What are 2nd graders like?

[TheMerchandise]

At the end of last year, I signed up as a volunteer for an organization that arranges one-on-one reading time between adults and under-performing elementary school kids. My “readee” is named Jonathan and he’s in 2nd grade. It seemed like such a fun and fabulous idea then, but now my first day is looming and I admit to being a little nervous. I don’t have kids. I don’t have nieces or nephews. I don’t really know anyone who has kids of any age. I have a couple cats, but I have a feeling that cats and kids tend to have different behavior patterns.

I used to teach an after school drama program at a middle school, so I’m not going in entirely green... but a 2nd grader just seems so alien to me.

So what can I expect? What are 7-8 year olds like? What interests them? What’s their cognitive functioning level?

I want to feel comfortable because I want to have fun and I want Jonathan to have fun and be happy and learn something. I definitely don't want to talk down to him. I want to seem cool.

[lisalan]

At the end of last year, I signed up as a volunteer for an organization that arranges one-on-one reading time between adults and under-performing elementary school kids. My “readee” is named Jonathan and he’s in 2nd grade. It seemed like such a fun and fabulous idea then, but now my first day is looming and I admit to being a little nervous. I don’t have kids. I don’t have nieces or nephews. I don’t really know anyone who has kids of any age. I have a couple cats, but I have a feeling that cats and kids tend to have different behavior patterns.

I used to teach an after school drama program at a middle school, so I’m not going in entirely green... but a 2nd grader just seems so alien to me.

So what can I expect? What are 7-8 year olds like? What interests them? What’s their cognitive functioning level?

I want to feel comfortable because I want to have fun and I want Jonathan to have fun and be happy and learn something. I definitely don't want to talk down to him. I want to seem cool.



Oh am I an expert on this one!!!! I am a teacher and teach grades jk-6. I also have a second grader as a son.
Kids this age love beyblades. My son is obsessed with them.
My son also loves the book Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter.

[Tranquilis]

Remember the kids in "Kindergarten Cop..?" Like that, only able to read, and two years sneakier.
:p
:D

[Leaffan]

My kids are only 11 and 13, so it wasn't that long ago for me. I read to my kids every night at that age and they loved it! They loved reading along and looking at the pictures.

I got them involved too, by pausing and asking them what they thought was going to happen next, or what they thought of the story, etc.

Just be yourself and don't be condescending. Kids that age think adults are omniscient, and compared to their view of the world you probably are. You'll be fine.

[OldnCrinkly]

Second graders are usually too young to be into girls or sports. May I suggest a book about bodily functions? There are a number of them. My son liked one that I think was called Why Are Boogers Green or somesuch. Adventure stories are probably good. Monster stories also seem appropriate. I have a book with stories from the 1001 Arabian Nights, one story in particular The Fisherman and the Afreet, I have read over and over. They like that someone gets tricked. My son is six, but my daughter is eight, so I feel your guy should fit right in with their range of likes. Good Luck.

[Lasciel]

Chipping in with Owls and Star Wars as generally liked 2nd grade boy topics.

Stay away from any kind of 'fairy tale' but if something has knights or goblins, that's usually still cool.

2nd graders are still just barely in the age range where strange teacher-figure adults are to be admired and adulated. You should be fine.

When they get to 5th grade, that's when they start getting scary! :D

[stpauler]

I want to feel comfortable because I want to have fun and I want Jonathan to have fun and be happy and learn something. I definitely don't want to talk down to him. I want to seem cool.

Don't talk down to them, engage them on a regular level. Skip the adult questions, and ask him what his favorite joke is. Kids at the age do love their puns as language seems to be just clicking for them at that level. Simple ones like: What kind of shoes are made from banana skins? Slippers or How do you know when it's raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle. They love 'em. Eat em up then share them with their friends and repeat them over and over at the dinner table. When I was teaching my ex's kids to read (they were late bloomers, the boy was 7 when he started to read), that was where I started with a simple book of puns. The reading was easy enough and they felt like they were taking something away by having jokes to share.

[TheMerchandise]

Chipping in with Owls and Star Wars as generally liked 2nd grade boy topics.

So essentially, 2nd graders are just like my boyfriend? Awesome, that simplifies things. :p

I appreciate all the suggestions so far. I figured on the first day, I would just try to have a conversation with Jonathan and see what kinds of books and subjects he's interested in. But it will be good to go in armed with cool suggestions of my own -- I especially like the joke book and Why are Boogers Green ideas.

[Leaffan]

Robert Munsch (http://robertmunsch.com/) is a good author for kids that age.

[tdn]

I got them involved too, by pausing and asking them what they thought was going to happen next, or what they thought of the story, etc.

I was just reading about the making of the show Blue's Clues. They do the same thing, and they find that it really helps the kids learn. Of course, that's aimed at a lower age group.

I once read to a group of 2nd graders. Not intimidating at all, but so immature! (I was in 3rd grade at the time.)

[chizzuk]

I worked with an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy last semester, also having no experience with kids. I was nervous the way you are, but it turned out really well. They both liked talking about sports, video games, and imaginative scenarios (making up stories, stuff like "what if the world really was flat", etc.) . They didn't particularly like talking about school or their siblings/parents.

Both also loved jokes and riddles.

Like someone said above, you don't need to talk down to Jonathan. I was able to talk to both kids like they were adults. Obviously don't address inappropriate topics like sex or drug use (duh) or use words like "perspicacious" but at that age they're really fun to chat with.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

I've heard 2nd graders are like chicken, but I'm a vegetarian so I can only vouch for this as second or third-party info.

[DivineComedienne]

I have a 2nd grade boy. The kids in his class are able to read and write simple sentences. They're starting to grasp more abstract concepts, problem-solving, figuring out how things work. But you said that this program is for "underperforming" school-age children, so if this child is in this program, he may be struggling with reading.

That being said, a lot of kids books are "rated" by reading level. A typical 2nd grader is not quite ready for "chapter" books without pictures (too boring) but will enjoy books with pictures and maybe 5-7 sentences per page.

You can choose a few books you think he might like for the first session; then ask him what his interests are/what topics he'd like to read/learn about. That gives him a chance to have input into things he'd enjoy. Trust me, 2nd graders are not shy about telling you what they think! Then you can choose books for the subsequent sessions that are about his interests (for instance, my son loves sharks and Star Wars).

[2square4u]

What are 7-8 year olds like? Hyperactive. Noisy. And with a short attention span.

Gawd, I'm happy I'm past the age of arranging 2nd graders' birthday parties...

[purplehorseshoe]

Is 2nd grade too old for that dinosaur-obsession phase every little boy I've ever known goes through?

[LavenderBlue]

My second grade daughter loves stories about faires, ballet, cats and little girls in history. The boy next door is her age and in the same grade. He likes just about all sports ever known. I see him reading stories about ice hockey, basketball, football and soccer. Reading abilities can vary widely at this age. Some of the kids are reading more advanced chapter books and classic history children's literature like The Little House on the Prairie books. Others are still getting comfortable with the written word.

Talk to the kid and ask what he likes. Come by with a few books of varying age levels beforehand. Your local librarian can be of great help here. He'll probably enjoy just interacting with you for now.

[aceplace57]

I'd go with Dr. Seuss, Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who,Cat in the Hat Comes Back

With your drama background you can have fun really playing up the characters as you read them.

Once upon a time there was a cat with a hat
theres no doubt about that
The sun did not shine
it was too wet to play ... and so on

[Novalyne]

Consider non-fiction, too. There are so many high-interest topics (sports, cars, dinosaurs, sharks, bugs, snakes, and space are usually at the top of the list for young boys), and nonfiction books can be very accessible to struggling readers. There are usually lots of pictures (he can start with just reading the captions of the pictures that catch his attention). Plus, with non-fiction he can skip around since it's not essential that they read from front to back/start to finish. That will help if he has issues with paying attention and following a plot, or if he can only handle small chunks at a time.

Graphic novels (aka comic strips) are the big thing right now, and publishers are coming out with graphic novels for young readers by the truckload. Again, there lots of topics and genres to choose from, both fiction and non-fiction.

[Sunspace]

How about a David Macaulay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Macaulay) book? Huge, gorgeous, detailed pictures of all manner of things, like the construction of a castle, or the dismantling of a skyscraper.

[t-bonham@scc.net]

Have a selection of varied books on hand, and let him pick which one to read. Getting to choose the book will get him involved. (And don't be surprised if he wants to read the same book over again multiple times -- kids do that.)

Or that first time, take him to the library with you, and pick out books to take home to read next time.

[Autolycus]

Nietzsche and Calculus are just about their level. Have fun!

[C3]

Consider non-fiction, too. There are so many high-interest topics (sports, cars, dinosaurs, sharks, bugs, snakes, and space are usually at the top of the list for young boys), and nonfiction books can be very accessible to struggling readers. There are usually lots of pictures (he can start with just reading the captions of the pictures that catch his attention). Plus, with non-fiction he can skip around since it's not essential that they read from front to back/start to finish. That will help if he has issues with paying attention and following a plot, or if he can only handle small chunks at a time.

Graphic novels (aka comic strips) are the big thing right now, and publishers are coming out with graphic novels for young readers by the truckload. Again, there lots of topics and genres to choose from, both fiction and non-fiction.
I was just about to post almost the exact thing. I have a 2nd grade boy - obsessed with sports, loves non-fiction much more than fiction (although, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is the exception), and has really enjoyed the graphic novels we've gotten from the library. One that was especially well-received was The Secret Science Alliance (http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Science-Alliance-Copycat-Crook/dp/1599903962/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1). He also loves comic books - Snoopy is a particular favorite, because besides sports, he's also obsessed with dogs. Another subject he likes is natural disasters. Tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, and volcanoes (great book on Krakatoa (http://www.amazon.com/Day-World-Exploded-Earthshaking-Catastrophe/dp/B002ACPMIG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294497688&sr=1-4)) fascinate him.

[Johnny L.A.]

2nd graders are like people, only smaller and insane by human standards.

[DianaG]

I don't like to generalize, but I must say that they're universally disturbingly short. Also, many of them are loud.

[dhkendall]

I would ask Jonathan what he likes early on since, as Johnny L. A. put it, second graders are like people, that is every one of them is different.

I have two kids, one in grade 1, one in grade 3 (in American-ese, that's "one's a first grader, one's a third grader". Thus ends my translation for the maple syrup-impaired. For the rest of the post, you're on your own). My grade 3er loved to read since kindergarten, so that applies to grade 2 too, she reads anything she can get her hands on, and she loves to read to her younger brother. Getting on to him, and probably more germane to Jonathan (as you can probably guess, he wouldn't like stuff girls like), my son has been obsessed with cars since the age of 4 months (I still don't know why, cars baffle me) and likes books about cars or superheroes.

But that's my son, not Jonathan. Once you start with generic stuff meant to appeal to any grade 2 boy (can't go wrong with them, they're universal), ask him what he likes.

[Gabing Gaboing]

My son is a second grade. He is above grade level in reading, but if the subject isn't something he likes, he is uninterested in reading it and it can be torture for both of us. So, I have to talk to him, listen to him, and when I find out what he is currently into, I tear up the library kids room until I find all I can about it. Currently he is into Titanic and weather phenomenon. I asked him about Beyblade and he could only say he had heard the word but didn't know anything about it. Go figger.

For a blind meeting, though, safe bets for second graders are poems by Shel Silverstein (short, illustrated, funny) as well as Walter the Farting Dog (for obvious reasons.) Joke books, especially gross-out jokes, are also popular around here.

[mack]

Don't talk down to them, engage them on a regular level. Skip the adult questions, and ask him what his favorite joke is. Kids at the age do love their puns as language seems to be just clicking for them at that level. Simple ones like: What kind of shoes are made from banana skins? Slippers or How do you know when it's raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle.
Or "How do you spell icup?" That's the knee-slapper one of my girls brought home Friday (I have 2 girls in 2nd grade).

So what can I expect? What are 7-8 year olds like? What interests them? What’s their cognitive functioning level?
Generally I find their classmates pretty friendly and easier to relate to than they were in K or 1st. One of my girls loves to read and is into chapter books. She's seriously into animals. The other isn't as far along reading-wise but knows more than she thinks she does and can do fine when she doesn't get the vapors (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-were-the-vapors.htm) at homework time or is otherwise inspired (hey, all of a sudden she can read). Their classes recently wrote little "real fiction" stories with dialog, different settings, illustrations, and so on.

They've been using computers for a few years now, so they know quite a bit about the internet, using Google, and some of the lingo. Between my wife and I they have access to ipods, ipod touch, droid phone, blackberry, so they can find their way around those devices, too. Of course the impetus for this learning is to get to the games and the Justin Bieber songs.

[cochrane]

Don't talk down to them, engage them on a regular level. Skip the adult questions, and ask him what his favorite joke is. Kids at the age do love their puns as language seems to be just clicking for them at that level. Simple ones like: What kind of shoes are made from banana skins? Slippers or How do you know when it's raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle. They love 'em. Eat em up then share them with their friends and repeat them over and over at the dinner table. When I was teaching my ex's kids to read (they were late bloomers, the boy was 7 when he started to read), that was where I started with a simple book of puns. The reading was easy enough and they felt like they were taking something away by having jokes to share.

He should like "knock-knock" jokes, too . For example,

Knock-knock.
Who's there ?
Tarzan.
Tarzan who?
Tarzan stripes forever.

[C3]

I asked him about Beyblade and he could only say he had heard the word but didn't know anything about it. Go figger.


That was my son's reaction, too - he's vaguely heard about them, but didn't really know what they were.

Or "How do you spell icup?" That's the knee-slapper one of my girls brought home Friday (I have 2 girls in 2nd grade).

The posse of boys at the bus stop were literally rolling on the ground laughing at that one a few weeks ago.

[Count Blucher]

They are happy, excitable, and still take an amazing amount of joy from the very simplest things in life. Their innocent statements are amazingly wise & quotable. Possibly the best 2 hours I've spent this entire weekend was taking one of them sledding.

Thank Og for second graders...and for giving me another chance to see life through their eyes.

[TheMerchandise]

All the responses here make me feel less nervous. 2nd graders are people... who knew!?

I'll take any other words of advice you have and check back in next week after my first meeting.

[Doctor Who]

He should like "knock-knock" jokes, too . For example,

Knock-knock.
Who's there ?
Tarzan.
Tarzan who?
Tarzan stripes forever.Weak! ;)

Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Kung.
Kung who?
Kung FU! (Accompanied with Elvis karate chop).

That one NEVER fails. Even at funerals.

[TheMerchandise]

UPDATE

I met Jonathan today and neither one of us needs therapy after the visit.

In this program, I meet with him once a week during his lunch period and we talk, read books, etc. The goal is to give under-performing kids some one-on-one attention with an adult that isn't one of the authority figures they already spend all day with.

He was shy, but seemed friendly. He wasn't very talkative on his own, but was happy to answer my questions. I read one book to him, a picture book called Knuffle Bunny that he already knew pretty well and liked. Then we pulled out a "find the hidden object in the picture" book. He became very lively as we raced each other to find the objects. Next week, we're going to do a few more pages from that book.

Also: Elementary school cafeterias smell TERRIBLE.

[ShibbOleth]

This is very cool of you to do. Can you set a goal for him to be able to read you his favorite book by the end of the year?

[perfectparanoia]

I wish my daughter had one of you! She is behind in reading (a little, she has done a drastic amount of catching up in the last year). We work with her at home but it isn't the same when your parents do it as when someone else does it.

Good on you!

[TheMerchandise]

This is very cool of you to do. Can you set a goal for him to be able to read you his favorite book by the end of the year?

I've been trying to figure out what kind of goal to set. Next meeting, I'm going to encourage Jonathan to read to me a little bit and see where his skills lie. He summarized the plot of his favorite book for me in great detail, so I think he has a decent attention span and comprehension level.

perfectparanoia, when I was a kid, it was always fun to get attention from "new" adults. It was way more interesting than hearing from the same old teachers and parents.