A 2nd grader should be reading at the beginning of a 2nd grade level. This means being able to read short, simple sentences with mostly basic words, and being able to decode new words based on context. At this age, children should already have a considerable amount ofvocabulary, and should be able to recognize words and read them quickly.
2nd graders should have a good understanding of basic grammar such as articles and nouns, as well as basic word functions such as identifying verbs and tenses. They should also be able to answer basic questions about what they have read.
When assessing a 2nd grader's reading level, look for signs that they have a good understanding of pronunciation, grammar, and speaking. Here's a few things they should be able to do:
• Read stories with at least 8-10 sentences
• Understand the meaning of key words, such as nouns, verbs and adjectives
• Understand the beginning, middle and end of a story
• Get information from more than one source
• Follow instructions
• Read and write simple notes
• Understand compound sentences
• Determine the main idea of a text
For more information, check out this article from Every Child a Reader which provides a detailed description of the language arts standards for second grade:
https://everychildareader.net/language-arts-standards/second-grade/