While this is the curriculum we use, we also use a lot of supplemental games, books, literature, cooking, nature studies, and a LOT of free play and self-exploration. Fridays and the weekends we solely reserve for unschooling, field trips, and co-op when able. Our days involve a lot of sensory breaks, visual schedules, and group activities with their friends.
For my 8 year old with special needs
Logic of English: Foundations: D and Rhythm of Handwriting: Cursive
Singapore Dimensions 2B
Complete Curriculum Grade 2 by Harcourt Family Learning
What Your Second Grader Needs to Know as a base for unit studies. We use the history and geography section to build our unit studies that cover every other subject besides math and language arts. .
When he was 6, we used Math Lessons for a Living Education, and Logic of English: Foundations A. His sensory diet (techniques we use to keep his sensory diet under control) included the Therapeutic Listening Program once or twice a day depending on need paired with the treadmill, total gym, yoga, moving furniture (heavy lifting) and dancing. We also used pencil grips, z-vibe, mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, swimming, and joint compressions. We also used “engine checks” to check his sensory system and our own make up using principles of The Zones of Regulation. You can check out what we do here.
For my 6 year old neurotypical son:
Singapore Dimensions 1A
Logic of English Foundations D for language arts
Shared Curriculum
Usborne Art Treasury
Usborne Science Encyclopedia
Magic Tree House and Fact Tracker Guides for History
A Trip Around the World for Geography and MAPS by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski
Preschool Prep Co. DVDS including Meet the Sight Words, Math Facts, and Letter Sounds. Also, Meet the Math Facts Flash Cards and Coloring Books and Meet the Sight Words Placemats.
Unifix Cubes and Activities
Apps and Websites We Use to Supplement
Education.com This website has it all! Anything you could possibly want. Just read a story on the Tortoise and the Hare? Search it and you can find an activity to go with it. Need extra practice with place value? They have TONS of super fun games that reinforce pretty much any concept you need.
Teach Monster (app) Phenomenal for teaching reading
Letter School (app) Amazing for teaching how to form letters the correct way. There are 3 different styles you can choose including the handwriting without tears style. There is a cursive version, but I don’t like it as much.
Speak for Yourself (app) Communication device we use as a visual tool to teach concepts and to practice spelling.
Snaptype Pro (app) Take a picture of your worksheet and complete it using the app, then print it off. This helps us do assignments like science and reading while not having to have a battle over writing. Writing is extremely difficult for my son, so we try to limit writing practice to certain times to not overwhelm him.
Games
SimplyFun games are incredible for helping my kids learn major subjects and social emotional skills through playing board games together. We use them as manipulatives as well. I cannot recommend these enough.