Homeschool on a Budget

And just like that… most of America is homeschooling. For those of us who were already homeschooling or have homeschooled in the past, the directive to teach at home is not intimidating. But for many families who are suddenly thrown into this world, it can be a overwhelming.

Homeschooling is an appealing education alternative for many families, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, homeschooling can come with a hefty price tag.  Depending on the rules and regulations of your state or district, you may be eligible for state money to help supplement your budget. But for families who choose not to accept or do not have any outside funds available to them, homeschooling can be a major budget breaker.

Thankfully, many of the public school systems are currently working to create online and home education elements for the massive number of public school kids who are suddenly at-home learners. And in light of the current emergency, many subscription education companies are now offering their services for free. Here are some other tips to help save money and stretch your education budget without sacrificing the quality of your children’s education.

Books & Curriculum
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to accumulate homeschool curriculum, including books,  is through networking with other homeschool families. There are a variety of ways to connect with other families. Consider joining a local homeschool association. Facebook is a great place to start your search for an association or co-op in your area. Online homeschool networks are also a great place connect, especially with our current social distancing efforts. Churches can also provide resources for those who wish to have a religious element to their studies.

If you know of another homeschool family in your area who has children who are slightly older than your children, ask them if they would be willing to sell their materials. They might even be willing to loan some books for you to use.

If you are unable to accumulate materials that you feel are suitable, you might want to consider writing your own curriculum. If your local library branch is open, it is an amazing place to check-out books and videos from the library. A quick online search will also yield plenty of free printable worksheets. If you want to use your printable on more than one student, put each handout in a protective sheet and ask each student to record his answers in a notebook.

Manipulatives
A manipulative is an item that can be used to teach. For example, blocks are a manipulative that can be used to teach children many different concepts. They can sort blocks by color or size or the blocks can be used to teach math concepts. Manipulatives can be very effective, but they can also be very expensive. Don’t be tempted to buy expensive, manipulatives when you have suitable substitutes at your disposal for free. For instance, use marbles, buttons or even dry beans as a teaching tool for math concepts. These items can be used to teach younger children how to count or do simple math. But they can also be used to teach older children concepts such as multiplication, division, fractions and percentages. To teach English, letter blocks are king! They can be used to help teach the alphabet, letter sounds and spelling. Look around the house for bright, colorful or interesting objects that can counted, sorted or added together. To make flashcards, simply use index cards. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find around your home and neighborhood when you start looking around with a creative mindset.

School Supplies
Supplies may not seem as if they are expensive, but when you add all those dollar glue bottles and two-dollar marker sets together, it can add-up. If you have time to plan ahead, it’s not as expensive because you can buy enough school supplies during the annual “back to school” sales at your local stores to last the whole year. Big box stores and office supply retailers often offer deep discounts on basic school supplies to lure customers into their establishments during the late summer months. Watch for these sales and stock-up for the entire year. You can also use coupons to further your savings. Crayons are used in a lot of projects, so be sure to keep all the”disposable” crayons that are given to you at restaurants. Many of us just throw them away, but be sure to take the crayons that are often given to children at restaurants to help fill your homeschool crayon box for free. Craft and projects are an excellent, hands-on way for students to learn about everything from ancient civilizations to marine biology. Fill your craft box with everyday “trash” such as empty egg cartons, pop can tabs and of course, toilet paper rolls. We all know you will have plenty of those soon!  Additionally, visit your local dollar store to supplement your school supply list.

Field Trips
Field trips provide hands-on experience and learning for public students and should be a part of a homeschoolers education as well. Of course, with the current “social distancing” suggestions from the CDC, the types of field trips you will want to participate in will look different than they did in the past. 

For now, choose experiences that will keep a healthy distance between you and others. Nature walks are a great way to learn and stay safe at the same time. You can find interesting plants, bugs and birds in your own back yard. Road trips to secluded areas such as a national forest is also a good way to avoid crowds and still have teachable moments.

Virtual field trips are also a great way to see the world without leaving your own living room. Many museums and landmarks offer virtual tours. YouTube also has a variety of “experience” based video options.

When the Coronavirus spread has slowed, you will also be able to take advantage of free educational experiences around your area. Consult a local calendar of events for gallery walks, artist studio tours, farmer’s market days museum free days, book store lecture series and library sponsored events. And don’t discount the educational potential of a simple family grocery shopping trip. Have children identify various fruits and vegetables, help calculate the cost of groceries or explore the ethnic food section and discuss the various countries where the food originated.

Other Ways to Gather Supplies
Whenever possible, buy educational gifts for your child at birthday, Christmas and other gift-giving holidays.  Instead of filling the toy box with the latest, greatest and trendiest toy, try to stock-up on educational items such as puzzles, blocks, books, art supplies and educational DVDs. You can also request educational gifts from grandparents and friends.

This idea of homeschooling your kids may feel overwhelming, but just realize that many before you have done it successfully and that there are many, many people in your same position. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a homeschool family in your area for assistance and guidance.