Wondering how to provide homeschooling resources for your children during tight economic times? How do you find low cost or no-cost curriculum? Take a page from Homeschooling in the Olden Days; modernize with today's technology and voila! you can teach your child for as little or as much as your budget allows.
In the early 1970's and 1980's (before PDA's and family computers!) homeschooling parents designed and created their own curriculum.
Libraries were the number one shop till you drop resource center. We combined adult non-fiction books, such as Audubon and National Geographic (the ones filled with those great photographs and sketches of birds, mammals and reptiles!) with children's books on the same subject to teach elementary science. The same principle was applied to history and art. The kids loved checking out giant atlases and poring over the maps of the world as they learned about different countries and cultures, their inventors, scientists and artists.
While we sometimes paraphrased or adjusted the material to the level of the child, reading adult level text certainly expanded our children's vocabularies. Unknown words were promptly looked up in the dictionary (which had been purchased at a second-hand bookstore!) and sometimes became part of a spelling list or spelling game.
The children's resource section of libraries has greatly improved and librarians are usually very helpful to homeschooling families. Most libraries now carry Dorling-Kindersley books on every topic, the History of US, and extensive biographies of adventurers, scientists, musicians, and modern pop icons. DVD's and computer software for educational enrichment are also available in most libraries today. And if your DSL line is no longer affordable, children and parents can sign up for free computer time at the library.
Used bookstores are worth checking out for interesting inexpensive reading material. Using online used bookstores will also save time and gas. Curriculum savings may be 25%-80% through Amazon.com used booksellers or homeschooling web sites. Check your local homeschool group for an annual end of the year curriculum sale where a used algebra textbook may be sold for as little as ten dollars instead of eighty or ninety. Or start your own share/trade co-op.
There are plenty of free worksheet generator websites for math and writing and even complete math courses and unit studies . Free curriculum resources are listed here. A little time on the keypad will bring you a wealth of information to design a low-cost or no-cost curriculum for your child this year!
Next Blog: Part Two: Manipulatives and Craft Supplies
In the early 1970's and 1980's (before PDA's and family computers!) homeschooling parents designed and created their own curriculum.
Libraries were the number one shop till you drop resource center. We combined adult non-fiction books, such as Audubon and National Geographic (the ones filled with those great photographs and sketches of birds, mammals and reptiles!) with children's books on the same subject to teach elementary science. The same principle was applied to history and art. The kids loved checking out giant atlases and poring over the maps of the world as they learned about different countries and cultures, their inventors, scientists and artists.
While we sometimes paraphrased or adjusted the material to the level of the child, reading adult level text certainly expanded our children's vocabularies. Unknown words were promptly looked up in the dictionary (which had been purchased at a second-hand bookstore!) and sometimes became part of a spelling list or spelling game.
The children's resource section of libraries has greatly improved and librarians are usually very helpful to homeschooling families. Most libraries now carry Dorling-Kindersley books on every topic, the History of US, and extensive biographies of adventurers, scientists, musicians, and modern pop icons. DVD's and computer software for educational enrichment are also available in most libraries today. And if your DSL line is no longer affordable, children and parents can sign up for free computer time at the library.
Used bookstores are worth checking out for interesting inexpensive reading material. Using online used bookstores will also save time and gas. Curriculum savings may be 25%-80% through Amazon.com used booksellers or homeschooling web sites. Check your local homeschool group for an annual end of the year curriculum sale where a used algebra textbook may be sold for as little as ten dollars instead of eighty or ninety. Or start your own share/trade co-op.
There are plenty of free worksheet generator websites for math and writing and even complete math courses and unit studies . Free curriculum resources are listed here. A little time on the keypad will bring you a wealth of information to design a low-cost or no-cost curriculum for your child this year!
Next Blog: Part Two: Manipulatives and Craft Supplies
