educational reading games for 2nd graders

Second Grade Reading Games

Introduction to second grade reading games.

Second grade is a pivotal year in a child's reading journey. By this stage, students are transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn. Second grade reading games are designed to enhance reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary in an engaging and interactive manner. These games help reinforce the skills learned in earlier grades while introducing new concepts that will support more advanced reading tasks. Through fun and interactive activities, second grade reading games make literacy development enjoyable and effective, setting the stage for continued academic success.

Types of Second Grade Reading Games

There are various types of reading games suitable for second graders, each targeting specific literacy skills. Comprehension games focus on understanding and interpreting text. Vocabulary games help expand a child's word bank and understanding of word meanings. Fluency games aim to improve reading speed and accuracy, making reading a smoother and more enjoyable experience.

Comprehension games often involve activities like story maps, where children plot the events of a story, or question-and-answer games that challenge students to think critically about what they have read. These games can be played with books, digital apps, or classroom resources designed to enhance understanding and retention of the material.

Vocabulary games are essential for expanding a child's language skills. These might include word matching, synonym and antonym games, or interactive digital tools that introduce new words in a fun and memorable way. Engaging in regular vocabulary games can help children build a robust vocabulary, which is crucial for both reading and writing proficiency.

Fluency games aim to improve the rate and accuracy of reading. Activities such as timed reading passages, reading aloud, and interactive apps that provide immediate feedback can be highly effective. By practicing fluency through games, children can develop a more natural and confident reading style, making it easier to comprehend more complex texts.

Benefits of Second Grade Reading Games

Second grade reading games offer a multitude of benefits that go beyond just improving literacy skills. These games can enhance cognitive abilities, strengthen social skills, and boost a child's confidence. Through consistent engagement with reading games, children can improve their memory, attention to detail, and critical thinking skills. The interactive nature of these games often requires students to think strategically and solve problems, further enhancing their cognitive development.

Socially, reading games can promote teamwork and effective communication. Many reading games are designed for group play, allowing children to collaborate and learn from each other. This helps children develop important social skills such as cooperation, turn-taking, and active listening. Additionally, the positive reinforcement often provided in these games can boost a child's self-esteem and motivation to learn.

Reading games also make the learning process enjoyable, which can foster a positive attitude towards reading. When children associate reading with fun and success, they are more likely to engage with books and other reading materials. This can lead to a lifelong love of reading, which is associated with numerous educational benefits throughout a child's academic career and beyond.

Incorporating Reading Games into Daily Routine

Integrating reading games into a child's daily routine can be simple and effective. Parents and educators can set aside specific times for reading games, such as during a morning routine, after school, or before bedtime. Consistency is key, as regular practice can reinforce the skills being learned and make reading games a natural part of the day.

For parents, creating a designated reading space at home can make reading time feel special. This space can include a variety of reading materials, such as books, flashcards, and interactive games. Parents can also participate in the games, providing support and encouragement as needed. This not only helps the child learn but also strengthens the parent-child bond.

Educators can incorporate reading games into classroom activities and lesson plans. Group games can be used to start the day, break up longer lessons, or wind down in the afternoon. By integrating reading games into the curriculum, educators can provide a balanced approach to literacy instruction that includes both traditional methods and playful learning.

Online Resources for Second Grade Reading Games

In today's digital age, there are numerous online resources available for second grade reading games. Websites and apps offer a wide range of interactive games that can be accessed from home or in the classroom. These resources often include tracking tools that allow parents and educators to monitor a child's progress and identify areas for improvement.

One such resource is Be a Dinosaur , which offers a variety of games designed to develop reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills. The website features games that focus on different aspects of reading, making it a comprehensive tool for second grade reading practice. Another helpful link on the same site is Interactive Reading Games , which provides interactive activities that engage young learners in fun and educational ways. Additionally, parents and educators can explore Early Literacy Games for a range of activities that support reading development in young children.

By leveraging these online resources, parents and educators can provide children with diverse and engaging reading experiences. The convenience and accessibility of online games make it easy to incorporate literacy practice into daily routines, ensuring that children receive the support they need to become confident readers.

Second grade reading games play a vital role in early childhood education. They provide a fun and effective way for children to develop essential reading skills, enhance cognitive and social abilities, and build a positive attitude towards reading. By incorporating a variety of reading games into daily routines, parents and educators can create a supportive and engaging learning environment that fosters a lifelong love of reading. With the help of online resources, the possibilities for creative and interactive literacy practice are endless, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed in their reading journey.

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26 Fun Second Grade Reading Comprehension Activities

Help your students dig deeper into texts.

Second graders are some of the most enthusiastic readers out there. They are transitioning from the basics into readers looking for meaning. As they build upon their comprehension skills, they are beginning to make connections to themselves and the world at large. These second grade reading comprehension activities will help your students dig deeper into texts on their own as well as with their peers.

1. Build a pyramid

This idea was born out of one teacher’s students’ eternal love for constructing cup towers at any opportunity! The cups are coded with symbols to represent different story elements. After reading their leveled text, students share each story element while building their cup pyramid from the bottom up. They can then record the story elements on the matching graphic organizer.

Learn more: Teach Outside the Box

2. Clip together a reading strategy fan

Modeling is the best way to guide students through reading comprehension strategies. But unless they’re actively participating in the process, they simply won’t retain enough of the strategy to make any meaningful difference in their own independent comprehension of text. That’s where these strategy fans come in. The link below shows how this teacher uses the cards in her class.

Learn more: Organized Classroom

3. Use a volcano graphic organizer

Demonstrate how to draw a simple volcano shape, divided into three sections, and have students draw one in their reading journal. After reading the first few pages of the story, ask students to write first impressions at the base of the volcano. This is also a good place to make predictions about where they think the story is going. At about the halfway point, have students write what they think and how they think the story is changing. Once they have finished reading, they will write what they think the story is really trying to teach them and what they took away from the story at the top of the volcano.

Learn more: Student Treasures

4. Compare characters

Encourage your students to think more deeply about the characters in a story. In the head of each figure, ask students to write a character’s name. Then have them write specific attributes about the character in the torso section. In the circle between the characters, have them write shared characteristics between the two figures.

Learn more: Florida Center for Reading Research

5. Construct a comprehension cootie catcher

Once the bane of classroom teachers, cootie catchers have become a novel way to practice skills that kids can get excited about. This free download from the Classroom Game Nook includes three versions with questions about characters, setting, plot, and more.

Learn more: The Classroom Game Nook

6. Put on a retelling glove

Retelling is a vital skill for young readers to work on to help them understand what they are reading. These gloves are a snappy accessory with labels that you can easily change. For fiction retellings, you can include setting, characters, problem, events, and solution. For nonfiction retellings, you can include main idea and supporting details. At the bottom of the glove, you can focus on making connections.

Learn more: One Giggle at a Time

7. Create a Wanted poster

This free lesson from Education.com is a fun writing and drawing activity that has students take what they know about the bad person in the story and turn the details into a colorful Wanted poster.

Learn more: Education.com

8. Roll and chat your way to understanding

If you’re looking for fun second grade reading comprehension activities that work well for stations or small-group work, try Roll & Chat. Players take turns rolling dice and answering questions about their reading.

Learn more: Playful in Primary

9. Toss a story ball around

Kids will love this version of toss using a beach ball customized with questions that can be used for any reading passage. It’s a great activity for review or when you want to keep the learning going, but your kids need to get up and move.

Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons

10. Follow a yellow brick road

This fun lesson is another way to work on retelling skills. Print out these free story-element cards. Then, lay them out to create a road. As students hop from one yellow “brick” to the next, they retell the story.

Learn more: Cara Carroll

11. Make a shutter book

This lovely foldable book is a great way for students to show their understanding of story elements in a colorful way. This is a great guided reading project to go along with a read-aloud.

Learn more: Upper Elementary Snapshots

12. Make book talks a regular part of your literacy block

Book talks are a great way for students to demonstrate their reading comprehension. But sometimes when students get up in front of others, they’re not quite sure what to talk about. Download these adorable topic cards to guide students as they tell their classmates about what they are reading.

Learn more: Teacher’s Takeout

13. Celebrate the joy of reading with Flashlight Fridays

I can’t think of a better way to end the week than implementing Flashlight Fridays into your ELA block. The students absolutely love reading in the dark and out of their desks. Add to the fun by allowing them to bring in cozy blankets and their favorite squishy!

Learn more: Flashlight Fridays

14. Implement Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures

When it comes to cooperative learning and active engagement, Dr. Spencer and Laurie Kagan are the ultimate masters. My personal favorite Kagan strategy is called “Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up.” Using this strategy, students are out of their seats and mix around the room. When they are signaled to stop, they find their nearest peer, partner up, and discuss whatever topic you choose. 

Learn more: Kagan Online

15. Play Fan-n-Pick

This is another Kagan strategy to use for second grade reading comprehension activities. Group students into teams of four, assigning each student a different role, which rotates each round. Students answer questions from a deck of index cards with questions relating to a text. The student roles are: Student 1 fans the cards; student 2 picks and reads a card; student 3 answers the question; and student 4 paraphrases and praises the answer. Make one set with generic story element questions for fiction, and another with informational text–type questions. Then you can use them over and over for anything you are reading!

Learn more: What Are Kagan Strategies?

16. Use digital workspaces to show off what was learned

Go a step further from written reports by using digital workspaces in your classroom. Use them for fiction book reports by labeling a slide for each story element (setting, characters, problem, solution, and plot) then have students fill in as they go. See how I used PebbleGo Create with my second graders to make visual interpretations of our nonfiction animal reports.

Learn more: How My Students Use Digital Workspaces

17. Play Kahoot!

Kahoot! has ready-made quizzes for every book under the sun. If you are feeling creative or can’t find what you are looking for, make your own. Students can play on their individual device or play in teams. Let the fun begin!

Learn more: Kahoot Ideas and Tips for Teachers

18. Design a timeline

This can be done in a number of ways. One way is to provide students with strips containing different story events and they can manipulate them to put them in order. An even more fun and creative idea? Have students fold a large piece of construction paper into six or eight squares. Each square can then be filled with a story event and accompanying picture. Dig even deeper by choosing one character from a story and making a timeline of his or her life.

Learn more: The Sunny Side Up Blog

19. Dress up a pumpkin as your favorite book character

This is the perfect fall book report project. Students fill in candy-shaped pages with different story element prompts. Have kids cut them out and place them in a bag designed with scenes from the story. Then use a pumpkin (real or fake) and dress it up as a character from the book. This can be tailored to other seasonal ideas, such as a bouquet of flowers in spring or a watermelon in the summer.

Learn more: Blog Hoppin’

20. Make a movie poster book report

Lights! Camera! Action! Your second graders will love this fun and creative movie poster book report. They will review all of the main story elements while creating an Oscar-worthy project.

Learn more: Happy Teacher Happy Students

21. Toss around reading comprehension cubes

These are great conversation starters that will encourage your students to discuss different aspects of a story with their classmates. Use them in centers, small groups, or as a whole-group activity. 

Buy it: Reading Comprehension Cubes at Amazon

22. Make a story-retelling paper bag book

These cute booklets are easy to make and focus on important story elements. Your students will have so much fun making them, while honing in on those important ELA skills. 

Learn more: Comprehension Connection

23. Create a lap-book-style book report

Lap books are another creative way to put thoughts to paper in writing, while still fostering those artistic vibes. Use this as a whole-group assignment after a read-aloud, or have students make one after reading a book independently.

Learn more: Cara’s Creative Playground

24. Complete a story element map

Students can handwrite their ideas or draw pictures describing each story element with this handy story map template. Kick things up a notch by making a double-sided copy to allow students to both write and draw their ideas!

Learn more: Katie Byrd

25. Play a storytelling-themed board game

Players draw random story elements and use them to tell a tall-tale type of story. With five different ways to play, it is easy to reach all types of learners and learning styles with this adaptable and fun game. 

Buy it: Tall Tales Storytelling Board Game on Amazon

26. Hold a Book Character Day

Book Character Day is one of those second grade reading comprehension activities that kids will remember forever! It gives them a chance to show how much they really know about one of their favorite characters. Encourage them to dress as their character and carry props that are part of their story. Maybe they’d even like to act like and talk in the voice of their character. Be sure to set aside time for each student to tell their classmates about the character they chose and why.

Learn more: Shann Eva’s Blog

If you like these second grade reading comprehension activities, check out our favorite second grade books .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and tricks by  signing up for our newsletters .

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65+ Ideas, Tricks, and Tips for Teaching 2nd Grade

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Fun Reading Activities for Second Graders

Second graders have usually mastered a lot of the basic reading skills. They’re ready to add some advanced decoding techniques to their toolkit, like diphthongs, prefixes, and suffixes .

Kids this age also focus more on reading comprehension, analyzing the texts they read. These reading activities for second graders offer fun and interactive ways to practice.

Build Word Ladders to Practice Diphthongs

Diphthongs are a combination of two vowels in the same syllable that make a combined sound, as in “soil” or “sound.”

These can be tricky for kids to recognize and master, so get some hands-on practice using this idea for word ladders from 3 Dinosaurs .

Add alphabet beads or magnets to printed lists of diphthongs to make new words. It’s fun to see just how many you can create!

Bonus Activity Idea: A digraph is similar to a diphthong, but instead the two letters (usually vowels) make just one sound, as in “meat” or “toad.” You can use word ladders to practice these too. Remember the old rule: “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.” (Usually!)

Practice R-controlled Vowels With Go Fish

Another key decoding strategy kids need to learn is how to pronounce R-controlled vowels, sometimes called “Bossy R.”

When R follows a vowel, it often alters the pronunciation. Plus, /er/, /ir/, and /ur/ are all usually pronounced the same.

The best way to practice this is to see these words in use as often as possible.

That’s why these free printable Go Fish cards from The Measured Mom are so handy. Kids can work on these deceptive words through play!

Bonus Activity Idea: Pick up a set of Jenga blocks from the dollar store, and write a different R-controlled word on each. Play the game as usual, but when a player pulls a block, they must also read out the word correctly. This one is fun for the whole family.

Build Compound Words with Blocks

Compound words are made up of two smaller words, and learning to recognize them makes decoding long words much easier.

This clever idea from Mrs. Richardson’s Class really drives home the idea of building words from smaller parts.

Use connectable building bricks like LEGOs. On a longer piece, add a sticker with a compound word. Then, write the component words on two smaller bricks.

Create a variety of these, then mix up the bricks and have kids assemble them.

Bonus Activity Idea: Play compound word Pictionary. Players try to get others to guess their word by illustrating the component words. For instance, if the word is “armchair,” the player would draw an “arm” and a “chair.” Terrific for kids who love art!

Toss a Beach Ball to Practice Prefixes and Suffixes

Another way to decode longer words is to look for prefixes and suffixes. Active kids will love this practice idea from Teaching With Simplicity .

Use a permanent marker to write prefixes and suffixes all over a beach ball. Then, toss the ball to a student, and see which prefix or suffix their left thumb lands on.

Have them give the meaning and an example word. Write out a list as you go, and note any spelling changes to the root word caused by the prefix or suffix.

Bonus Activity Idea: Write root words in the center of wood craft sticks, leaving space on either end. Then, write prefixes and suffixes on clothespins. Have kids clip the prefixes and/or suffixes to the ends of the root word sticks to discover lots of new words.

Play Sight Word Tic-Tac-Toe

By second grade, kids are working on some of the most challenging sight words. (These are words that don’t follow standard spelling or pronunciation rules. Kids memorize them so they can read them on sight.)

Take a break from flashcard drill and try this version of tic tac toe from Playdough to Plato instead.

Each player chooses a different sight word to use as their marker, and writes it into their chosen spaces on the board.

You can play this one anywhere as long as you have a pencil and paper.

Bonus Activity Idea: Go on a sight word hunt! Write sight words on cards and hide them around the room. Give kids a checklist of words to find, and send them out to see how quickly they can track them all down.

Teach Context Clues with Nonsense Words

As Missing Tooth Grins explains, teaching context with nonsense words just makes sense.

It’s the easiest way to demonstrate just how incredibly helpful context clues are when you’re trying to figure out a word you don’t know.

Visit the site for free printables, or write your own passages using a nonsense word for kids to tackle.

Bonus Activity Idea: Lewis Carroll’s poem “The Jabberwocky” is chock full of wonderful nonsense words like “brillig” and “frabjous.” Read these delightful verses, and write down any nonsense words. Then, use context to determine what those words mean. Afterwards, challenge kids to write their own nonsense word poem or story.

Create a Timeline to Understand Plot Structure

Reading activities for second graders should also include lots of reading comprehension practice.

Ditch the old written book reports and try a story timeline instead, like this terrific example from The Sunny Side Up Blog .

Have students identify key scenes from a novel that represent the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Have them illustrate these scenes and lay them out in a timeline that summarizes the story.

Bonus Activity Idea: Kids this age should also be working on fluency, which means reading smoothly and with expression. After an initial reading, ask them to retell the story in their own words first, thinking about how the characters were feeling.

Then, have them read the story out loud, giving each character a different voice and adding in plenty of expression. Record them as they read, then watch the video together and talk about how they could improve their fluency.

ABCmouse Reading Games & Activities

Try the ABCmouse early learning educational App for 2nd grade reading activity fun !

Whether you want a quick easy activity you can take on the go, or wanting a customized learning path for your developing reader ABCmouse.com has hundreds of reading games and activities designed to help your kindergartener learn and develop their reading muscles.

ABCmouse has activities and games for 2nd graders learning to read that cover:

• Letter and Sound Recognition
• Word Blending
• Sight Words
• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary Building
• Reading Fluency
• Progress Tracking

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Find reading resources | tpt, learn more about reading resources.

Not only is reading a core concept in the study of English language arts, but it’s also a cornerstone skill for proficiency in many other subjects (for instance, without strong reading skills, students won’t be able to solve math word problems or read through primary sources for social studies class).

If you’re a teacher or parent looking for printable and digital reading resources to help your student learn a reading concept, look no further! TPT has an extensive collection of resources, created by other teachers, that are designed to help with any need across grade levels.

Elementary students just learning to read can practice the basics with some simple, fun phonics practice activities or small-group reading centers focused around sight words. Students in middle and high school can read novels and complete hands-on, interactive assignments that build their comprehension and critical thinking skills. With plenty of TPT resources at your fingertips, you can sharpen your student's reading skills in no time.

Fun and engaging reading activities to try

Engaging reading activities can energize your students and foster a love of reading. Here are a few ideas for reading activities from our teacher-created resources that you can find on TPT and try in your classroom:

Interactive Phonics Activities

Use hands-on activities such as sorting, matching, or building words with manipulatives to help students recognize phonics patterns and learn word families.

Encourage students to find specific words either in a text or around the classroom to help reinforce sight word recognition.

Reader's Theater

Bring short stories, books, poems, or plays you’re reading in class to life by assigning roles to students and having them act out scenes. This can help enhance fluency and comprehension.

Interactive Read-Alouds

Engage the class by pausing during read-alouds to discuss the story’s theme, reflect on a character’s motivations or actions, or to ask students questions.

Comparative Analysis

Explore different adaptations of the same story (book versus movie, classic version versus a modern retelling) to encourage analysis of interpretation and presentation. You can also pair texts that are similar in theme, like poems and songs.

By incorporating these (and other!) reading activities into your lesson plans, you can nurture a love for reading while enhancing comprehension, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Frequently asked questions about teaching reading

What types of reading resources are available on tpt.

There are many different types of reading resources sold by Sellers on TPT. Some popular reading lessons include: phonics, vocabulary, spelling, and balanced literacy.

How do I find reading lessons on TPT?

Educators can save time preparing reading lessons with resources created by experienced teachers. Simply start a search for reading resources on the TPT marketplace, and filter by grade level, price, and/or resource type to find materials that've been proven to work in classrooms like yours. No matter what you’re teaching, there are plenty of reading lessons and activities sold by Sellers on TPT that are tailored to meet your students' skill levels.

How can I make my reading lessons fun and engaging?

Students learn best when they're engaged! Sprinkle a little fun into your reading lessons by using manipulatives, pairing unusual texts like poems and short films together, or doing an escape room activity.

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10 Reading Apps Perfect for 2nd Grade

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So last week I shared 8 math apps that are perfect for second grade. Then I thought… wait a minute , we use a ton of different reading apps and websites too! So this week I thought I’d share some reading apps and websites with you. Perfect for keeping your second grade readers engaged and learning. even from home! Let’s check out these 10 reading apps perfect for 2nd grade!

Please note, some of these apps are paid. But, many are offering free services during this unexpected season we all find ourselves in.

10 READING APPS PERFECT FOR 2ND GRADE

Okay, Epic! is… well, epic! It is seriously the most comprehensive reading and learning platform for your seconds, but it’s also super easy for them to use. It not only has books, but also videos, audio options, quizzes, and things in Spanish too!

It’s personalized, so the kids can get recommendations and explore based on their interests. And as teachers, we can connect with them to discover what they’re learning.

This platform is free for educators, and there is a low monthly membership for students. But, they’re offering a way for educators to invite their students for free until the end of the (virtual) school year, so that’s pretty cool!

Vooks – as in, virtual + books, get it? Seriously, though, Vooks is a teacher’s dream!!! It’s an ad-free streaming library of read-aloud animated storybooks, so your second graders can watch right on a TV or tablet. Basically, the coolest thing ever, right?

But, it gets better, teacher friends. There are PDF lesson plans to go with the books, including 1 page activity sheets to match many of the top storybooks. How perfect is that?!

This app is meant to help students with things like read-along pacing, making visual connections between the words said aloud and the text they’re reading, and teaching life lessons in an engaging way.

It is also the lowest priced monthly membership of all of these reading apps. Plus, they are currently offering your first year FREE! Check it out here .

3. ReadWorks

ReadWorks is ideal for teaching reading comprehension. This e-learning platform allows you to differentiate reading levels for all of your students. It also offers audio versions, as well automatic grading options and the ability to follow along with their progress.

Signing up gets you access to curriculum and tools to support teaching your 2 nd graders, especially with things shifting to virtual learning these days. They’ve even added some extra remote learning content to support educators and families during the remainder of this oh-so-unique school year.

Best part? It’s FREE for teachers and students alike!!

This is like an encyclopedia, newspaper, history book, and social media news feed – the good kind – all rolled into one… kind of like the name implies, “News for English Language Arts.” NewsELA will help your students apply their new and developing reading skills to real-life, current, and applicable sources.

It gives you access to very relevant and research-based instructional content for your lessons, and is sorted by category – for example, social studies or arts & culture. You can assign articles for students to read or find leveled articles to differentiate your instruction.  It’s really a very unique resource… you’ll definitely want to check this one out !

Plus, NewsELA is offering FREE access for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year!

5. WriteReader

Alright, I would have seriously LOVED this one as a kid!! WriteReader is a website that helps your students read and write better by creating their own books and then sharing them with others! It is super creative and fun, meeting your 2 nd graders right where they’re at – imagination, and all!

Plus, let’s be honest, you’ll probably get some good laughs out of reading the stories they come up with, and we all need that right about now!

For us teachers, WriteReader even includes a way to collaborate with your 2nd graders on their books, as well as specialized lesson plans and activity ideas on topics like gratitude, fair play, and emotions.

And, best of all, of course – it’s FREE!

6. SpellingCity

SpellingCity is such a great app for vocabulary practice, especially when it comes to supporting what you’re teaching in the classroom while your students are at home. This virtual learning platform and mobile app will help students build their vocabulary through fun games and challenges, leading to improved reading comprehension without them even realizing it!

It also gives you the ability to personalize their practice, provide immediate feedback, and view a performance report. Definitely a great app for accountability with your seconds!

This one does require a paid annual subscription, but the mobile app is free to download. But with the paid subscription you can upload spelling lists, add practice activities, and complete spellign tests online! Imagine never having to grade a spelling test again? #teachersdream

7. PowerSpelling

Okay, so PowerSpelling is pretty cool because you will no longer have to prepare or grade spelling homework and tests manually. Anything to save time grading papers, am I right?!

Just choose a word list from one of the major publishers they work with, then assign it to your students, and VOILA! – a fully automated test, using fancy speech technology. It’s graded for you, and you get immediate access to detailed analytics and breakdowns so you know where you need to focus more.

Plus, the students can practice through fun games, and it even helps you prepare your class for a spelling bee competition! I thought that was pretty cool.

Right now, there is a two month free trial, which should get many of you to the end of the school year! Click here to learn more about it.

8. TEACH YOUR MONSTER TO READ

Alright, if I were a 2 nd grader, this would be my absolute favorite app EVER! No, seriously! Your students will create a monster and then take it on whole magical virtual adventure filled with travel, mini-games, prizes, and interactive stories, except they’ll be strengthening their reading skills and improving their phonics as they play. You can customize their levels so students are playing with reading level appropriate phonics skills.

So, you can definitely count on them to use this one at home, for sure… In fact, they may not want to stop playing! I know my seven year old loves playing!

It’s totally FREE on the computer-based website, and the app is only 99 cents!

9. KIDS A-Z

Kids A-Z is an e-learning portal that connects to a mobile app option where your class makes a robot avatar and completes interactive activities and exercises. There are quizzes to go along with each checkpoint and even tools that support their close reading skills.

Their work is graded automatically and you get access to a report so you can see how each student is doing.

The app is free for them to download, but access to Learning A-Z products like this one requires a subscription from the educator.

Lalilo is newer to me, but it is seriously the bomb for teaching phonics, word recognition, and reading comprehension. It is specifically geared toward K-2 nd .

Your second graders will travel through a virtual world and unlock activities and rewards, which is super motivating for them. Then, on your end, you can track the class as a whole or individual progress, plus assign certain hand-picked lessons.

Bonus: It is ALWAYS free!!

Well, there ya go… 10 reading apps that are perfect for your 2nd graders to practice and stay engaged with reading right at home!

From creating their own books to virtual game worlds to resources and content for you, each reading app brings something fun and unique to customize learning to fit your instructional needs at home or in the classroom.

Do you have another favorite reading app for 2nd graders? Do you already use any on this list? Let me know in the comments!

OTHER 2ND GRADE POSTS

Second grade is the best! Check out these other perfect for second grade blog posts!

• Phonics in Action- Activities for Practicing Phonics Skills in Second Grade
• Building Sight Word Fluency: The Easy-Peasy Way
• Creating Digital Posters with PicKids
• Chapter Books Perfect for 2nd Grade

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• Categories: 2nd Grade , Distance Learning Resources , reading , technology

Hi, I'm Leigh.

The Applicious Teacher is all about creating hands-on and engaging lessons that align with the standards while still having time for your life. This is your place for ideas, tips, and resources for the REAL teacher!

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Second Grade Games

Learning is an Adventure with Second Grade Games

2nd Grade ELA Games

Explore interactive ELA games for 2nd graders, aligned perfectly with the curriculum! These teacher-approved and student-tested games cover various language arts topics, including phonics concepts like diphthongs, trigraphs, blending, rhyming words, and more. Kids also learn to write different sight words. Th ... Read more rough playful activities and fun challenges, our games help 2nd graders develop reading and writing fluency. Make learning language skills a fun ride for kids! Start now for free!

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Reading Games

Explore Words With Triple Blends - spl Game

Get familiar with reading by learning to explore words with triple blends - spl.

Explore Words With Diphthongs - ow Game

Polish your language skills by exploring words with diphthongs - ow.

Explore Words With Diphthongs - oy Game

Polish your language skills by exploring words with diphthongs - oy.

Explore Words With Diphthongs - ou Game

Polish your language skills by exploring words with diphthongs - ou.

All ELA Games

Begin Blending With Diphthongs OI and OY Game

Begin blending with diphthongs OI and OY to play this game.

From Sounds to Words: coil and toy Game

With the help of this game learn to translate sounds to words: coll and toy.

Guess the Word: boy and moist Game

Kids must guess the word: boy and moist to develop their english skills!

Find Words Using Blending: joy and join Game

Use your skills to find words using blending: joy and join.

The Ultimate Diphthongs Challenge: soil, coy and toil Game

Introduce your child to reading with the ultimate diphthongs challenge: soil, coy and toil.

Begin Segmenting With void and boy Game

Practice english by learning to begin segmenting with void and boy.

Rearrange Sounds to Make Words: oink and coy Game

Ask your child to rearrange sounds to make words: oink and coy.

Sequence the Letters to Make Words: soy and foil Game

Make english easy by learning to sequence the letters to make words: soy and foil.

Guess the Word: coin and toy Game

Practice language art skills by spotting the word: coin and toy.

Begin Blending With Diphthongs OU and OW Game

Begin blending with diphthongs OU and OW to play this game.

From Sounds to Words: growl and cloud Game

With the help of this game learn to translate sounds to words: growl and cloud.

Guess the Word: shout and crown Game

Put your language skills to the test by guessing the word: shout and crown.

Find Words Using Blending: how and found Game

Use your skills to find words using blending: how and found.

The Ultimate Diphthongs Challenge: cow, prowl and ground Game

Introduce your child to reading with the ultimate diphthongs challenge: cow, prowl and ground.

Begin Segmenting With down and mouth Game

Practice english by learning to begin segmenting with down and mouth.

Rearrange Sounds to Make Words: bound and drown Game

Ask your child to rearrange sounds to make words: bound and drown.

Sequence the Letters to Make Words: brown and round Game

Kids will sequence the letters to make words: brown and round.

Guess the Word: loud and clown Game

Put your language skills to the test by guessing the word: loud and clown.

Rhyming Words With Trigraphs Game

Learn language art skills by practicing rhyming words with trigraphs.

Odd Word Out: Catch, Fudge, Batch & Patch Game

Polish your language skills by finding the odd word out: Catch, Fudge, Batch & Patch.

Listen and Master Rhyming Words: Word Families ATCH, UDGE & IGHT Game

Learn to listen and master rhyming words: Word Families ATCH, UDGE & IGHT.

Rhyming Words With Diphthongs Game

Explore rhyming words with diphthongs in this game.

Odd Word Out: Toil, Town, Soil & Foil Game

Polish your language skills by finding the odd word out: Toil, Town, Soil & Foil.

Listen and Master Rhyming Words: OY and OI Game

Ask your little one to listen and master rhyming words: OY and OI.

Explore Words With Trigraphs - dge Game

Get familiar with reading by learning to explore words with trigraphs - dge.

Explore Words With Trigraphs - igh Game

Get familiar with reading by learning to explore words with trigraphs - igh.

Build Words With Trigraphs - tch Game

To enhance your skills, build words with trigraphs - tch.

Build Words With Trigraphs - dge Game

To enhance your skills, build words with trigraphs - dge.

Explore Words With Diphthongs - oi Game

Polish your language skills by exploring words with diphthongs - oi.

Build Words With Trigraphs - igh Game

To enhance your skills, build words with trigraphs - igh.

Explore Words With Trigraphs - thr Game

Get familiar with reading by learning to explore words with trigraphs - thr.

Build Words With Trigraphs - shr Game

To enhance your skills, build words with trigraphs - shr.

Build Words With Trigraphs - thr Game

To enhance your skills, build words with trigraphs - thr.

Begin Blending With Trigraphs IGH and DGE Game

Make english fun by learning to begin blending with trigraphs IGH and DGE.

From Sounds to Words: night and pledge Game

With the help of this game learn to translate sounds to words: night and pledge.

Guess the Word: ditch and bridge Game

Put your language skills to the test by guessing the word: ditch and bridge.

Find Words Using Blending: thigh and hedge Game

Kids will find words using blending: 'thigh' and 'hedge' to develop their english skills!

The Ultimate Trigraphs Challenge: nudge, latch and sigh Game

Make learning fun with the ultimate trigraphs Cchallenge: nudge, latch and sigh.

Explore Words Ending With Trigraphs DGE and TCH Game

Put your language skills to the test by exploring words ending with trigraphs DGE and TCH.

Identify the Trigraph: wedge and stitch Game

Play and learn to identify the trigraph: wedge and stitch.

Pick the Right Trigraph: trudge and hitch Game

Kids must pick the right trigraph: 'trudge' and 'hitch' to develop their english skills!

Make Words With the Trigraph sketch and bridge Game

Kids must make words with the trigraph 'sketch' and 'bridge'.

Ending Trigraph and Its Name: TCH and DGE Game

Practice your skills by learning about ending trigraph and its name: TCH and DGE.

Begin Segmenting With bright and ridge Game

Practice english by learning to begin segmenting with bright and ridge.

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Reading Games for Kids and Elementary Students

Free Reading Games for Kids

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