My 2nd grader is tagging along with her brothers in 5th and 8th. Some things that "make" it for her are the book basket, there are a LOT of really good books for her to read in the book basket.
For things like the Living World Encyclopedia, where the boys are to read, illustrate and summarize, I print out lapbooks for her from homeschoolshare on an animal from the region we are studying and she does those. I would say out of everything, that was my surprise "ticket". Reading the tidbits in the lapbook and having small lined areas for her to add in her own information that she has learned has inspired her to dig deeper. So when we go to the library, she looks for more books on that animal and becomes so proud about what she's found out. I will sit and cut out the booklets with her, and I got lucky and found file folders that are more than one page so the books aren't as tedious as some.
Cooking is a hit. We don't get to this nearly as often as i'd like, but I am trying to make it more of a priority. Crafts and music as well, she is the only one of my kids who likes the "Wee sing".
The geography game... another big surprise. She does pretty well at memorizing where the countries are. Outside of MFW, I would not bother teaching her world geography at this age, as I don't think they have as good a concept of space, their peripheral just isn't developed. However, tying it in with the study of cultures, prayer, animal regions, however, gives her a much better understanding of our big world.
Planet Earth DVD's. I just got them, should have gotten them sooner. WOW!
I have come full-circle with my fondness of PLL. When I read what others are doing, I kind of freak out that we aren't doing enough. But then I realize that she is comprehending what we are doing, whereas to sit with some of the other grammar, she memorizes but has no clue what we're talking about. I spoke to a vendor at convention about this book, and her words were: "it gives them an understanding of how to USE language". I agree with that.
I think I have finally relaxed enough to believe that at 2nd grade, our goals are to progress through math concepts, do lots of reading and discussion about what we've read, hands on projects, and learn how the world around us functions. Roll all of that into a ball and tuck it inside a case of wonderment that the Lord God made it all.
