What a 2nd grader learns in math and reading

2nd grade · the Common Core skills, in plain words · updated 2026-11-02

This is the whole list: 26 math skills and 17 reading skills a 2nd grader is expected to learn, with the Common Core code next to each one. In math, 2nd grade is mostly measurement and data, numbers in base ten, operations and algebraic thinking. In reading, the weight is on language and reading foundations.

Math: 2nd grade

Numbers in base ten

• Adding big numbers 2.NBT.B.5 — Add the tens first. Then the ones. Then put them together.
• Taking away and why 2.NBT.B.9 — Take the tens first, then the ones. Two small steps make the big one.
• Comparing big numbers 2.NBT.A.4 — Look at the hundreds first. Same? Then the tens.
• Adding four numbers 2.NBT.B.6 — Add two at a time. Tens with tens, ones with ones.
• Counting in steps 2.NBT.A.2 — Find the jump between the first two numbers.
• Hundreds 2.NBT.A.1 — Hundreds is the first digit of a three-digit number.
• Adding to 1000 2.NBT.B.7 — Hundreds with hundreds, tens with tens, ones with ones.
• Ten or a hundred more 2.NBT.B.8 — Only one digit changes. Which place is it?
• Putting a number together 2.NBT.A.3 — The hundreds go first, then the tens, then the ones.

Operations and algebraic thinking

• Same three numbers 2.OA.B.2 — Plus and minus are opposites. Take away what you added.
• Rows and groups 2.OA.C.4 — Count one row. Then count that many times.
• Story problems to 100 2.OA.A.1 — More or fewer? More means add. Fewer means take away.
• Even and odd 2.OA.C.3 — Pair them up. One left over means odd.

Measurement and data

• Coins 2.MD.C.8 — A quarter is 25, a dime 10, a nickel 5, a penny 1. Start with the big coins.
• Using a ruler 2.MD.A.1 — Start at 0. Read the number where the stick ends.
• Two different units 2.MD.A.2 — Small units need more of them. Big units need fewer.
• About how long 2.MD.A.3 — An inch is about a thumb. A foot is about a big shoe. A meter is about a big step.
• Comparing lengths 2.MD.A.4 — How much longer means take away the short one from the long one.
• Length stories 2.MD.B.5 — Cut off means take away. End to end means add.
• Jumps on a number line 2.MD.B.6 — Count the spaces the jump goes over, not the marks.
• Time to 5 minutes 2.MD.C.7 — Count by 5s for each number the long hand passes.
• Line plots 2.MD.D.9 — Each X is one stick. Count the Xs over the number.
• Bar graphs 2.MD.D.10 — Read the number at the end of each bar first.

Geometry

• Shapes and faces 2.G.A.1 — Touch each face or corner once as you count.
• Rows of squares 2.G.A.2 — Count one row. Then count the rows.
• Halves, thirds, fourths 2.G.A.3 — Count the equal parts. 2 is halves, 3 is thirds, 4 is fourths.

Reading: 2nd grade

Reading foundations

• Long vowel spellings RF.2.3b — The same long sound can be spelled different ways: rain, play, cake.
• Syllable counts RF.2.3c — Clap the beats. Each beat has one vowel sound.
• Prefixes and suffixes RF.2.3d — A prefix goes in front. A suffix goes on the end.
• Tricky words RF.2.3f — These words do not follow the rules. Look at the whole word.

Language

• Group names L.2.1a — A group of birds is a flock. A group of fish is a school.
• Tricky plurals L.2.1b — Some words change inside: one child, two children.
• Tricky past tense L.2.1d — Some verbs change completely: go becomes went.
• Adjectives and adverbs L.2.1e — An adjective tells about a noun. An adverb tells how an action is done, often ending in -ly.
• Joining sentences L.2.1f — Join two short sentences with a comma and a joining word: and, but, or.
• Capitals for places L.2.2a — Holidays, product names and place names start with capitals.
• Apostrophes L.2.2c — An apostrophe shows missing letters (don't) or who owns something (Sam's).
• Compound words L.2.4d — Two small words make one big word: sun + shine = sunshine.
• Close in meaning L.2.5b — Think about which word is the strongest.

Literature

• How characters act RL.2.3 — What does the character do when something happens?
• The lesson of a story RL.2.2 — What did the character learn? That is the lesson.

Informational text

• Main idea and details RI.2.2 — The main idea is the big point. Details tell more about it.
• Author's purpose RI.2.6 — Why did the author write it: to tell facts, to tell a story, or to get you to do something?

Reading practice includes 30 short texts at this level, among them 6 science and 6 history passages, with questions that check understanding.

How Teach Me uses this list

The check asks a few questions from this grade and the ones around it to find where your child really is, which is often not the grade on the door. Each day's set then comes from the skills they have not got yet. A skill counts as known when they get it right on their own, more than once. Parents see which skills are open and which are solid, and can point the practice at any topic above.

Teach Me is free. It follows the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts; high school math follows California's traditional pathway (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus).

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