2nd Grade Secular Homeschool Review 2019-2020
This was our first year choosing to go completely unaccredited. I am so thankful to have found Timberdoodle. They compile curriculum kits and offer a non-religious or secular homeschool choice. I was so glad to find their Non-religious kits and hope that providing a 2nd-grade secular homeschool review will be helpful to others.
It can be so hard to find secular homeschool curriculums. There seems to be a smorgasbord of options for those choosing a more faith-based education.
This was our 3rd year of homeschooling and previously we have used Texas Tech University’s K-12 program.
Timberdoodle Non-Religious Curriculum Kit
We ordered their Elite 2nd Grade Curriculum Kit and did not omit anything.
2nd grade 2020 kit link here: https://timberdoodle.com/collections/curriculum-kits/products/nonreligious-2020-second-grade-curriculum-kit
Online Scheduler:
I love the Online Scheduling Tool offered by Timberdoodle. It allows you to plug in the pieces of your curriculum, your start and end dates, and any vacations or breaks. It will then auto populate a weekly schedule based on how many lessons, pages, or units the curriculum has. You can print off weekly checklists for your child to keep up with. I initially struggled with how best to use this tool and their customer service was very quick to help. It is very handy however, I do feel like the interface could be more user friendly.
Language Arts:
I loved every piece of this subject. She did breeze through the All About Reading Level 3. In hindsight I may have limited her to 2 weekly lessons so that she did not finish as quickly.
The Daily 6-Trait Writing level 3 was simple to understand both for Amelia and for myself.
The extra language arts elements were very fun to work with and the graphic novel we read together as a family.
Math:
One of our main reasons for leaving Texas Tech was that I felt the standards were very low, particularly in math. I was very concerned that Amelia would struggle with this program not having begun with it. She also did not start off with having her basic addition facts memorized or even quickly recited. Math U See is a wonderful program built around their specific set of blocks. Much to my surprise Amelia really excelled used the Beta level program.
The math games included were fun for our whole family.
Thinking Skills:
I am just so thankful that teaching different ways to think and problem solve is included both through game elements and a workbook.
History & Social Studies: Secular Homeschool Kit Specific
We enjoyed the Skill Sharpeners Geography Level 2.
The Story of the World level 2 being on audio CD is so easy to incorporate into our studies, she reads along as we listen. We honestly do this mostly in the car. The lessons average about 6 minutes and can be completed in a quick drive. We did not use enough the workbook and chose to omit it from our 3rd-grade kit.
She loves the Famous Figures of the Renaissance dolls.
Science: Secular Homeschool Kit Specific
Amelia struggled with figuring out how best to find the answers for the workbook that you print yourself. I do wish that the workbook came as a finished piece and did not require me to print it. I did like the program and it was my favorite science we have use so far. I do not love it, and chose to omit it from our 3rd-grade kit in an effort to find a better fit. Please recommend if you have a great secular choice!
STEM:
I never would have found Engino on my own and I am so glad we have it. She loves to build the models and use the motor. The things she has completed are truly amazing.
Art:
I am so glad that they include so many art elements in these kits. My 7-year-old could not get enough of it.
Test Prep:
Fortunately in Texas, we do not have to take any kind of progress exams. We did not use this book and honestly, it just seems overwhelming.
Kit Favorite:
For my nostalgic self, I loved the Physics books about Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. We loved these as a family read together.
2nd Grade Secular Homeschool Kit Review
My overall impression is that I love this kit! There were so many gems. In all honesty, the massive change from what we were using is at least partly to blame. We were so over using the distance-based program that was simply classroom work that had been individually portioned. These kits came into our homeschool lives at a very crucial time. We love them and have ordered 2 more kits for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year.
3rd-grade Timberdoodle Non-Religious Curriculum Kit unboxing here
Pre-K Timberdoodle Non-Religious Curriculum Kit unboxing here
