How can I find a cheap way to home school my kids with out having to pay big bucks to do it>?

Question

I have a soon to be 7th grader and 11th grader and do not want them going to this high school any longer. It is bad news and I would like to home school them but can't aford all the expensive programs.

Answer 1

I tried that route but trying to figure everything out myself without a set curriculum was too much - we finally prayed about it and God answered our prayers.  After alot of internet research, I found out what I really thought would be the best curriculum for my 3 kids to do (without considering costs).  It was going to cost us about $1100 for 3 kids.  We thought, "Oh well that's not possible" but decided to pray about it anyway and see if this was what God wanted us to do.  About a week later, I received a letter from an insurance company with tax information on it (right around the time you are receiving all of your tax information).  I knew that this insurance company sent me something every year, but just ignored it because I didn't know what it was.  We decided to check into it... it turns out that my Dad took out an insurance policy in my name the year I was born - 1966.  They said if I didn't want the policy anymore, they would send me the forms to close out the account and I would receive a check for $1300.00  - Voila!  Our money for the year.  God answers prayers!  I'm not saying this will happen to you, but it does always help to put it in God's hands and let Him lead you to the right answers!  Good luck with your decisions and your search.

Answer 2

Thrift stores, used curriculum fairs, book stores, libraries, etc

We don't follow a set curriculum, we just get books that interest our kids and are at or above their level.

From my experience, if you join one of your local online schools, you are still considered to be part of that public school system, so get all the info you can on doing that before you actually join.

We are coming to the end of our 4th year of home schooling and my kids are all a good 2 years ahead of where they'd be if they were in public school.  They have a joy of learning and of doing it at their own pace.  There are various sites you can go to for getting the state test for your child so you can be sure they are "at or above" level, as well as yahoo groups for home schoolers that have tons of info to share.

Ebay is also an excellent source of school "supplies".  We got several sets of school books from the early 1900's for less than $100 ... and kids from that time were much better educated than any of the schools in this time.  JMO

Answer 3

You can do a virtual charter school like a K12 virtual academy.  There are other ones too that you can find through your local school district.  I do the K12 since it gives me all the supplies except for notebooks, paper, pens and pencils - plus I get internet reimbursement, and/or loaner computer if I need one.  You have to follow the K12 curriculum for the most part - and have lead teachers to help you, who also check in with you.  They also have playgroups and school trips, etc. - and those are at a discounted price.  The curriculum is more advanced than the public school lessons.

Answer 4

Check out www.homeschoolbuyercoop.com  It is a free non-profit site made by a homeschooling dad to help other homeschooling families better afford to homeschool..  They have thousands of links to free curriculum including virtual field trips.  They also tell you about other sites that have free curriculum.  Additionally, they contract with many different companies to provide excellent curriculum at a huge discount 5%-70%.  Depending on the number of people that buy it. That is, the more people that buy something, the lower the price for everyone.  You can commit to buy something when it gets down to a certain price rather than buying at the current price (when more people have committed to buy it).  Many of the products they offer are only available to school systems.

I belong to a homeschooling co-op.  Everything I hae taught or offered to teach that the other moms and kids are really excited about have come form that site.

Finding a homeschool co-op is another inexpensive way to homeschool. My co-op offers 3 classes per 8 week session.  The most I have paid for supplies etc. for my 2 children is $29.

This is a great way for kids to make new friends and for them to be taught things you might be a little uneasy about teaching.  This year mine had economics, physics, biology lab, Shakespear, Carrer Exploration, and many more.  It helps make it easier because they are accountalbe to someone else for getting their work done.

A great way to find a local co-op is this website: http://www.homeeddirectory.com/support_g...

many co-ops are listed as support groups.  Another way would be to contact a church in your area.  Often the youth paster will know several homeschooling families and may offer to at least call them and ask that they call you.  More often than not (at least in my area) the family is participating in a homeschool co-op.  It is inexpensive and cuts down on the work load for you.

I know how hard it is to get started and scary.  I just started 2 years ago when my kids were starting 6th and 8th grades.  They were miserable in public school and each year the amount taught in a given grade decreased tremndously.  But the state test scores kept up because they almost exclusively taught the subjects being tested on that year until the test was over (march her) usually only math & reading and some years science.

Hang in there.  You can do it and without spending a lot of money.  Seek out homeschoolers in your area and get advice.  Everyone I have encountered is extremly friendly and more than happy to help a new homeschooling mom!

Answer 5

In addition to what's already been said, try PaperbackSwap.com

http://www.paperbackswap.com

There are tons of HS'ing materials posted there.

This site is great for free courses:

http://www.free-ed.net

Also, if your state has a virtual public school program, you could use that.  It's still a public school, but you work from home, with certified teacher oversight, but with the parent as mentor.  They are free since they're public schools.  They'll supply the curriculum materials, a computer, a printer, and a possible 'net access refund.

Here's the best option, IMO, for virtual schools:

http://www.k12.com/getk12/

Click on your state.

Answer 6

Email your superintendant and ask for the isbn numbers of all the books they'd be using in public school. Then buy the books off ebay or amazon.  That's what I do then I have her sat tested frequently to make sure she's on track.

Answer 7

You don't need any expensive programs. When i was homeschooled, we borrowed books from the local high school for free, we had to give them our contact info and return them at the end of each year. My mom helped me with the things I didn't understand. I did about a chapter in each every two days. I went so much faster than my peers at school.

So... it's inexpensive. And even if your school doesn't allow you to borrow books, you can get them off of amazon I'm sure.

Answer 8

It is very easy to incorporate learning through everyday life.  Try unschooling, use the library, borrow from other homeschoolers, buy through homeschool sales...be imaginative.

Answer 9

In the state of Utah you can use the Electronic High School if you want your children to graduate with a diploma. Here is the link.   http://ehs.uen.org/ Some of my high schoolers have used it. Good Luck

Suzy