| In the majority of homeschool families, one | | | | Obviously, it would be a little difficult to find |
| parent stays at home to teach the children. This | | | | textbooks at the library that one could keep all |
| can make saving money on your children's | | | | year long. But, the library is a great source for |
| curriculum without sacrificing the quality of their | | | | reference books when you're studying a particular |
| education of the uppermost importance. | | | | subject and don't forget about all the classic |
| Homeschooling can be an expensive adventure | | | | novels your child will read throughout the years. |
| but it doesn't have to be. If one does their | | | | A Little Help From My Friends |
| research and is willing to take some time to plan | | | | Some of your most important resources can be |
| and put together a curriculum it can be very | | | | family and friends. Do you know someone else |
| cheap compared to purchasing a "packaged" | | | | that is homeschooling? Would they be willing to sell |
| curriculum. Putting together an eclectic curriculum | | | | or lend you books they no longer use? |
| in this manner can also benefit your child as each | | | | Encyclopedias, reference books and classic novels |
| child has their own unique learning style. You may | | | | your local library doesn't carry can make great |
| find when you purchase a ready made curriculum | | | | gifts for your children or family. |
| that the language arts works well with your child | | | | Support Groups |
| and the math does not. | | | | Local homeschool support groups are great for |
| Where To Start? | | | | many reasons and they sometimes have a book |
| The first question a parent usually has when | | | | swap program. |
| deciding to put a curriculum together on their own | | | | Other Places |
| is "What should my child be learning for their | | | | How about your local school district? They |
| particular age?" World Book's Typical Course of | | | | sometimes sell textbooks they are no longer |
| Study has always been a popular resource. Also, | | | | using. |
| try visiting the website for the education | | | | Putting It All Together |
| department in your state. This can be another | | | | By now your head should be spinning with all the |
| great resource. They usually list the state | | | | possibilities. I know your itching to get started but |
| standards in detail. A visit to the library should also | | | | remember, focus and a plan are the keys to |
| yield books on the subject of what your child | | | | doing this successfully. You can become |
| should know at a particular age. | | | | overwhelmed very easily with all the great |
| Where Do I Get The Lesson Plans? | | | | resources out there. Make sure there's ink in your |
| The second question is usually. Where do I get all | | | | printer and start with a plan. Decide what your |
| the curriculum or lesson plans cheap or free? | | | | child should learn for that particular year. Start |
| There are many places to get textbooks and | | | | with one subject at a time when you do this plan. |
| lesson plans cheap or even free. | | | | Write it all down and develop a plan of study. |
| The Internet | | | | Donnayoung.org has always been one of my |
| One of the best sources for this endeavor is the | | | | favorite sites for free printable forms that deal |
| Internet. Start with a search for "used textbooks" | | | | with planning and managing your home school. |
| or "used curriculum" and you will find many sites | | | | Once you are satisfied with your plan of study, |
| where other homeschool families list the books | | | | search the Internet for lesson plans and |
| they no longer use for sale. Another great | | | | curriculum, work on one subject at a time. |
| resource is Ebay and other auction sites like them. | | | | Remember, you don't necessarily have to plan an |
| Next, try a search for "free lesson plans" and you | | | | entire year before the school year starts. You |
| will find that there are literally thousands of them | | | | can plan a few months at a time and work on |
| available. When you're focusing on a particular | | | | the rest as the school year continues. This can be |
| subject simply refine your search to include the | | | | a preferred method as plans tend to change |
| subject you are interested in. Don't forget about | | | | throughout the year. The most important thing to |
| unit studies. There are several sites that sell unit | | | | remember is that homeschooling should be a fun |
| studies for relatively cheap and some that offer | | | | and rewarding experience for you and your |
| them for free. | | | | children. So most of all, relax and have fun! |
| The Library | | | | |