On the Internet
The Internet is fast becoming the new home school support network and we have some really generous home school mom's who have supplied some excellent resources. There are new resources being continually added to the Internet on a regular basis.
If I had access to the Internet and a reliable computer I would make use of this amazing resource. Earlier this year I shared over 90 links in a Homeschool for FREE Resource List.
- Curriculum by Grade
- Curriculum by Subject
- Complete unit studies by subject and grade
- Websites dedicated to compiling free curriculum by subject
- Blogs that generously share what they find on the net by subject
- Bloggers who have a weekly Freebie
- Pinterest boards to get you started on finding free resources by subject. (you don't need an account to use these)
- A list of veteran homeschoolers on Pinterest who have collected some amazing resources.
- Facebook pages to like and follow that share where to source Free curriculum.
No Internet
- Armed with this I would join my local library and home educate with the list of books provided.
- Add in a couple of extra books that are interest led by your students.
- Get your children to journal about what they are learning or do mini projects in a notebook.
- Get to know your librarian and she will help you put together an amazing curriculum.
- Libraries these days have some excellent math resources on hand.
- Do old fashioned math. Memorise math facts daily.
- Use a world map and memorise countries and their capital cities.
- Frequent your local opportunity shop and see if you can find any treasures on their shelves.
- Make friends with some local homeschool Mom's. Most homeschool mom's I know are quiet happy to help, impart knowledge and or share their supplies.
- Get to know the area you live in. Visit the local park. Read the signs.
- Go to your nearest Tourist Information office and pick up brochures to learn about what you can do and see in your area.
- Go to a travel agency and pick up a few travel brochures and do unit studies on the destinations talked about in the brochures.
- Read your city councils What's on page to find Free family activities.
- Go to community helpers (police, vet clinic, Doctor office, pharmacy, Fire Brigade) speak to the receptionist and arrange an interview with a helper and learn from them.
- Visit a retirement home and discover the wealth of informative learning through friendships here.
- Get to know people in your church. One of the families in our homeschool group wanted to learn to knit so they asked around church till they found someone willing to teach them and they go over for an hour a week lesson.
If you had no money for curriculum what would you do ? I've enjoyed the challenge of thinking about this question. It has helped me count my blessings and realise just how privileged we are.
Blessings
Chareen
I love using the library. It's a great way to get books that I couldn't afford otherwise. :)
ReplyDeleteannette @ A net in time
http://anetintimeschooling.weebly.com/a-net-in-time-blog.html
We are using the curriculum that I purchased in previous years that hasn't been used yet. We also use the public library to supplement what we are learning.
ReplyDeleteLast year, we read all the Caldecott award winners, and began working on the Newberry award winners. This exposes my daughters to a wide range of literature written from the early 20th century to present day.
We do a lot of volunteering and service projects. This year we are focusing on a nursing home near us and volunteer 4x a month (about once a week). We have done cat therapy, painting, presentations about farming and China (where my daughters are adopted from), baking, and playing instruments. Lots of opportunities to work on public speaking and communication skills!
4-H is also a wonderful resource that requires a very minimal financial commitment to cover club and county dues. There are so many learning and leadership opportunities - many of them free - that are available to youth.