| 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. |
| The second question is usually. Where do I get all | | | | Make sure there's ink in your printer and start |
| the curriculum or lesson plans cheap or free? | | | | with a plan. Decide what your child should learn for |
| There are many places to get textbooks and | | | | that particular year. Start with one subject at a |
| lesson plans cheap or even free. | | | | time when you do this plan. Write it all down and |
| The Internet | | | | develop a plan of study. DonnaYoung.org has |
| One of the best sources for this endeavor is the | | | | always been one of my favorite sites for free |
| Internet. Start with a search for "used textbooks" | | | | printable forms that deal with planning and |
| or "used curriculum" and you will find many sites | | | | managing your home school. Once you are |
| where other homeschool families list the books | | | | satisfied with your plan of study, search the |
| they no longer use for sale. Another great | | | | Internet for lesson plans and curriculum, work on |
| resource is Ebay and other auction sites like them. | | | | one subject at a time. Remember, you don't |
| Next, try a search for "free lesson plans" and you | | | | necessarily have to plan an entire year before the |
| will find that there are literally thousands of them | | | | school year starts. You can plan a few months at |
| available. When you're focusing on a particular | | | | a time and work on the rest as the school year |
| subject simply refine your search to include the | | | | continues. This can be a preferred method as |
| subject you are interested in. Don't forget about | | | | plans tend to change throughout the year. |
| unit studies. There are several sites that sell unit | | | | The most important thing to remember is that |
| studies for relatively cheap and some that offer | | | | homeschooling should be a fun and rewarding |
| them for free. | | | | experience for you and your children. So most of |
| The Library | | | | all, relax and have fun! |