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