I often get asked what curriculum we use for homeschool, so here’s a list of the learning resources I plan to use for 2nd grade. It’s a mixture of Christian and secular resources, some classical, some not, some open-and-go, others require prep. This is the mix that works for our family, and I hope parts of it help you too!
READING
All About Reading Level 3 is available from All About Learning Press or Rainbow Resource. The level your 2nd grader uses will depend on your child’s reading skills and experience. Our 2nd grader completed All About Reading Level 2 for first grade.
Lots of lots of story books, chapter books, and read aloud books will be additional reading resources.
This year I began to ask a few questions to practice reading comprehension. I ask the following questions and record her answers in a notebook:
- Who was the book about (main characters)?
- Where did the story take place (setting)?
- What happened? What were the challenges the main character faced? How did the story end? (plot)
SPELLING
All About Spelling Level 2 (Teacher & Student Pack), plus the Basic Spelling Interactive kit. Our 2nd grader completed All About Spelling Level 1 in first grade.
MATH
Horizons Math, Grade 2 (Student Books & Teacher Book for the complete set). We tried a few math programs and have found Horizons fits the best with our 2nd grader and our family.
LANGUAGE
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, Level 2. We completed First Language Lessons Level 1 last year and The Well Trained Mind is a book that helped me discover the classical education approach and how it can be done at home.
HANDWRITING
Zaner Bloser Handwriting Grade 2C. Our second grader will be learning cursive this year, hence the C.
If you only want manuscript, choose 2M. This is the one we used last.
SCIENCE
Science for Little Hearts and Hands – Fields and Flowers by The Good and the Beautiful
Space Science by The Good and the Beautiful
Usborne Beginner Series Collection
Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science
Wonder of Creation: 100 More Devotions About God & Science
BIBLE
More Than Words: Level 1 – Living Faith Bible Curriculum
Answers for Kids Box Set
The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New
CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS
Classical Conversations (Foundations) is a Classical Christian Community program with a core curriculum that covers:
- Geography
- Timeline
- History
- Science
- English
- Latin
- Math
- Hands On Science Projects & Experiments
- Fine Arts
- Public Speaking
The two must-have resources for those new to CC (in my opinion) are:
Foundations Guide, 5th Edition
Tin Whistle – Key of D
The CDs or app to review weekly memory work, the Timeline Cards, and Geography Placemats are useful tools too but are not necessary. Click here to learn more about Classical Conversations (CC).
USBORNE BOOKS
Usborne has great books for homeschool, especially their encyclopedias. Here are four I’ve purchased and found will tie into our English, history, science, and geography this year for Classical Conversations:
Usborne Children’s Encyclopedia
Usborne Beginner Series Science Collection
The Usborne Book of Living Long Ago
Lift-the-flap Grammar & Punctuation
PIANO
Bastien Piano Basics, Primer Level
WORKBOOK
Brain Quest Workbook, Grade 2 for the days I’m not feeling well, I need to work, or we are on the go and I can’t provide our usual lessons.
Explode the Code also has good workbooks but I didn’t get one for this year since it already seems like we have enough. 🙂
More Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Recommendations
Grade 1 Homeschool Curriculum & Extra Learning Resources – I went more in-depth in this post, and I also noted curricula we tried but didn’t stick with.
Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum & Resources – What we used when we first started.
Easy Tips to Homeschool on Vacation – How we incorporated learning while on the road.
Save This List of 2nd Grade Homeschool Resources for Later
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