2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices

Here it is back to homeschool time again, and I’m here to share our second grade curriculum picks. I’m cautiously confident that we will find our groove this year. It’s going to be a good one!

For a full list of your secular homeschool curriculum options, see our Secular Homeschool Curriculum Guide.

Last year I shared that we were in 1st-ish grade. This year we are straddling second and third. While I do adhere to the school year calendar (can’t teach an old teacher new tricks), we took an extended break last year – starting in August and restarting again in January.

Now, after a 1200 mile move, we are finally settled and looking forward to getting back into a comfortable rhythm. Our little homeschool routine.

We will be completing some programs that we started last year. Starting some new curricula. And picking up a few new books that I’m really looking forward to. I’m feeling very confident in our choices this year. It must be the beginning-of-the-year excitement!

I’ll link what we’re using throughout the post. See the yellow box at the bottom to read my full curriculum breakdowns and reviews.

---

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks: Language Arts

Jot It Down
We started Brave Writer’s Jot It Down last year for writing, but the program is so much more. We ended up using the units as our flexible language arts curriculum. Jot It Down covers everything from fairy tales to animal studies, poetry, art, and lots of tea!

I’m excited to continue with it this year. The program is made up of ten units, but we only completed about half. I anticipate completing the other half this year and moving on to The Arrow in January.

I’ll add here that we aren’t adding much in the way of formal read-alouds this year. My son is reading chapter books on his own now (which he prefers) and our other subjects are literature heavy. We’ll be using read-alouds for math, science, and history. So for now, Jot It Down is plenty for us.

Reading Eggspress
I’m thrilled that my son is still chugging along on Reading Eggspress. Part of the Reading Eggs program. Reading Eggspress helps fluent readers improve their comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling skills through a variety of engaging games. My son also has access to their online library, which he loves.

Spelling, Grammar, & Handwriting
Spelling and Grammar were not in the forefront in kindergarten and first grade. We did a little writing – lists and sentences. From using Reading Eggs he can identify nouns, verbs, and adjectives. This year, though, I will focus a bit more on the mechanics of writing and spelling.

I’m going to be creating my own phonics and sight word-based spelling lists with a focus on a variety of spelling activities that I’ve created. My goal is to get him up and running on practicing his spelling independently so I will have time to work with little sis!

For grammar, we will be using some grammar picture books and moving into doing more copy work – in cursive! Yes, he says he wants to learn cursive this year. I’m a little stunned, but sure let’s do it. We will be using the Handwriting Without Tears Cursive Handwriting workbook along with some modified letter formation activities to get him up and moving!

---

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks: Math

Teaching Textbooks
I am so happy that we tried Teaching Textbooks this summer. My son has like the other programs we’ve tried in the past, but TT is one that I like. It’s hands-off for me, but I still know what he’s learning and what’s coming up next in the program.

We’ll be supplementing this year with some more advanced math literature. Including the Sir Cumference Series and Murderous Maths, which I’m very excited about!

---

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks: Science

Bookshark Science
Last year we got a little more than half way through Bookshark Science. I’m happy to be getting back into it for 2nd grade. It’s just the right balance between book work and hands-on for both of us. We plan to complete level 2 in 2018 and move on to level 3 in January.

Nature Studies
Our big move took us 1200 miles north this summer. That means the my kids are about to experience all of the season changes we’d only read about before. Our nature studies this year will focus on the Ohio climate and weather changes.

Experiencing an autumn harvest season for the first time. Seeing their first snow. Planting in the spring and watching the world bloom around us. We won’t need any additional books for this, but I’m sure we’ll pick some up at the library!

---

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks: History

Story of the World
Last year we dabbled with Story of the World Volumes 1 and 2. Just exploring what topics interested my son. This year, we are going to focus on finishing up Ancient History in 2018 and Middle Ages before summer.

We’ll be continuing to use the Story of the World Volume 1 and 2 texts and activity books. History days were some of our very favorites. Here he is working on his ancient history timeline. We will be adding a lot to it this year!

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks: Everything Else

Art and Music
Including art and music appreciation into our lives and schooling is part of the Brave Writer lifestyle. We’ll be loosely studying the arts with our other subjects through Jot It Down and history studies, as well as visiting museums and listening to a variety of music throughout the year. I hope to get to the orchestra this year!

Physical Education
My little bookworm is not so sporty, but he does enjoy lots of physical activity! We’ll be biking and hiking the trails while the weather is nice. Later I’ll be looking into local classes like gymnastics and swimming lessons.

---

I’m really looking forward to 2nd grade with my oldest. My daughter is starting kindergarten this year, too! I’m taking a more relaxed approach to kindergarten with her. She is eager to learn, but in a less demanding, more gentle way than my son was at that age.

Read: Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Take 2!

For curriculum options check out our Homeschool Curriculum Guide.

And for a side-by-side comparison of ten top phonics programs see our Phonics Curriculum Guide post.