This article is taken from the Variety section of the Star Tribune newspaper. It is part of a piece entitled “School Milestones: by Norman Draper, Star Tribune Staff Writer, published September 5, 2000.

SECOND GRADE

“It’s the real demarcation between work and play,” said Deborah Appleman, chairwoman of the Educational Studies Department at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

While first grade, and even kindergarten, involve some academics, second grade is where hard-core learning takes over from fun time. This can be a tough time for kids because it’s when they start getting judged on the basis of their academic performance and being grouped by ability. Kids who wind up on the bottom can start to feel like failures. Appleman said it’s especially important at this point that parents find ways to counteract any feelings of classroom inadequacy.

“Every child is praiseworthy,” Appleman said. “Parents need to find areas in which they can honestly praise and encourage their children.”

Parents also should be truing to offer their children a “literacy-rich” home environment to supplement what they’re doing in school. Most teachers can offer suggestions on how to do that. It might involve reading aloud as a family or having plenty of books around for recreational reading. Appleman also suggested that parents visit their children’s classrooms, either to help or just observe.

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