In math children are able to apply and adapt acquired mathematical ideas to new situations when they deveop conceptual understanding. Conceptual understanding is understanding the WHY in mathematics. Allowing students time to progress with concrete materials will develop a strong number sense and conceptual understanding. Children start with the concrete stage which is the "doing" stage, using manipulatives. Then they move to the pictorial stage, the "seeing" stage, using drawings. Then they work towards the abstract stage, which is the "symbolic" stage, using numbers and symbols. The topics we will cover in second grade are:
Numbers through 500
Measurement
Money
Time
Numbers to 1,000
Bar Models
Multiplication tables of 2, 5, and 10
Graphs and Line Plots
Shapes and Patterns
Fractions
Lines and Surfaces