Homeschooling On A Budget
If you clicked on this blog, you are probably curious about how you can save some money while homeschooling your kiddo. As a mom myself, I understand how important it is to provide a great education for your child without breaking the bank. Homeschooling can be an expensive adventure, but with some creative ideas and a little bit of effort, it can also be done for free or at an affordable cost that will accommodate anyone’s budget.
So, here you will find some tips and tricks on how to homeschool for free or on a tight budget, including using free resources and DIY projects. Let’s get started!
Free Homeschool Curriculum
1. Free Homeschool Curriculum: There are plenty of free resources available online that can help you provide a quality education for your children. Here are some of my favorite websites:
These resources are completely free but do take donations.
- Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers free online courses in math, science, and more. You can follow along with the lessons and assess your child before they move on to the next topic. This follows the Common Core requirements for all grade levels and even helps students prepare for college by tracking their pre-SAT scores telling them where they should spend their time learning. My personal favorite is math, but they offer science, English, life skills, and more.
- Readoworks.org: Readworks offers free articles based on your child’s reading level. You can assign different articles based on their interest and ability. You can assign vocabulary practice and reading comprehension questions as well.
- Typing.com: This website helps students to learn to type properly. They learn proper hand placement and will start from the basics working their way up. You can set goals for them to be reached and there are built-in games like Nitrotype.
- Library of Congress: The Library of Congress offers tons of primary source documents and lesson plans to explore when studying history.
- World Wildlife: Learn about the world around us including wildlife and more. This website offers full lessons that can be customized to teach all subjects including math, English, science, P.E., and more.
- Little Lions Learn: Little Lions Learn offers free digital games, free video lessons to learn Spanish and English, and free printable resources for kids, teachers, and homeschool moms. Plus they offer low-cost homeschool classes, with a live teacher, in subjects you don’t want to teach like Math or English Language Arts.
Use your Local Library
2. Use Your Local Library: We all know that reading is important at all ages. Your local library is a great place to find free books. Not only can you borrow books for free, but many libraries also offer free educational programs, clubs, and events for children. Therefore, it is a great place to foster a love for reading! Check with your local library to see what they have to offer.
- Project Gutenberg: Project Gutenberg is a digital library with over 60,000 free ebooks.
- Awnie’s House: Awnie’s YouTube Challen is dedicated to Read-Alouds.
- Storyline Online: You can listen to many children’s books read by famous people from around the world. They upload new books on a regular basis.
DIY Projects
3. DIY Projects: DIY projects are a great way to save money and have fun while homeschooling. You can make your own educational games and flashcards, make some arts and crafts, and even conduct science experiments. Here are some ideas:
- DIY Board Games: Make your own board games to teach math or history. You can also make a memory game to help you study vocabulary, spelling, or even math!
- Reusable Flashcards: Flashcards are a great way to practice what you are learning. These whiteboard flashcards can be used again and again. What could be better?
- DIY Digital Games: Kids love playing games, so why not create a game to help them remember what they are learning? Create a Jeopardy Game, Kahoot It, or a Blooket to help them learn. They will love it!
- DIY Arts and Crafts: Follow Little Lions Learn on Pinterest to get really good arts and crafts ideas for kids, as well as other free resources.
- DIY Science Experiments: Conduct simple science experiments using household items. Not only learning but having a great time doing it.
Local Homeschool Groups
- Local Homeschool Groups: Joining a homeschooling group is a great way to save money while homeschooling. Not only can you meet other families like you, but it is also a great way to share resources.
- Make sure to look for local homeschool groups in your area. This can not only garner support but can be a helpful way to keep your kids socializing.
- Join the Little Lions Learn Truth Social Group to get updates on free resources and meet other families.
- Sell Used Curriculum: Once you’re done using a curriculum, sell it to other homeschoolers you have met through these groups. Lots of parents recycle their curriculum. So, this is a great way to recoup some of your costs and help other homeschoolers save money.
- Education Scholarship Account: Currently 8 states have an ESA account. Check to see if your state has an Education Scholarship Account. This can help pay for anything from school supplies, educational resources, curriculum, extracurricular classes, and more.
Homeschooling on a budget can be challenging, but it’s also a rewarding experience. Furthermore, by using free resources, your local library, DIY projects, and homeschooling groups, you can provide a quality education for your children without breaking the bank. Interested in taking classes with Little Lions Learn? They are currently approved to accept ESA funding in Arizona for homeschool classes. Children from any state can take classes at an affordable price. Thanks for reading!
