Helping Kids Master 2nd Grade Math
Author: jimwheelin | Posted: 23.02.2012When kids enter 2nd grade, they should already have a good grasp of the building blocks of math, including basic addition skills, beginning subtraction concepts and the relationship between number values. Moving on to 2nd grade math means learning more difficult concepts in all of these areas, mastering new skills and laying the foundation for math taught in higher grades.
Keeping Kids Focused
One of the biggest challenges for teachers at all grade levels is keeping an entire classroom full of kids engaged, focused and interested. The challenge is even greater at an elementary level as children are often still adapting to an environment that requires them to sit still for long periods of time, work quietly at their desks and take in a large amount of information over the course of the day. The addition of 2nd grade math games to the standard curriculum gives kids a break from seat work while still allowing teachers to present important math concepts. Using an interactive online framework that merges play with learning, teachers can grab the attention of every student in the class and keep them focused on the lesson from beginning to end.
Custom Individualized Instruction
In an ideal world, every student would be able to receive one-on-on instruction to optimize his or her learning experience. However, this is rarely possible in a modern classroom setting where there can be over twenty students and only one teacher with no aids or helpers on hand. This high ratio of students to teachers can make teaching 2nd grade math even more difficult. But online math games are designed to move at the personal pace of each child who plays. Kids who need to go back and review ideas from kindergarten and first grade are free to do so, while others who are ready to tackle multi-digit addition and subtraction problems will find them presented in a vibrant setting that is both entertaining and engaging. In this way, teachers can present individualized instruction even when they aren’t able to personally work with every student in the class.
Advancing to Higher Concepts
No matter what level a child is at when entering 2nd grade, it’s essential for him or her to have a full understanding of new math concepts before the end of the year. Adding and subtracting numbers with multiple digits and cementing fluency in basic addition and subtraction facts are key ideas in 2nd grade math. Mastery of these skills sets the stage for being able to learn multiplication and division later on. By tracking progress from moment to moment, online math games can adapt to the skill level of every child and aid in preparing him or her to understand advanced numerical concepts.
By incorporating virtual teaching tools and online math games, teachers can help to ensure that kids get a full grasp of each new concept as it comes. The individual attention that these games can offer takes classroom instruction to the next level, offering a better chance at success to a larger subset of students. With online games, 2nd grade math becomes fun and engaging for students regardless of skill level or learning style.
About Author:
Jim Wheelin writes about many different educational topics for parents and kids. Recently, he has been testing out different 2nd grade math games to help his little ones improve on their math skills. Jim also likes to use interactive and fun educational resources such as http://www.dreambox.com/second-grade-math-games
Jim Wheelin writes about many different educational topics for parents and kids. Recently, he has been testing out different 2nd grade math games to help his little ones improve on their math skills. Jim also likes to use interactive and fun educational resources such as http://www.dreambox.com/second-grade-math-games
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