› Budget101 Discussion List Archives › Budget101 Discussion List › Homeschooling on a Budget
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February 9, 2009 at 7:49 pm #270458
d_awalker
You Really Can Do It
Most parents believe educating their children is an expensive proposition. According to The Homeschooling Book of Answers, public schools spend nearly $7,000 per pupil per year. What if I told you there were families providing an excellent education for their homeschooled child for $50 per year?And even for those of us who splurge on a few beautiful books occasionally, we can easily manage to keep our total expenses under $200 a year. Sound impossible? Here’s how:
My family has built our curriculum around library resources. Books and periodicals are supplemented with videos, audiocassettes, discussion groups, lectures, cds, educational computer games, and foreign language tapes. for older kids, the library has information on the sat, psat, act, and other college entrance tests.with inter-library loans, you can access virtually any book in any library. be sure to visit several libraries. quality does vary.
check out the library’s computer system; it should easily locate the books you want and reserve those currently on loan.
Some had great photos; others explained scientific principles very simply. Our favorite contained experiments for recreating weather conditions in the kitchen. We wound up spending months studying weather, water cycles, pollution, and even electricity.
On other visits to the library, we cruise the aisles in the children’s section looking to discover anything even mildly interesting. We usually leave with two large shopping bags full of books. I know that shortly after we arrive home I’ll hear their excited voices: “Mom!
The Aztecs discovered cocoa and drank 30 cups of cocoa a day!”
Field Trips, Groups, and Educational Television Field Trips
Most state and national parks offer educational programs. Sign up for mailing lists and activity notices. We’ve learned about maple-sugaring, sheep-shearing, weaving, beach campfires, and seining (net-fishing) for free at our local parks.Several weeks later, a local candy-maker gave our group a tour (and some delicious samples!); we watched machines efficiently form, wrap, and package the chocolate.
Groups
Learning with a chosen group is a great benefit of homeschooling. Last year we were part of a homeschool medieval group. Parents took turns helping with crafts, telling stories, and planning a big May Day festival, complete with costumes and a feast. All the kids wanted to be there, learned a lot, and had a great time.Try forming classes or clubs for different subjects and educational activities. My daughter is currently in a writer’s club and two book discussion groups. Families can save money by sharing costs for hiring a teacher or tutor for difficult or challenging subjects.
Educational Television
Most families agree: pbs stations provide excellent learning opportunities for homeschoolers. besides producing wonderful programs and documentaries, pbs has a teacher’s website that offers 1,400 lesson plans and activities, study guides for tv specials, and current events from around the world. pbs teachers — resources for the classroomcyberschooling
familyeducation.com has extensive resources for homeschooling families: activities, curriculum materials, educational games, networking with other homeschoolers, and more. if you haven’t already, visit the homeschooling channel.one book i strongly recommend you buy: homeschool your child for free by lauramaery gold and joan m. zielinski. this guide includes “more than 1,200 smart, effective, and practical resources for home education on the Internet and beyond.”
Used Bargains
Thrift shops, yard sales, flea markets, and library book sales are great sources of bargains for homeschoolers. Books, magazines, videos, maps, art and science supplies, costumes for plays, instruments, music—the list is endless.You can find bargains at curriculum fairs, where homeschoolers preview new curricula and buy and sell their used materials. One homeschooler came late to a used curriculum sale. The sellers wanted to take home as little as possible and gave her cartons of books and curricula for free!
Discounts
Educational discounts for homeschoolers are everywhere – just ask! Barnes and Noble gives homeschoolers a 20 percent discount. Zany Brainy offers 10 percent.All stores require an ID stating that you are a homeschooler. My homeschool support group made up an official looking card and I’ve used it with no problems. Before I had that card, I brought a copy of my “intent to homeschool” letter and the school superintendent’s reply to a craft store. I received a 20 percent educator’s discount.
Homeschooling on a budget is not difficult. Expensive curricula, flashy manipulatives, and books written by the “experts” are nice, but unnecessary. All your child really needs is a loving parent providing learning opportunities on a daily basis.And my family has discovered that—like many things in life—the best learning opportunities are free.
Source: FamilyEducation.com
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February 9, 2009 at 8:01 pm #414411
tsgal
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February 9, 2009 at 8:08 pm #414413
d_awalker
I like that one too, Tonia. I also like the suggestion for used books. I am constantly purchasing used books from my local Goodwill.
Most of the books I purchase are basically new. They are 50c or a dollar. Whenever I come back from shopping, the kids raid my bags for the books!
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February 11, 2009 at 10:11 am #414665
KawaiiGiggle
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February 11, 2009 at 12:01 pm #414673
d_awalker
You’re welcome. I hope that he agrees with you 🙂
April
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February 11, 2009 at 9:01 pm #414726
RDL
(But to be fair, a number of colleges are now encourging home schoolers to apply based on SAT scores.)
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› Budget101 Discussion List Archives › Budget101 Discussion List › Homeschooling on a Budget