Homeschooling a second grader and kindergartner

It’s hard to believe it’s our 3rd year of homeschooling. ?It seems like I just had two in diapers and now I have two in school! ?((Cue the weeping)) ?A few close friends ask for homeschool updates, so without further ado, I’ll share what we’re planning this year while homeschooling a second grader and kindergartner.

If you want to read our past updates on homeschooling:

A really long post about our first year of homeschooling

Second year of homeschooling

The past two years I’ve focused heavily on reading and math. ?My philosophy for younger kids is that if you can get them reading and doing math, the science and history and other puzzle pieces will all fall into place.

For Olen, our kindergartner, I’ll be focusing on those two things! ?I feel like, unfortunately, since Olen was my middle one in the midst of 3 under 4, he missed out on some of the preschool work that I did with Jackson. ?I’ll be doing the same?Abeka K5 program for phonics and reading that I also did with Jackson. ?The program is probably better suited to a small classroom or private school, but it did set a good foundation for Jackson so we’ll roll with it again.

Handwriting will be the ever-famous Handwriting without Tears. ?We’re fairly certain that Olen is a leftie, so hopefully I’ll be free of tears, too, as I navigate trying to teach left-handing writing.

Jackson (2nd grade) will be starting the next book in the series of A Reason for Handwriting. ?I really like this workbook and the way it helps us to also learn Scripture.

For math, we’re doing some catch-up and review via a School Zone Kindergarten?workbook and flashcards, and then diving right into Horizons Math 1. ?Jackson is nearly halfway through Horizons Math 2 and we should complete that this year. ?I like Horizons, but I do feel like it moves at a quick pace. ?I want my children to master a skill, not just ace the test. ?I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing addition and subtraction with Jackson and let’s hope it haspaid off! ?He’s starting multiplication this week.

For science, both boys will be studying?Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day, although I expect Olen’s role will be geared more towards just coloring in his accompanying Junior Notebooking Journal.

For history, we’re going to use the The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child?and the accompanying activity book. ?Because I love history, this was the hardest curriculum for me to pick. ? I really like the Classical model, and I’m hoping this will be a good fit for our family! ?I think I’ll be able to gear this for both boys based on the activities- Jackson will be able to do a little more than Olen, but I like that we can all work on it TOGETHER.

For Ohio history, we’re planning field trips to Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio and the Johnny Appleseed Museum at Urbana University. ?We’re also hoping to get to Marietta!

That’s probably all for Olen- while Jackson will have his own spelling, language arts, and phonics.

For ?Jackson’s phonics, we’re using Explode the Code again.

I call my homeschool the hodge-podge method and it’s because I enjoy many different styles. ?I’ve enjoyed many things by Charlotte Mason. ?Last year we used a Charlotte-Mason based nature study called The Outdoor Secrets Companion and I’m sure that over the years I will revisit this combination of literature and nature. ?For Jackson’s language arts we’re using Language Lessons for Today: Grade 2.

Spelling will be Building Spelling Skills- Book 2.

We also spend lots of time developing our reading and listening skills by reading aloud. ?Over the summer, the kids “earned” screen time by reading books and allowing me to read to them. ?We’re reading through the Little House on the Prairie series and will finish The Long Winter this week. ?Anyone have any suggestions for when we’re ready to move on from the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Per the State of Ohio, we’re to cover health topics like nutrition and body care. ?I found this fun book called Nutrition Fun with Brocc & Roll?and I think it puts a kid-friendly spin on how to read labels and I can’t wait to get my copy. I’ll be supplemented with some library materials like Nutrition Facts for Kids and Good Enough to Eat.

I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention our darling Miss C. So far she’s been sitting at the table and doing many of the same things as Olen. ?She hasn’t been as distracting as last year (but it’s only day 6!). ?Today, when she tired of my instruction, she just went to her room and played with her dolls. ?We’ll see how it goes as the year progresses.

Tell me- What’s your go-to curriculum? ?Do you use any of the same things? I’d love to know! ?

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