Hoemschool curriculum?

Question

Does anyone have links or suggestions for free online curriculum for homeschooliing a 7th grader? I live in Texas and want to homeschool but I am lost as to what curriculum to use and do not want to pay for it if I don't have to. Any help?

Answer 1

Have you ever thought of making your own? There are books that can guide you, lots of free resources on the web and in the library. You can usually find old school textbooks, sometimes the school districts will give them to you, sometimes you have to dig but can find them at garage sales or on freecycle or some people have them gathering dust in the attic.

We've been homeschooling for 9 years and have never bought a pre-packaged curriculum-- not saying you shouldn't, but it's only a tool, not a necessity and some people prefer to just pursue education in a more freestyle manner. There is actually a book I found at the library on how to make your own homeschool curriculum (I think that's the title, you'd have to google it).

Answer 2

Have you tried craigslist.com? I live in Texas and I found someone on there that gave me a curriculum. You might have to pay something though there aren't a lot of good curriculums for free.

Answer 3

Posted previously for a similar question about 6th grade curriculum.

Nothing is ever completely free, but you can indeed home school for next to nothing.

Anything worth while deserves at least some investment, even if time, and money are scarce.

The book Samaritan is one option; they provide those who are in need, or are strapped for that year with free curriculum.

There is a dead line each year for requesting the materials, so get on the list early.

They do ask that you either send these back to them for redistribution, or pass them on to another family in need.

http://www.booksamaritan.com/

Together with the library, inter-library loans, public school book give aways (check with your school district for time, and place), as well as borrowing books from other families you can cut your cost significantly.

Then there are the thousands of web sites that are either free, or have a nominal yearly fee of about $20.00, so the possibilities are endless.

You'll still have to invest in a computer, printer, paper,pencils and other items, but that's the breaks of the game.

Good luck.

This site does require a $20.00 yearly fee to have full use of all their printable materials, but it is well worth it.

You can check them out for free, but it is a lot of curriculum in one place.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/

Free computer software; just pay a nominal fee for shipping.

http://www.planetcdrom.com/free-homescho...

Educational games.

http://www.educationallearninggames.com/...

Bible.

http://www.bibletopics.com/index.htm

http://www.nestlearning.com/Coloring-Pag...

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0.htm

Book lists.

http://nancykeane.com/rl/

http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/c...

Poetry.

http://www.poetry4kids.com/modules.php?n...

http://www.poetry4kids.com/index.php

Weather/Meteorology (the weather dude).

http://www.wxdude.com

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/matrix...

Astronomy

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/star...

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

Mr. Donn's history site - unit studies.

http://members.aol.com/donnandlee/

Free Audio Books.

http://www.free-books.org/

On-Line e-mail and communication etiquette.

http://www.onlinenetiquette.com/

http://www.emailreplies.com/

Natural Living, and Environment.

http://www.eartheasy.com/article_enviro_...

http://www.nrdc.org/reference/kids.asp

http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/9489...

Health and Science.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/

http://www.exploratorium.edu/imaging_sta...

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/c...

Dewey Decimal System.

http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca/dewey.html

Free weekly tips, worksheets,lesson plans, resources , and curriculum.

http://www.homeschoolfreestuff...

http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/FreeEdMai...

http://about.com/education/

http://www.freeworksheets.com/

http://teacher.scholastic.com/

http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/ets/Wwwsites....

http://www.lethsd.ab.ca/mmh/games/top100...

http://www.ala.org/gwstemplate.cfm?secti...

http://www.starfall.com/

http://www.homeschoolblessings.com/

http://www.oldfashionededucation.com/

Math:

http://www.tlsbooks.com/mathworksheets.h...

http://www.mathsisfun.com/worksheets/ind...

http://www.algebra.com

http://www.coolmath.com/

http://www.coolmathalgebra.com/......

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/creekvalley/s...

http://www.rainforestmaths.com/

http://www.clc.mnscu.edu/kschulte/mathwo...

http://www.totallyfreemath.com/toc.html

http://www.aaamath.com/

http://www.mathsisfun.com/

http://www.purplemath.com/

http://www.multiplication.com/interactiv...

http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/ff/ind...

Geography

http://www.dltk-kids.com/world

http://www.dltk-kids.com

http://www.dltk-kids.com/color.........

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geograph...

http://members.aol.com/bowermanb/games.h...

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/g...

http://www.weeklyreader.com/kids/games/g...

http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/u...

http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/

History.

http://www.touregypt.net/KIDS/monuments....

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/resources...

http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decades.html

http://www.foundationsmag.com/civility.h...

http://www.brainyhistory.com/

http://history-world.org/

Library learning.

http://www.lists.webjunction.org/libweb/

http://www.loc.gov/index.html/

http://www.libraryspot.com/

http://www.lii.org/

http://www.demo.openlibrary.org/

Typing-keyboarding

http://www.auntlee.com/easytyp.........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

Grammar-writing.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/i...

http://www.zozanga.com/

Grade Level Core Knowledge site.

http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/resrcs/l...

Other:

http://www.funbrain.com/

http://www.brainpopjr.com/

http://www.iknowthat.com/

http://www.kidzone.ws/

http://kidsites.com/

http://www.spellingtime.com/

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/...

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/month...

http://www.extremescience.com/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids...

http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/menu_...

http://parenting.leehansen.com/kids/kids...

http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/ind...

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/index....

http://www.lethsd.ab.ca/mmh/games/top100...

http://www.nsa.gov/kids/

http://www.surfnetkids.com/

http://4kids.org/games/

Answer 4

Try www.caliva.org  

We currently use this in CA... you'll have to check to see if it is available in TX.  It is completely state-funded and uses an excellent curriculum.

Sorry... that should have been www.k12.com for different state info.

Here is the link for the TX virtual academy:

http://www.txva.org/

Good luck!

Answer 5

Are you trying to HS to save money?  There is an expense that might surprise you.

Answer 6

It's going to be hard to HS for free.  You're going to have to budget in some expenses, even if it's a few hundred dollars.

There are no state-wide online virtual schools in TX - only TXVA in a few select areas.  It is a public school, so it's "free".

You can get all the free curriculum you want online by doing a 'net search.  It's going to take time, though, and for middle school, I don't think you can get a well-rounded education only with 'net searches.   You still need math texts, classic literature, composition, etc.

I would join some local HS groups, both IRL and online.  Perhaps you can find someone giving away curriculum or who would let you borrow some texts.  You may even have a HS lending library, or a good text section at your public library.

FWIW, my HS'ing budget for one child is $2700/yr.  That's the only way I'm confident that I'm giving him the education he deserves.  That includes many field trips, classes at local museums, sports activities, HS co-op, supplemental books, online site subscriptions, CD-roms, DVD's, and curriculum.

EDITED TO ADD:

Try PaperbackSwap for some free curriculum.  You can "score" a ton of great stuff there for Alpha-Omega, Abeka, Five in a Row, etc.

http://www.paperbackswap.com

and one of the sister sites:

http://www.swapadvd.com

I've rec'd quite a few Standard Deviants DVD's on SADVD.

Answer 7

Unless you borrow books from the library or find donated books you are going to have to pay for it.

This not a communist country this is a capitalist country and public school is the only (tax paid) free source of schooling.

Anything else is paid for, just like your housing, clothing and food.

We give you free school, you don't like yo have to pay for an alternative.

If you can't afford to homeschool then obviously your child is not going to college because almost no one gets a full scholarship and college costs $10K a year and up

So go to the library and use the books there which meet Texas criteria to have ongoing education in Spelling, history, numbers

You don't have to take it super far if you aren't goiong to college and if you cant' come up with $2K a year your kid can't even go to community college

Homeschooling is far less than 2K a year

Sorry to be blunt but given a choice EVERYONE would like to stay home for free

I don't understand why I have to pay $90 a month for my telephone $80 a month for my electricty, $20 for pants (because society demands we don't walk in our birthday suits, but won't provide it for free).

You demand I wear something because it offends you but I have to buy it with my own money to make you feel good!

So that is how it is, you want to homeschool we demand you pay for it with your own money.

It's not like we're not offering you a free public school system.

Answer 8

Try going to your state department of education online. In Arizona they list the state standards for each grade. Once you know what the standards to be completed by year end are you can begin to map out how you will accomplish these. You can pull together resources from your local library, craigslist, etc. You may find that many standards can be taught with your own knowledge and materials in your own home. The list of standards gives you the core of what you need to accomplish.  Also check out the series "What your 7th grader needs to know". There is a book for each grade level and you can usually check them out at your local library. They are very comprehensive.  Good luck and best wishes.