the same time show improvements in their reading. 
6. Try online reading programs and apps like Readability to incorporate technology into their reading practice. This makes reading fun and interactive as well as uses a platform they are already used to. 

Reading takes a lot of work for both you and your child. Students in 2nd grade are learning much more complex and difficult reading skills. Using tools such as reading at home or Readability can help get your child to improve their reading but also have fun at the same time. Apps like readability encourage your child to read for fun and give them the confidence to try out more advanced reading materials.