Cheap Homeschool Resources
In these economic times cheap homeschool resources are always a good idea. Homeschool Moms are know to be some of the most resourceful people on the planet. They can figure out how to make food money stretch beyond what it did several years ago. They can figure out how to make a normal book come alive without spending a fortune on high priced curriculum.
Cheap homeschool resources are all around us. We just have to keep our eyes open and grab them when we see them.
Library – We’ve all used the library at some point in our lives… Not until recently did my library become the best resource I can imagine. I don’t know if all libraries have this or not. At my library you can search for a book on their system and if they don’t have it they can get it for you. It can all be done online and by email. When the book comes in I go and pick it up (the Internet hasn’t gone that far that it replaces ME yet!). I have been able to see SO many books this way. Then I can decide what I like and want to buy for my home and what I don’t want to waste my money on.
Grandparents – If you have grandparents anywhere in the area, let them share their lives with you. Have them take your children to the park or to their favorite interesting place. Have your children interview their grandparents. Give them a list of questions if you have to.
Hobbyists – Find someone who has an interesting hobby and ask them if you can interview them or get a tour of their workshop or display area. Ask them to give you as much detail about what they do and why they do it. You can find people that collect stamps, paint portraits, go hunting, play an instrument, knit, run marathons. When your children meet real people, the world comes alive to them and they get a much better understanding of how the world works.
Inexpensive books that teach the basics – If you still like the idea of a curriculum, you can buy some inexpensive workbooks to teach the basics and then fill in with your own resources.
Some of my favorite cheap workbooks include Spectrum (several subjects), Christian Liberty Press (History, Spelling, Handwriting). For grammar we use Mad Libs. It’s basically all you need to know for a while until they start writing stories. For teaching reading, I don’t think you need an expensive phonics curriculum. I used Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons to teach all my children how to read (minus the writing part).
I’ll be sharing more cheap homeschool resources in the future. Feel free to give me your best ideas too!
Originally posted 2009-03-02 21:43:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
