Our Homeschool Curriculum Picks for Kindergarten & 2nd Grade

Our Kindergarten Curriculum Picks

Here’s what worked well for us when my child was in kindergarten:

Reading & Phonics:

• First Start Reading and Classical Phonics from Memoria Press
• We also explored The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading (Level 1), which includes spelling, handwriting, grammar, and even a gentle intro to Latin

Math:

• After trying Saxon and finding it wasn’t a good fit, we switched to Christian Light Education math
• We supplemented with Math Mammoth and Life of Fred for extra variety and fun

Science:

• We used Apologia’s Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day with the Junior Notebooking Journal—very visual and interactive

History & Literature:

• We began Story of the World Volume 2  for a gentle, narrative introduction to world history
• Lots of read-alouds and library visits to build a love for books

Art & Music:

• Home Art Studio Kindergarten Level for creative art instruction
• Weekly Let’s Play Music classes for early music foundations

Our 2nd Grade Curriculum Picks

Much of what we used in 2nd grade overlapped with or built upon our kindergarten foundation:

Language Arts:

• New American Cursive and Copybooks from Memoria Press
• Literature Guides from Memoria Press for comprehension, discussion, and writing development

History:  Story of the World Volume 2, diving deeper into the Middle Ages

Science:  Apologia Zoology 1, with added independent journaling and drawing

Extras:

• Daily journaling and copywork
• Nature walks, artist and composer studies
• Field trips and weekly homeschool co-op classes

Tips for Mixing & Matching Curriculum

You don’t have to stick with one boxed set. We pulled from several companies and adapted based on what sparked interest and worked well:

• Start with the core subjects, then add extras like art or music
• Look for free samples or used curriculum before purchasing new
• Don’t be afraid to pivot mid-year if something isn’t working
• Use a spiral notebook or planner to jot down what worked/didn’t work each week

Choosing homeschool curriculum is a blend of research, trial and error, and trusting your instincts. This list reflects one year of our journey—your family’s path may look different, and that’s okay! Whether you’re leaning toward classical education, eclectic methods, or unit studies, I hope this peek into our choices gives you a helpful starting point.

Have a favorite curriculum you love? Questions about one I mentioned? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to chat!