# What are 2nd graders like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777 "2011-01-07T19:42:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/21 "2011-01-08T12:51:00Z")
Nietzsche and Calculus are just about their level. Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/22 "2011-01-08T14:42:43Z")
> [@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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/23 "2011-01-08T15:02:43Z")
2nd graders are like people, only smaller and insane by human standards. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/24 "2011-01-08T17:18:47Z")
I don’t like to generalize, but I must say that they’re universally disturbingly short. Also, many of them are loud. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/25 "2011-01-08T18:05:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gabing\_Gaboing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b38774/32.png) [@Gabing\_Gaboing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gabing_Gaboing)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/26 "2011-01-09T01:08:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/27 "2011-01-09T06:05:32Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > 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). [QUOTE=TheMerchandise] So what can I expect? What are 7-8 year olds like? What interests them? What’s their cognitive functioning level? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/28 "2011-01-09T06:17:51Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/29 "2011-01-09T15:02:32Z")
> [@Gabing\_Gaboing](#): > > 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. > [@mack](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/30 "2011-01-09T17:10:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/31 "2011-01-10T20:18:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/32 "2011-01-10T20:33:08Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/33 "2011-01-18T19:06:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/34 "2011-01-18T19:59:27Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/35 "2011-01-18T20:18:22Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777/36 "2011-01-19T18:49:06Z")
> [@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? 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-2nd-graders-like/566777.md?page=1)