2nd Grade: 2024-2025 Curriculum Picks
This is round 2 of 2nd grade for me! We’re using some of the same materials we used with my older girls and also some new things which I am really excited to do with just my older son. This year I felt like he needed something special just him and I could do together so I brought that in with his science/history and I think he’s going to love it!
After our morning devotional and scripture time (which I’ll be writing more about later) my older girls head off to do their independent work and then usually I work with my boys. I always work one-on-one with the youngest first. Since I’ll be adding in a more formal study with my Kindergartner this year my 2nd grader will work on his independent work (handwriting, spelling, ETC, and his independent pages in LA and Math) while I am working with my youngest. If he has downtime he can do computer work (either Lexia or other educational games). Once I’m done with my Kindergartner I’ll meet with my oldest son; read and finish up any math and LA he needs and then we’ll do science/history. We usually do experiments or art projects or anything fun like that in the afternoons once we get our core work completed.
Language Arts
Handwriting: TGTB Handwriting 2 We LOVE TGTB for handwriting and have used it for many years! Fine-motor skills are so important to continue to build and handwriting practice is a simple way to do that.
TGTB Language Arts 2: We will use everything in this bundle and also the Third Nature Reader (which is considered a 2nd grade reading level). If you happen to be new to TGTB, remember all their Math/LA is available as a free download so you can check out their curriculum on their website. Also make sure to use their placement tests.
Spelling: Evan Moore 2: I like a more traditional approach to spelling so beginning in 1st grade I use the Evan Moor books with my kids and we often skip the spelling exercises in TGTB workbooks.
Phonics Practice: Explode the Code 4: We do 1-2 pages out of these workbooks a day just for a little extra phonics practice. I have a full review on the Explode the Code books which you can read here.
Math
TGTB Simply Math 3: My son is very math minded so we’re diving into level 3 this year. I’m excited to introduce him to multiplication and I think he’ll be more challenged this year. If you happen to be moving into multiplication too - we’ll be using some of the same things I used with my older girls which you can read more about here: Multiplication Facts.
History & Science
Studying Stem from The Waldock Way: One thing that makes me really excited to homeschool is when my kids are really excited about what they’re learning and like I mentioned I just know my son is going to LOVE this study (and I LOVE that it is history + science combined). He loves anything and all things building, engineering, and he has a little entrepreneur heart - always wanting to create new things and looking for ways to earn money. He learns well by watching videos and doing hands-on projects including games so I knew a unit from The Waldock Way would be a great fit for him.
My plan is to take the whole year and spend about 1-2 weeks learning about each historical figure that is in this unit study - people like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, The Wright Brothers, and Henry Ford. In fact, just the other day I found my son doodling Cyber Trucks all over his paper so I will not be surprised if Nikola Tesla is his favorite study.
STEAM Books: Over the years we’ve pulled from these and they’re so fun and they’ll also be the perfect supplement for some easy STEAM activities to go along side with our inventor and scientist study. (If you can’t find the 6 pack book set - Brain Games STEM is a similar line where you can buy books individually.)
Robotics Class: This is a private local class and I think it’ll go really well with the rest of his studies.
Crunch Labs: We’re on year 2 of our Crunch Labs subscription and it’s something my son really looks forward to each month so we’re just going to keep on going!
Creation Study Extension: If you read my 6th grade girl’s curriculum picks, you’ll know they are studying science through the lens of the creation. Each lesson they complete there is a simple science experiment to do so I am going to have them do it with my boys. I am also planning on finding some coordinating YouTube videos and picking up some library picture books along the way to read with my younger boys - just keeping it really simple here though.
Art, Music, & Other Electives:
We love to integrate art into all our studies and we mostly pull from Lily & Thistle Courses and Deep Space Sparkle. Both have some great projects that align well with what we’ll be studying this year. If you want to learn more about Lily & Thistle courses I have a whole blog post on them here: Lily & Thistle Art School. This summer we added The Math Art Connection and have been LOVING it and that’d also be a perfect supplement if you have a STEAM loving kid. My little guy also really loves to draw so we keep lots of drawing books on hand. Our favorites include the drawing collection from The Good & The Beautiful and also the Draw, Write Now series.
Last year my son did karate, but this year he wants to do some general community sports classes which I think will be great for him. We also do lots of bike rides and physical activities so I don’t worry too much about structured PE. For music we will be doing a family composer study during our devotional time (we’re hoping to use Beautiful Feet Book’s new materials, but they haven’t been released yet).
That’s a wrap for 2nd grade! Let me know if you guys have any questions!