Homeschooling can be and cheap or as expensive as you want to make it. The majority of homeschooling families live off one main income so being able to budget and prioritise expenses is huge priority. You will be happy to know there is a vast array of free homeschool resources available to you.
Free might be the way to go if you are just dipping your feet into the homeschooling realm. If you are still on the fence about homeschool then it makes little sense to start dishing out 100’s….okay sometimes 1000’s of dollars on curriculum and resources you may not need or use. Well known curriculums generally have a pretty good resale value though!
Some of these resources I will share may cost a little but are probably things you already own and use anyway. I am going to just count them as free since you won’t have to actually go purchase them.
Netflix
Most households have a Netflix subscription (or something similar). There are hours upon hours of amazing documentaries, children’s shows and educational programming. Homeschool Hideout has an incredible list of 100 educational shows to watch on Netflix. You can get the list here She does try to keep the list updated which is amazing considering how often Netflix adds and removes shows, however some shows may no longer be showing.
There are also a few homeschool with Netflix Facebook groups you could join.
Netflix is also good for those days that someone is unwell or you just need a bit of a chill out. You can be assured that they are getting some solid education in, even when you have to hibernate under a blanket on the couch. I am pretty sure my kids watched every single Magic School Bus episode 10 times over while I was dealing “morning” sickness.
Free Homeschool Curriculum
There are two main curriculums that come to mind when I think of free homeschool. The first is Easy Peasy All in One Homeschool. The second is The Good and the Beautiful.
Easy Peasy
This curriculum has been around a long time. It is often what many parents use when they first bring their children out of school as it requires very little preparation. This is can be such a blessing if the decision to homeschool has happened quickly.
This free homeschool curriculum covers preschool all the way through to high school. It encompasses every subject and is done online.
The Good and the Beautiful
This is the curriculum that we currently use and could not be happier with it. You have the option to purchase the books pre-printed or you can download them for free. Only the lower levels for language arts are available for free download, but the other levels are priced extremely low. If you have a Instant Ink program it is going to be a great resource.
This is quite an advanced curriculum. The levels do not correspond with grade levels. There is a assessment you can do which determines which level to use. It is not uncommon for children coming from public school to be placed in lower levels. Don’t worry!
They also have history, science, math, typing, and different journaling books for a fraction of the cost of most other curriculum providers.
Free Homeschool Online
Another option for free homeschool is to enrol in an online school. These types of programs are similar to public or private school in that there is a teacher overseeing your child. The parent simply facilitates the learning, providing supervision and encouragement.
The online school will generally assign the work for the student and provide all the materials required. The child will then complete the work and submit it for grading. The overseeing teacher is always available to help the student when needed.
A couple of the well known online schools are Connections Academy and K12 You can also do a google search to find online schools in your state as school vary from state to state.
Umbrella Schools
These schools are similar to online schools in that they provide oversight. The difference is that they allow the families to choose their own curriculum. The umbrella school will provide you with funds (usually around $2k per student) to spend on homeschool curriculum and activities. You will have to account for how you spent the money however. The general consensus is that the money can only be used to purchase secular curriculum. You can use the funds to pay for computer programs such as photoshop, or for extra curricular activities etc.
The school will usually require you to check in frequently to evaluate how things are going. They are also able to issue report cards and other paperwork that is frequently required.
These schools also vary by state but a quick google search should set you up with a good list of those provided where you live.
How can you forget Pinterest! There are so many incredible parents and teachers who have the ability to create free homeschool resources for you. Use Pinterest just like a search engine. If you are looking for a study on bugs for example you could search “bug unit study 2nd grade”. You will be presented with so many options it can be overwhelming!
Create a homeschool boards based on topics and/or subjects to keep your resources organised. My personal Pinterest boards are total chaos at the moment so this more of a “do as I say, not as I do” piece of advice. Organisation will be your best friend in this arena though.
Libraries
A homeschoolers best friend. Seriously though, if you raise book loving kids who just seem to go through books like toilet paper, you are going to need to make use of your library.
One trick I have recently discovered is that I can browse my libraries data base in the comfort of my bed in my pj’s and chocolate in hand. After I have found all the books I want, I simply reserve them and someone else will go find them and bundle them up for me. HEAVEN! All I have to do is pick them up on my way out the door on our weekly trip.
Libraries are not just about books. They almost always run programs for children after school and during public school breaks. Our library does Minecraft, coding, science lab, robotics and arts n crafts. There are usually lots of different cultural celebrations put on through the year too.
One thing I really love about this is that my children get the opportunity to attend regular weekly extracurricular activities and it doesn’t cost me a cent. They see the same kids each week and they are able to participate in group learning, led by someone other than me.
Youtube
I like to say I went to the University of Youtube. You can learn pretty much anything on youtube these days. Sure there is a lot of garbage but the value it provides your homeschool is undeniable.
There are the very basic videos on subjects right through to the most in-depth findings and analysis’s. Children who are allowed to follow their interests will absorb so much information. It is not uncommon for their knowledge to surpass ours as adults on certain subjects. Youtube provides access to this knowledge and people who can help them to further their understanding and maintain that enthusiasm and drive.
Final Thoughts
Homeschool can be overwhelming whether you are a veteran or a newbie. It is ever evolving and finding your feet takes time. I am not ever sure anyone is 100% certain of themselves or their curriculum choices all the time.
If homeschool is something you want to do but are hesitant due to the cost, have a look at these options. There is a wealth of knowledge out there. Facebook groups are invaluable for sharing ideas and giving you the support you undoubtably need. Where there is a will there is a way!
