Homeschooling is a popular choice for parents all over the world. It offers flexibility and freedom that you just don’t get in public schools, and it can be a great way to give your child an education that fits their needs. Some people think homeschooling is free. Others believe that it costs a fortune. Let’s take a closer look at both of these things!
No, Homeschooling Is Not Free
Homeschooling is not free. If you are not already doing it, you will need to buy books or other curricula. You’ll also need general supplies like paper, pencils, notebooks, crayons, and glue sticks too. You can find a free online curriculum to supplement some of the curricula you purchased, but some costs are still associated with homeschooling.
For one thing, homeschooling with a free curriculum is not accredited. Some parents prefer an accredited program because it takes the strain of grading and record keeping off their shoulders. Others are ok with keeping up with these tasks.
As with any other parent-run endeavor, homeschooling requires some upfront costs—but if you’re willing to do the research and put in the legwork at first (which admittedly isn’t always easy), it can save money later on down the road when compared with traditional private schools.
Homeschooling Can Be as Inexpensive or as Expensive as You Want
The cost of homeschooling varies widely. It can be as low as free or as high as you want to spend, depending on how much money you have and the amount of time you are willing to commit.
You can choose to use a pre-packaged curriculum or create your own, which could save money if you feel confident in your ability to do so. You may also decide that it is more important for your family to have a full-time or part time teacher at home than any particular book or tool, so decide not to use any packaged curriculum.
This is another area where the decision will depend largely on locally available resources and what works best for each child’s learning style and personality type.
You can also find teachers on Outschool if you want your child to have live classes or if they need a tutor. This is a great option if you want to choose teachers for your child.
Many Families Choose to Create a Multi-Age Classroom for Their Children
Some families choose to create a multi-age classroom for their children. This means that they have several age groups of students in one room, sharing the same teacher (yourself) and some of the same curriculum. Multi-age classrooms can benefit children by exposing them to various learning styles, helping them to cooperate with siblings, teaching them how to learn from each other, and providing them with unique opportunities for socialization with older or younger peers. Some multi-age classrooms are set up more like small private schools with cousins, friends, or siblings. However, some just include siblings.
Many homeschoolers believe it is important for their children’s education that the family be involved in their education by actively creating opportunities for learning outside of school time (for example: traveling together on vacations).
Multi-Age classrooms don’t have to share all of the same curricula. For instance, they might share music, art, history, the bible, or even science experiments. However, kids at different ages will learn reading, math, writing, and phonics all at different paces.
Purchasing Individual Curriculum for Your Homeschooler
If you’re new to homeschooling, purchasing an individual curriculum for your homeschooler may seem daunting. There are so many choices! How do you choose?
While choosing an individual curriculum can be time-consuming and expensive, it is also very rewarding. For example, if one course doesn’t work for your child or doesn’t fit into your family’s schedule, all it takes is one phone call or email to cancel that subscription and order something else instead. Multiple children can also use individual courses simultaneously (a great way to save money if there are more than two kids in the house). Plus, they can be used in any subject area: math, science, history—whatever type of education your child needs at this point in her life! If you would like to buy a packaged curriculum you can check out our guide to curriculum choices.
However, if you feel like individual curriculum is the way to go for your family, then check out our guide to the top nine places to shop!
Purchasing Prepackaged Curriculum for Your Homeschooler
There are many ways to find a homeschooling curriculum for your child. You can search online and find materials from a variety of companies. Or you could visit your local bookstore and see what is offered there. You may also be able to borrow material from the library or attend a homeschool convention where vendors will sell all types of educational materials, including curriculum. When you go to purchase a curriculum package, be sure to watch for these five things:
- What religion is the curriculum centered around or is it secular?
- How much does the curriculum cost?
- Is the program accredited?
- What learning formats are available?
- What subjects do you get?
Homeschooling with Live Online Classes
If you’ve researched the topic of homeschooling and are considering the option for your child, you may have encountered the term “homeschooling” about children who are educated at home but in an online setting. It is sometimes also called a virtual school or online education. In this case, homeschooling refers to a specific type of learning that takes place outside of traditional schools. Parents choose an online format for their children for a variety of reasons.
The term “homeschooling” also encompasses a wide range of curricula or programs that have been created specifically for students by either individual families or small groups within communities or even big companies. These days there are several options available through online tools such as zoom,—allowing students from all over the world access without needing anything more than an internet connection and a subscription!
Homeschooling Is Flexible Enough to Meet the Family’s Needs Without Breaking the Bank
Homeschooling is flexible enough to meet the family’s needs without breaking the bank. The costs can range from free to whatever you want to spend. If you choose to purchase a curriculum individually, it can be as expensive or inexpensive as you like; if you choose a multi-age classroom option, the cost may be much lower.
Even Free Curriculums Have an Expense
Even free curriculums have an expense. There are a few different kinds of “free” homeschooling curriculums out there, and they don’t necessarily mean that you won’t spend money on them. For instance, some websites offer their curriculum (usually in PDF format) free to download. And others require payment before providing access to any content whatsoever—even if all they’re doing is hosting it online! Often times if you choose a free curriculum out there, you will also need a printer and basic school supplies.
Homeschooling has some great ways to save money, but it can also be expensive if you choose not to stick with free curriculums or online courses. If you’re considering starting homeschooling for your kids, make sure you’re ready for the responsibility of teaching them yourself.’
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