2nd Grade
Sample Schedule
At this point I had a 2nd Grader, Kindergartner, and Toddler...
6:00 Mom's workout
7:00 Mom gets ready; kids get dressed and make beds; chore list
8:00 Breakfast, Scripture study together
8:30 play time, mom gets organized
9:00 Math lesson with 2nd grader; Kindergartner has play stations or art
9:30 Math lesson hands on and writing practice with Kindergartner; 2nd Grader free read
10:00 Snack & Mom Reads Aloud--history, science, or leisure
10:30 Free Play while 2nd grader works 1-1 w/Mom on spelling, language lessons, writing, and handwriting
11:00 Kindergartner does reading, handwriting, letters and poems while 2nd Grader does free play or write & draw a story/Art time
12:00 Lunch/Play
*can switch morning to afternoon
1:00 History, Science, Music, Art, PE, Games, Outings (library, playgroup, playdates, service, park, swimming)
2:30 Quiet Time/Show/Snack/Play while Mom works
**They also did whatever city team sports they wanted (mostly little league at this point), church classes, and Cub Scouts
There was a robust community homeschool playgroup in our town as well which dwindled as kids grew up.
My Favorite Curriculum & Ideas
Give kids time to play, to think, to dream, to daydream, to explore, to find their purpose.
Scripture Study Ideas:
Language Arts (handwriting, letter recognition, reading, narration/writing)
Math:
Depends on how adept the 2nd grader is at this point.
Social Studies/History/Geography Ideas:
We did thematic learning together. I am all about cyclical learning. Teach/explore it at a basic level very young, then intermediate level, then advanced, cycling around to similar topics every 3-4 years or so. So they get it in elementary, middle, and high school.
Topics we did: Creation, early civilization, Ancient Egypt (We did 5000 BC to 1238 AD which was knights), cultural differences, civic responsibility and statehood, world geography (continents), the economy
Favorite Books:
Science Ideas:
Again, I am all about cyclical learning. Teach/explore it at a basic level very young, then intermediate level, then advanced, cycling around to similar topics every 3-4 years or so. So they get it in elementary, middle, and high school.
Thematic Exploration together: the human body, ocean & aquatic life, earth science various topics for 3 months, solar system & astronomy, biology/gardening
I started with stuff I already had books or games about. I'd expand by using the library. I'd find videos and projects online. Pinterst can be inspiring, but also time wasting or self-defeating if you're not up for spending that much time creating stuff. It's important to match their interest to a point to get them started and then expand their minds into other topics. At this age everything is just easy because they love hands on projects and have a natural curiosity (you're not saying....hey you need a credit in biology so you *have* to take it!)
Play Station Ideas:
Kids learn through play, and they learn lots of things without us trying. I highly recommend rotating toys in and out to keep them fresher. Use what you have to make what you need--no need to buy a bunch of stuff; just look around. Kids like to play with anything they don't usually play with. (This is expanded a bit from the 1st Grade/K/PreK list)
Art Ideas:
Scripture Study Ideas:
- Get them a copy of the scriptures they can read/write/mark in.
- Read a scripture story together.
- Watch a scripture related video.
- Listen to the scriptures in the background during breakfast.
Language Arts (handwriting, letter recognition, reading, narration/writing)
- Writing: I don't feel spelling is important while writing at this point, just get them writing about things they want to. We used some of the Writing With Ease stuff by Susan Wise Bauer
- Writing: Primary Journal (write/draw combo)
- Reading: Just read a lot of books together--whatever they love. Take turns or do choral reading (at the same time) for fun.
- Reading: Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) (time depends on the kid; my oldest could read 30-60 minutes, my youngest was unable to read alone at this point with dyslexia)
- Reading: If they need it, All About Reading level 2 (My older two were almost born reading, but my younger needed extra practice)
- Handwriting: Cursive Without Tears
- Grammar, Poetry, etc. all-in-one (great to slowly introduce grammar!): Fist Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise, Level 2
- Spelling: We originally used Sequential Spelling #1, but now I would recommend All About Spelling #2 instead. Absolutely love this!
- Spelling: MCP Phonics or Spelling Workout--used these every year (except with my dyslexic child)
- Dictionary: get one of those easy colorful ones and have some fun with it
- Presentations: 2nd grade is far old enough to get up in front of the family and make a presentation. Do it often and they won't be so shy as they grow up.
Math:
Depends on how adept the 2nd grader is at this point.
- Having them take a readiness evaluation first is a great idea.
- Curriculum: Horizons 2 with Teacher Edition and student workbooks
- Skip counting (ideas on the 1st/K/PreK page)
- Bundles and piles: use for grouping (by tens, 5s, 2s, etc.) or games--crafts sticks, beans, straws
- Dominos, Abacus, etc.
- Sum Swamp or Money Bags board games
- PBS Kids Games
- Pattern Blocks
Social Studies/History/Geography Ideas:
We did thematic learning together. I am all about cyclical learning. Teach/explore it at a basic level very young, then intermediate level, then advanced, cycling around to similar topics every 3-4 years or so. So they get it in elementary, middle, and high school.
Topics we did: Creation, early civilization, Ancient Egypt (We did 5000 BC to 1238 AD which was knights), cultural differences, civic responsibility and statehood, world geography (continents), the economy
Favorite Books:
- Anything free, right?! :)
- Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
- National Geographic Kids Atlas
- Storybooks about history or comic-style books about historical events and people
Science Ideas:
Again, I am all about cyclical learning. Teach/explore it at a basic level very young, then intermediate level, then advanced, cycling around to similar topics every 3-4 years or so. So they get it in elementary, middle, and high school.
Thematic Exploration together: the human body, ocean & aquatic life, earth science various topics for 3 months, solar system & astronomy, biology/gardening
I started with stuff I already had books or games about. I'd expand by using the library. I'd find videos and projects online. Pinterst can be inspiring, but also time wasting or self-defeating if you're not up for spending that much time creating stuff. It's important to match their interest to a point to get them started and then expand their minds into other topics. At this age everything is just easy because they love hands on projects and have a natural curiosity (you're not saying....hey you need a credit in biology so you *have* to take it!)
Play Station Ideas:
Kids learn through play, and they learn lots of things without us trying. I highly recommend rotating toys in and out to keep them fresher. Use what you have to make what you need--no need to buy a bunch of stuff; just look around. Kids like to play with anything they don't usually play with. (This is expanded a bit from the 1st Grade/K/PreK list)
- maker space related to a favorite hobby
- educational videos (pbs has a ton)
- pattern blocks
- invent a game or reinvent a boardgame you already have
- computer games (pbs kids)
- 5 senses station
- sound/music related
- sewing with yarn and plastic needle or safety pin
- increasingly complicated/larger puzzles (try geography related puzzles too)
- take something apart, put it back together, or make something new
- wooden blocks
- cars/racetracks
- action figures, animals
- house w/little people
- legos
- kitchen/food play
- time/clocks
- memory games
- coloring
- sidewalk chalk
- huge drawing paper
- kinetic sand
- puppets--socks work great
- obstacle course
- fort building
- whiteboard
Art Ideas:
- I purchased some used Adventures in Art textbooks that had great ideas. Really depends on the kid and abilities at this point. Are they ready to learn the elements and principals of "real" art like form, texture, etc. or are they crafty or love to draw or can hardly draw a straight line (like me!).
- Set up a "maker" space or box for art stuff that they can use without you and is safe--safety scissors, construction paper, glue sticks, markers or crayons, fuzzy balls, eyes, pipe cleaner, old newspaper, whatever.
- Pinterest related to a topic you are doing in Science or History
- Something related to a story he or she wrote
- Find someone in the community who will teach art privately. We did this several years and it was a lot of fun for the kids. One went on to solo classes.
