Second grade is an important year in a child’s academic career. Kids at this grade level are finally comfortable in their school environment, which means they are ready to focus on expanding their skills and knowledge. In second grade, children start to develop more complex reading skills that will set them up for future academic success. Some children will develop these skills faster than others. If your child is struggling to keep up with their classmates, it’s important to get 2nd grade reading help as soon as possible.

What Should My 2nd Grader Be Reading?

Parents should know what reading skills their child should have by the time they reach second grade so they can determine whether or not their child is falling behind.

Your child should start to become a more confident reader in second grade. Every child is unique, but in general, a second grader should be able to:

• Read and understand the main ideas of a story.
• Provide a concise summary of a story.
• Use their own knowledge of a topic to better understand a story.
• Read independently.
• Read complex words with more than one syllable.
• Read a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
• Compare and contrast two stories or books.
• Read between 50 to 60 words per minute at the beginning of the year, and up to 90 words per minute by the end of this school year.
• Recognize and correctly pronounce most words found in books for second graders.
• Recognize and read words that end in common suffixes, such as -ing, -ed, and -er.
• Discuss what happened in the story, why it happened, and what might happen next.

If your child has not developed these skills, they may need reading help outside of the classroom in order to become a strong reader.

How Long Should A 2nd Grader Read Each Day?

When it comes to reading, practice makes perfect. If your second grader is struggling, it’s important to make sure they are dedicating time each day to reading.

Teachers typically give second graders time to read in class every day. Ideally, second graders should spend about 30 minutes of their school day reading. But your child should still practice reading at home even if they are spending a lot of time reading at school.

Encourage your second grader to read for at least 15 to 20 minutes at home each day. Let your child go past the 20-minute mark if they would like to keep reading. But if your child is showing signs of frustration or fatigue, it’s best to call it quits after 15 to 20 minutes.

How Can I Help My 2nd Grader Read Better?

There are plenty of ways to help your second grader improve their reading skills outside of the classroom. Follow these tips:

• Take turns reading aloud to each other. Read a passage of a story aloud to your child. Then, tell your child to read the same passage aloud to you. Your child will learn from your example, so make sure you use the correct tone, expression, and speed when it’s your turn. With regular practice, this exercise can improve your child’s fluency skills.
• Keep your child engaged in a story by asking them questions as they read. Discuss the characters and the events taking place. Ask your child what they think will happen next or why they think a character acted a certain way.
• Make improving reading skills fun. Create a list of sight words and take your child on a sight word scavenger hunt. Grab a few colorful pieces of chalk and play hangman on the sidewalk outside. Write down a handful of letters. Then, grab a timer and see how many words your child can create using these letters in a minute. These games are all designed to improve reading skills, but your child will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize they’re learning!

As a parent, it’s important to help your child address their reading issues right away. The longer you wait, the harder it might be to help them catch up with their peers.

What is the Best Way to Help Struggling Readers At Home?

If your second grader is struggling with reading, the Readability app can help. Readability is designed with responsive speech recognition technology that allows it to read to your child and listen as your child reads aloud. If your child makes a mistake, the app will provide immediate feedback so they can identify and learn from their errors. The app will also help your child improve their reading comprehension skills by asking questions about the text. It’s just like talking to a real tutor!

Don’t wait any longer to get your second grader the reading help they need to succeed. Download the Readability app to start your free 7-day trial today.