2nd Grade Homeschool Plan

 

Well, Dot is 8 and entering the 2nd grade.   Because she was my 3rd child, because she was my last child, because I was 35 years old when I had her, because I had been homeschooling for a very long time, because I am a little bit OLD, it seemed only to make sense to delay starting kindergarten with her.  As it turned out, she also took a while to show readiness for reading, and I am so grateful that I listened to my "old mom" instincts and didn't rush her.  Because at the age of 8, she is suddenly taking off with reading.  Over the summer, while I was too busy with my internship to work with her, she started to understand the need for vowels, stopped reversing most of her letters, and became able to read signs and all sorts of things that she sees in her daily life.  I am so excited to witness this!  The miracle of reading!  In the meantime, she has been listening to audio books (often for several hours each day).  

She will be attending co-op classes one day a week this coming year.  Because I am in school full-time I was not able to drive them anywhere last year.  My husband decided he could not either, but after a year of having them home all day while he worked, he changed his mind.  They will each have 3 co-op classes this year and lunch.  We are also using some online classes, carefully selecting them for her hands-on and artistic learning style.  And we are involved in a social group that we will try and meet up with once a week or so.  When the weather turns bad, it will sadly be less.  Thankfully, there are neighbors to play and interact with. 

As always, this plan is a rough draft.  We will adjust and change as we see fit.  As the weather gets worse, we may add some fun online classes. 

Here is her plan.  Of course, so much more is learned through play with friends, family, and by herself, through interactions with people and animals, through her own explorations and times of introspection.  Most of what she learns can never be recorded or quantified. 

English:   

• Explode the Code phonics (She is in book 3 right now and going through it very quickly).  
• The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting (continuing the first grade level). 
• Various readers
• Phonics with crafts class online
• Daily self-directing listening to audiobooks 

Math: 

• Life of Fred

• Addition and Subtraction worksheets & activities

Science:  

• Kiwi Crate
• nature study
• gardening
• composting 
• field trips 

Social Studies: 

• Wonders of the World craft class online 
• field trips
• historical books 
• Sunday school
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (if offered) 

Foreign Language

• Sign Language class at co-op

The Arts

• Craft Class at co-op

• Piano at co-op