Is Homeschooling for Free even possible?
I have been homeschooling for 8 years, if you count my first year in which Logan was in pre-school. I am always looking for a good deal for homeschool curriculum. If you have searched for a curriculum, you know that some of them can be pretty pricey! I have found that the old saying, "you get what you pay for," doesn't apply to homeschool curriculum at all. I have paid a fortune for some curriculum and they have ended up being a horrible match for my children. I have also gotten some curriculum for free and they have been wonderful! So, for us, more expensive does not always mean better. For us, I do not think homeschool will ever be free, there are always pencils, paper, art supplies, science experiments, field trips, etc. However, I wanted to share with you some tips today on money saving when buying curriculum. The truth for us is that some years we simply don't have a lot of money to spend on curriculum. These tips will be geared towards K-7th grade.
The first tip is to not be afraid to design your own curriculum. All you need is a scope and sequence. Which is just fancy talk for a plan! For each subject, sit down and write out what you want your child to learn in that area for the school year. In math it could be number recognition, shapes, measuring. In science it could be a focus on early botany or earth science (who doesn't love building volcanoes). History could be over the 13 colonies, or ancient Rome. In language it could be how to write a report or how to write a sentence. You get the idea. Then just sit down and google search those areas and you can find a ton of free and cheap resources. If you have a child going to start preK or K, there are several free "letter of the week" curriculum sets that are free and really nice.
My second tip is to not be afraid to use the old fashion library. If you decide you want your children to learn about jungle animals in science, go to the library and check out books on that topic. If in home economics your student want to learn how to cook Italian food, the library will have a recipe book. If you need to study Baroque Period musicians, the library will have books on that too!
Third tip, utilize a homeschool group! These are great places for free or cheap classes in areas of art, science, and p.e. They are also great for socializing and field trips. Do not get hung up on the fact that the children in the group may not be exactly the same age as your child. Homeschool groups still work! We have been involved in several groups and the thing I have noticed the most..the children really don't care how old the other children are as long as they are kind and willing to participate. Homeschool children can talk to anyone, from babies to middle age, to our elders!
Now I am going to share some resources for different subjects.
Language Arts
The Good and The Beautiful curriculum by Jenny Phillips-free for K-5, reasonable for other grades
handwritingpractice.net free worksheet generator for penmanship
superteacherworksheets.com cheap membership for one year, excellent source for worksheets
spelling-just google spelling list for whatever grade you need and you can find a ton of free list of words students need to learn for each grade level
Literature Pockets by Evan Moor
Math
superteacherworksheets.com cheap membership for one year, lots of topics covered
math-drills.com free worksheet generator
Science
ajourneythroughlearning.net lots and lots of lapbooks, very reasonable prices
jennyphillips.com Science curriculum by Jenny Phillips is very reasonable prices per unit
your local library
History/Civics
ajourneythroughlearning.net wonderful history lapbooks
use a time line-purchase a time line and just go through it at your own pace, you can find books at the library on each event/time in history
The Bible
CNN10 you can get free streaming of these shows online
History Pockets by Evan Moor
Technology
code.org learn how to code
nitro.com learn how to type
clickschooling they send you links each day of the week to research,free service
Favorite Resource
I think one of the best decisions I ever made was to sign up to be a member of homeschoolgiveaways.com
I have received so many great curriculum packages from them over the years, covering all subjects imaginable! Because of the items I have received from them, plus some of the above mentioned resources, the only curriculum I will be buying for next year is Math.
Used Curriculm
Honestly, I have had horrible luck buying used curriculum. However, some friends of mine buy all of their curriculum used and have great luck with it. Homeschool Classifieds is a website that homeschoolers can post their used curriculum for sale. I have used it before, the best deals I have found where on literature books we needed.
I hope some of this information can help you get ready for homeschooling! Or, at least help your pocket book a little next year!
The first tip is to not be afraid to design your own curriculum. All you need is a scope and sequence. Which is just fancy talk for a plan! For each subject, sit down and write out what you want your child to learn in that area for the school year. In math it could be number recognition, shapes, measuring. In science it could be a focus on early botany or earth science (who doesn't love building volcanoes). History could be over the 13 colonies, or ancient Rome. In language it could be how to write a report or how to write a sentence. You get the idea. Then just sit down and google search those areas and you can find a ton of free and cheap resources. If you have a child going to start preK or K, there are several free "letter of the week" curriculum sets that are free and really nice.
My second tip is to not be afraid to use the old fashion library. If you decide you want your children to learn about jungle animals in science, go to the library and check out books on that topic. If in home economics your student want to learn how to cook Italian food, the library will have a recipe book. If you need to study Baroque Period musicians, the library will have books on that too!
Third tip, utilize a homeschool group! These are great places for free or cheap classes in areas of art, science, and p.e. They are also great for socializing and field trips. Do not get hung up on the fact that the children in the group may not be exactly the same age as your child. Homeschool groups still work! We have been involved in several groups and the thing I have noticed the most..the children really don't care how old the other children are as long as they are kind and willing to participate. Homeschool children can talk to anyone, from babies to middle age, to our elders!
Now I am going to share some resources for different subjects.
Language Arts
The Good and The Beautiful curriculum by Jenny Phillips-free for K-5, reasonable for other grades
handwritingpractice.net free worksheet generator for penmanship
superteacherworksheets.com cheap membership for one year, excellent source for worksheets
spelling-just google spelling list for whatever grade you need and you can find a ton of free list of words students need to learn for each grade level
Literature Pockets by Evan Moor
Math
superteacherworksheets.com cheap membership for one year, lots of topics covered
math-drills.com free worksheet generator
Science
ajourneythroughlearning.net lots and lots of lapbooks, very reasonable prices
jennyphillips.com Science curriculum by Jenny Phillips is very reasonable prices per unit
your local library
History/Civics
ajourneythroughlearning.net wonderful history lapbooks
use a time line-purchase a time line and just go through it at your own pace, you can find books at the library on each event/time in history
The Bible
CNN10 you can get free streaming of these shows online
History Pockets by Evan Moor
Technology
code.org learn how to code
nitro.com learn how to type
clickschooling they send you links each day of the week to research,free service
Favorite Resource
I think one of the best decisions I ever made was to sign up to be a member of homeschoolgiveaways.com
I have received so many great curriculum packages from them over the years, covering all subjects imaginable! Because of the items I have received from them, plus some of the above mentioned resources, the only curriculum I will be buying for next year is Math.
Used Curriculm
Honestly, I have had horrible luck buying used curriculum. However, some friends of mine buy all of their curriculum used and have great luck with it. Homeschool Classifieds is a website that homeschoolers can post their used curriculum for sale. I have used it before, the best deals I have found where on literature books we needed.
I hope some of this information can help you get ready for homeschooling! Or, at least help your pocket book a little next year!
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