Second Grade
Favorite resources and curricula.
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Second grade is a year of skill consolidation and fluency building. It is also the year that I recommend starting a formal writing program if you have not already.
Recommended Second Grade Resources:
Language Arts
Continue with an explicit, systematic reading program. Consider starting novel studies if you have a child fluently reading beginning chapter books (think Magic Tree House-type books). My go-to resource for novel studies are Novel Ties guides (I share about these in my literature highlights on Instagram).
Continue with formal spelling instruction. My go-to spelling recommendations are All About Spelling and Spelling Connections (workbook only). Check out my Spelling Guide for routines and instructional strategies.
Begin a systematic, explicit writing program. My recommendations include the thematic writing programs from the Insitute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), Write by Number (WBN), and Essentials in Writing (EIW). Check out my Writing Guide for evidence-based writing instruction recommendations and my Notebooking Guide for ideas for incorporating narration, drawing, and writing into your content areas.
Math
Explicit, systematic math instruction — Math With Confidence Second Grade is my go-to recommendation. You can see a full video flip-through of MWC 2 here.
Social Studies
Continue or begin a social studies routine. You can opt for a “mastery” or cycle approach where you cycle through different historical periods. You can also opt to focus on interest-based social studies, utilizing unit study resources. We have dabbled in a bit of both, following my kiddos’ interests. Programs we have enjoyed include:
History Quest Early Times or History Quest Middle Times (we enjoyed the audiobook & guide)
Story of the World Vol 1: Ancient Times or Story of the World Vol 1: Middle Ages, and check out the SOTW resources, such as the activity guides and student review pages.
Unit Studies using Nomad Press Guides. Check out these examples of our unit studies on ancient Rome and ancient Greece.
American Girl History (More on this coming soon! I’m working on guides!)
Science
Continue or begin a science routine. You can opt for a “mastery” approach where you do a deep dive on one area of science for the whole year (or break into semesters), a spiral approach where you cycle through different branches of science each year, or a unit study approach. Similarly to social studies, we have dabbled in all three methods, following my kiddos’ interests. Programs we have enjoyed include:
Nancy Larson Science Second Grade (for more on NLS, check out my blog post here)
Blossom and Root Science and/or Nature Study offerings
Unit Studies using Nomad Press Guides
Check out Our Favorite Homeschool Resources on Amazon: