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Minnesota Standards

Minnesota 2nd Grade ELA Standards

All 41 Minnesota English language arts standards for 2nd grade, each explained in plain English. The official wording is in Minnesota Department of Education's document, linked at the end of this page.

41 standards

Reading

21 standards
2.1.1.1
Hear, blend, split and change syllables in long words and sounds in five-sound words with blends, like turning stamp into stump.
2.1.1.2
Say the main sound of each consonant, know the long and short sounds of a, e, i, o and u, and read common sight words like the, of and you.
Common Core RF.K.3
2.1.1.3
Read grade 2 texts smoothly, with accurate words, a good pace and expression, so the meaning comes through.
2.1.2.1
Read grade 2 texts alone and catch mistakes, fixing them by sounding out words, linking to other books and using earlier strategies, with guidance and support.
2.1.2.2
Choose and read grade 2 texts for school tasks with strong understanding, like a chapter book for a book report.
2.1.2.3
Find, pick and read books about a favorite topic, like searching the school library for books on space.
2.1.3.1
Pick books for a reason, like a class project or reading for fun, that share Dakota and Anishinaabe lives and views from the past and present.
2.1.4.1
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why and how questions about a text's key details, then retell the text in order.
2.1.4.2
Name the main idea, message or lesson of a text and one or two details that back it up.
2.1.4.3
Name a story's characters, setting, problem, solution and main events, like a lost puppy and how it gets home.
2.1.4.4
Explain how a chain of events, ideas or steps in a nonfiction text connect, like the steps for planting a seed.
2.1.5.1
Identify the job of chapters in a book, scenes in a play and stanzas in a poem, and tell the point of view, like first person using I.
2.1.5.2
Spot the special parts of a nonfiction text, like captions, bold words, subheadings, glossaries, indexes and links.
2.1.5.3
Find and explain how pictures show the ideas and story in a text, like a diagram showing a butterfly's life cycle.
2.1.6.1
Name the author or storyteller of a text, including Dakota and Anishinaabe authors, and tell what the text reveals about that person's views and background.
2.1.6.2
Use text features and search tools, like key words, sidebars and links, to find when a text was published or posted.
2.1.6.3
Tell whether a text is a story or gives facts, and point to evidence that shows it, like made-up talking animals.
2.1.8.1
Notice how words and phrases with more than one meaning shape the meaning or mood of a story or poem, like bat or feeling blue.
2.1.8.2
Work out what unfamiliar words or phrases mean in nonfiction by checking one's own thinking and using tools like a glossary or dictionary.
2.1.9.1
Gather facts on a chosen or class topic from at least two sources, like a library book and a kids' website.
2.1.9.2
Explain why a source does or does not fit the task and topic, like telling a fact page from an opinion piece.

Writing

14 standards
2.2.1.1
Use end marks, spelling of common sight words, and capitals for first words and names correctly in one's own writing.
2.2.1.2
Use spelling patterns and rules in real writing for words with letter teams like sh and oa, sounds like oi, six syllable types and endings like -ed and -ing.
2.2.1.3
Write simple sentences with common, proper, possessive and plural nouns, regular and irregular verbs, and everyday adjectives, joining words and position words.
2.2.2.1
Write often, adding pictures, for different tasks, reasons and readers, like a fun story, a thank-you note or a science report.
2.2.2.2
Write with a group to share ideas that show the members' own views, identities and voices, like a class book about family traditions.
2.2.3.1
Take a piece from planning and drafting through revising, editing and publishing, using self-review and teacher feedback.
2.2.4.1
Write an opinion with an opening, several reasons and a closing, like why recess should be longer.
2.2.5.1
Write to inform or explain with an opening, details that show understanding of the topic, and a closing, like a report on bees.
2.2.5.2
Write a response about a story's characters, setting and problem, like what the main character should have done.
2.2.6.1
Write a story that gives a character and setting a problem to face, like a storm that ruins a picnic.
2.2.6.2
Use words that show a shift in stories, poems or other creative writing, like next, suddenly or surprisingly.
2.2.7.1
Ask and answer on-topic questions to gather background facts from teacher-approved sources, like books on volcanoes.
2.2.7.2
Plan and carry out research using varied teacher-approved sources, choosing search terms and useful sources, then write up what was learned.
2.2.8.1
Show basic respect for other people's work by telling one's own work from someone else's and not passing it off as one's own.

Listening, Speaking, Viewing and Exchanging Ideas

6 standards
2.3.1.1
Share ideas in stories and group work that include Dakota, Anishinaabe and other voices, following talk rules, linking to others' comments and helping set roles and goals.
2.3.1.2
When someone speaks, ask and answer questions about their words to check understanding, learn more or dig deeper into a topic.
2.3.1.3
Take feedback from others and from one's own reflection and act on it, like fixing a confusing sentence a partner pointed out.
2.3.2.1
Use describing words and speaking skills like volume, tone, pace, pauses, stress, rhythm and gestures, showing a basic grasp of each.
2.3.3.1
Create written, spoken and digital work that shares knowledge with facts and vivid details in varied formats, like a poster or a recorded talk.
2.3.3.2
Make and share work with a digital tool picked from a teacher's list, judging how well it fit the task, purpose and audience, and minding one's digital footprint.

The official Minnesota documents

The plain-English lines on this page are EMStudio's own explanations of Minnesota's standards, not the official wording, which Minnesota Department of Education publishes in the documents above. Codes and strand names identify each standard.