| Homeschool on a Budget |
By: Debra Dragon, Homeschool Columnist
On 1/16/06
If you're a homeowner, chances are you pay taxes to your local school district. It may be astounding the amount per student schools require to provide an education. You would probably assume then, that homeschooling your children would cost more than what a public school spends per child each year, right?
| "Museums and local businesses are often glad to accommodate educational trips; perhaps you could join forces with other homeschooling families and schedule group outings to various locations." |
Believe it or not, there are many families who are successfully homeschooling their children for a couple hundred dollars a year or less!
If you've been contemplating homeschooling your children, but have hesitated because you didn't think there would be enough money in the budget, read on to learn ways of providing a quality education for very little money.
Make Use of The Internet
It's no secret about the wealth of information that can be found online. People regularly make use of the Internet for reading the news, paying bills and doing their banking. There is an abundance of information available online for homeschool families -- from websites designed by other homeschool families, to educational sites that provide downloadable and printable activities, to organizations like National Homeschool Education Network.
Most states also have homeschool associations that help you network with other homeschool families and find resources for providing a home based education to your children. You're also not limited to sites that are specifically designed for homeschooling.
For example, if you are teaching your children about The Underground Railroad, you can use the internet to look up articles, interviews, and activities that relate to the topic just by typing “teaching the underground railroad” into your web browser. Be a little creative and you'll be amazed at how much you can find for free.
The Television
The television can be used for more than entertainment purposes. PBS offers a wide variety of educational programs that are appropriate and helpful to homeschooling families. They also feature a site designed for teachers with over 1,000 lesson plans and other information that is helpful for low budget homeschooling activities .
Borrow videos and DVD’s from your local library to assist in teaching your children. Documentaries are great tools for providing more extensive information on a topic you want to explore further.
Field Trips
One of the benefits of homeschooling is the opportunity to take your learning on the road! You're not confined to a classroom, and can make the entire community your classroom. Many state associations and state parks offer educational programs, sign up for their newsletter or make a few phone calls to find out what they offer. Museums and local businesses are often glad to accommodate educational trips; perhaps you could join forces with other homeschooling families and schedule group outings to various locations.
The Library
One of the most obvious resources for gathering materials and information for homeschooling on a budget is your local library. You can build your entire curriculum around materials you are able to use for free at the library. If the library closest to your home has limited materials, ask about inter-library loans, or visit the library in the next town over. Many homeschooling families make trips to the library a weekly event.
Allow your children to browse the aisles and select books of interest to them; this is how you can introduce new topics into your curriculum. Use the library’s reference materials for researching specific information, and don't forget to look for the section on homeschooling! Most libraries have a large collection of resources for teachers and homeschoolers that should give you ideas and help you find more activities that are free, or inexpensive.
Homeschooling does not need to cost a fortune. Making use of the internet, the library, the community- and buying used materials can keep your costs manageable, and still provide you with the required tools to offer an exceptional education to your children.
References:
Homeschool Your Child For Free by Lauramaery Gold and Joan M. Zielinski
www.homeschoolernetwork.com (5,000 lesson plans, activities and articles)
http://www.funbrain.com/ (Educational games online)
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/printable/graphic-organizers/6391.html?detoured=1
(printable worksheets, organizational tools)
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