Homeschooling can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. In our September 2014 Mothers’ Meeting, Tami Hull gathered and presented some awesome information and inspiration for homeschooling on a budget from http://www.homeschooling-freedom.com She says:
“If you are on a limited budget free homeschooling can be done, if you don't count basic supplies like paper and pencils. With a library card and internet access, you can homeschool very inexpensively.
You really don't need a complete curriculum that guides you and your children through every subject. Don't worry about “keeping up” with the public schools or be concerned about your own skills in teaching their children. You know your children better than anyone else, and believe me, after seeing public schools from the inside for ten years, it is not hard to surpass them in the quality of education your child will get at home.”
“Understand that the reason public schools use the materials and methods they do is because there is one teacher and 25 or more students. Even in a large family your ratio is much less. Plus in a large family you don't have every child at the same level so you can often partner up two of your children to work together while you are giving one-on-one time to another child.”
Also understand that there is a lot of time wasted. You and your children can cover more in a fraction of the time.
When using a boxed curriculum you can miss out on some of the benefits and freedom that can be reaped from homeschooling:
· self-motivated learners
· learning that capitalizes on the learning style of each child
· learning through real life examples, and more!
There really are many free homeschooling resources, and inexpensive ones, that can meet the needs of your children.”
(The information above was adapted from http://www.homeschooling-freedom.com/)
An Overview of Inexpensive Homeschooling Ideas:
Shop the thrift stores: I have found many great books at the thrift stores. The best thing is, if you buy something that does not end up working well, it likely did not cost you much and you can feel ok about giving it back to the thrift store.
Use the Internet: Google, Khan Academy, CoolMath4Kids, www.allinonehomeschool.com, and Wikipedia are good starting places for learning.
Use the library: The local libraries are a wealth of information—books, magazines, reference materials, audio CDs, Kidpacks, and more! Many libraries also offer classes and activities that are very homeschool friendly and fit for a variety of ages and abilities.
Free tablet apps: If you have a tablet or even a smart phone, you can download many quality, free educational apps, from pre-school literacy to advanced mathematics! Download the kindle app to access hundreds of free classic books!
*Shop for specific curriculum through online discount sites: Ebay, Amazon, Half.com are a good place to start to find curriculum and supplies for cheap. Watch for deals and discounts. These sites often have a feature that keeps track of items you’re interested in and will notify you when they one sale. You could also post what you are looking for on Facebook groups like Treasure Valley Homeschool Moms (and Dads), or join idusedcurriculum@googlegroups.com. This is a local email list that you can post curriculum you have to sell or that you want to buy.
Join or start a co-op with other families: Why not share the blessing and burden of educating your family with other like-minded families? Co-ops are a great way to make friends, broaden educational horizons, provide accountability, and build your homeschooling community!
Field trips and hands on learning: There’s nothing like getting out into the world and having a look around! With a little planning and creativity, you can find many places to go and learn for free or for darn near so. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount if there is a fee to attend a community activity—many places are happy to offer discounts to groups—so gather your friends and your friends’ friends and go exploring!
We hope you will find ample opportunities in your homeschooling to utilize some or all of these ideas.
Watch for future posts, when we dive in-depth to flesh out each idea and provide more specific resources to help you have the best homeschool year, ever!
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