2nd Grade Math in Your Homeschool: How to Teach Kids Addition Facts

Just as in most public schools, the 2nd Grade is often the year when homeschooled kids work to learn and master their addition facts. It's no secret that some homeschool parents disagree with making kids learn addition facts. However, many other homeschool parents believe that helping their kids to master the addition facts will benefit them tremendously. This can be true, especially when it comes time for them to master multiplication facts, along with the most common multiplication algorithm.

Teaching kids in 2nd Grade to master the addition facts in your homeschool can be challenging. Some kids find the addition facts difficult to master. Homeschool parents may find that it takes longer than they anticipated for their kids to learn the addition facts. The following tips can be very helpful to homeschool parents who want to help their kids in 2nd Grade to learn the addition facts.

Break the task up into manageable parts - Most kids are taught the addition facts in groups. Commonly, kids in the 2nd Grade are given the addition facts to learn in sets. For instance, they're given the 2's to learn, and then the 3's, etc. However, many kids struggle to learn an entire set at a time. Homeschooling parents may want to consider breaking down the sets into even smaller chunks. For instance, help the child in 2nd Grade to master the first half of a set. An example would be to be to help them learn only 2+0, 2+1, 2+2, 2+3, 2+4, and 2+5. Once they have mastered this group, add a few more, such as 2+6, 2+7, and 2+8. When your homeschooling child has mastered this group, work with them to learn the last part of the set, up to 2+12. These smaller sets are much less overwhelming for most kids, which may be exactly what your homeschooler needs to successfully master the addition facts.

Try a unique approach - It can be very effective to present addition facts to your 2nd Grade homeschooler in a unique or creative way. One format that many kids actually enjoy working with is the addition math fact "wheel". Refer to the photo to see how an addition math fact wheel is constructed. Each addition math fact wheel contains ten to twelve addition facts. A page full of six math addition fact wheels can be much less visually overwhelming to a Second Grade homeschool student than a page displaying sixty or more traditional addition problems.

Give it time - One of the best things about homeschooling is that kids can take all time they need to truly master a concept, as opposed to public school where they are required to learn what they are given in a specific amount of time or risk being considered remedial. This is especially true in math. Not all 2nd Grade students are capable of mastering the addition facts. The instant recall of addition facts may not click for a child until the following school year. Being able to learn the addition facts at their own pace can be of immeasurable benefit to kids who need a little extra time.