Mental-Math Ideas for 2nd Grade

Second-grade math can be made more manageable through specific strategies.

Second-grade math is a big step up from first grade math. Students are exposed to new topics such as fractions, geometry, and three-digit addition and subtraction. Learning these math concepts can be quite challenging for second graders. Fortunately, there are a few ideas teachers can use in class to enhance students' mental-math skills.

Story Problems

Help sharpen your students' addition skills by incorporating addition into story problems. For instance, you could use such word problems as, "Michael has 7 apples and 5 pears. How many fruits does he have?" "May had 2 kittens and her parents brought her 3 parakeets. How many pets does May have now?" Come up with any variations that force your students to use their minds to solve the problems and better understand addition.

Calendar

Create problems that can only be solved using the classroom calendar. Have questions ready every day for students to answer, either orally or written. For example, if your kids go to gym on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays each month, ask them how many days in a month they will be in gym. Ask your students other questions for which they will need the calender, such as, "What date is the third Monday of the month?" or "What day of the week is October 4th?" These questions help tone students' numerical skills.

Money

Adding and subtracting money is a crucial focal point in second-grade math. Help your students learn about currency values. Institute a system where students can acquire play money by doing well in class. For example, students who get As on tests could be awarded with a dollar; students who score Bs can receive 50 cents; students who score Cs can receive 25 cents; and students who fail receive nothing. Take away money from students who continually exhibit poor behavior and fail to hand in work. Award prizes to students who have raised the most money, such as a No Homework card or candy. This can be done every month or even once per year, where you award a bigger prize to the student who acquires the most money for the entire school year.

Numbers

Perform a number-guessing game to further develop your students' counting skills. Ask them to guess numbers using questions with small hints, such as "I'm thinking of a number between 20 and 40. This number is a multiple of 5 and has 5 at its end. What is the number?" Encourage students to ask questions, such as, "Is it smaller than 30?" Give them "yes" or "no" responses to these questions until they come up with the answer.

References

• Rockingham County Public Schools: 2nd Grade Math Teaching Strategies
• Heartland: Daily Math Mental Activities