Homeschooling on a budget...resources that can be used for multiple years?

[mo2]

I'm currently on a very tight hsing budget, and frankly, our local library stinks. So I'm looking for resources that can be used for multiple grade levels to cut down on the amount of purchases I am making. I guess I'm looking for nonconsumables that I can save and reuse for my next dc and/or all-in-one books rather than each grade in 1 book. Make sense? I'm not sure if I'm wording this correctly. My brain is kind of fried after the family dinner today. :o

For geography, I'm thinking things like the Trail Guides or Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide. I've got Phonics Pathways that I think we will use for a couple of years. Natural Speller when we're ready. Things like that. Anyone?

Thanks!

[Mama Bear]

Sounds like you've got Geography covered, but I'll add in one of my favorite resources: Uncle Josh's blackline maps on CD -- make your own as you need them, not much to store, different levels of blankness/detail for different kids.

We have really enjoyed the McGuffey Readers -- all the kids like paging through all the books because of the nifty illustrations, all levels are interesting to all kids, even if they're only listening in. We've enjoyed reading parts out of the small plays, the moralizing is cool :D, and the vocab is super. Good for dictation, copywork.

Math Wrap-ups are fun review for all ages/abilities.

Are you already using SOTW and the Activity Guide? I think you could fairly easily ramp it up or down for just about any ability level.

Other than those, I'm not much help. Others will have lots of suggestions, many of them online and free, I suspect. (Can't wait to see. :) )

[Audrey]

Right off the top of my head I'd highly recommend the Kingfisher History Enclopedia and their Science Enclopedia, too. Both will get you a lot of mileage throughout the years. Usborne also publishes very good History and Science Encl.'s, but IMO, the Kingfisher ones are more meaty and useful.

For math, check out this web site aaamath.com (http://aaamath.com/) It's not exactly curriculum, but it's great for supplementation and practice. They also have correllary sites on spelling and some geography. It's free, so very budget friendly. :001_smile:

[melissaL]

Saxon math is a text book, so can be used over and over again, so is rod and staff grammar.
I also use other books as text books to reduce the expense. I also photocopy some pages in workbooks so they can be done by multiple children. I know some people have issues with doing this, but I spend over $2000 a year on homeschooling books and this is one way I can keep it down a little.
MelissaL

[HollyDay]

Some things I have used for mult years, mult dc:
SWR
Winston Grammar
DITHOR
Usborne Encylopedia of Ancient World,
Usborne Encylopdeia of Science
Mysteries and Marvels of Science
Streams of Civilization
Blue Book of Punctuation

[Kim in Appalachia]

it is a text book, but inexpensive and reuable (3rd grade and up).

kim

[Closeacademy]

A list of things that I have come across:

Spell to Write and Read (K-13)--phonics and spelling lists plus some grammar and roots.

Composition in the Classical Tradition by D'Angelo--Progymnasmata that can be adapted into a multi-level composition curriculum.

Teaching Mathematics in Rudolf Steiner Schools by Ron Jarmon (K-8)--A math instruction book that outlines and shows you how to teach math for K through 8th grade. You will have to come up with problems to do but the instructional material is in this book.

All three of these are rather expensive but great resources.:001_smile:

[KristineIN]

Have you seen this website? http://www.oldfashionededucation.com/index.html Someone posted it a few days ago on another thread, it has tons of printable books, a whole math curriculum that is printable!

Kristine

[one l michele]

SWR and IEW, both an initial investment, but non consumable and can be used with all three of my kids from K-12. So there is not a yearl cost. Also using SWR prevented the need for a phonics program.

[chai]

Educational Fontware: with this you can make your own handwriting sheets for years

Harp and Laurel Wreath: poetry, copywork and dictation

ABC's and all Their Tricks: resource to study spelling and phonics (Natural Speller has a good list of rules in the back of the book.)

[Dayle in Guatemala]

Here's what we've done:

Science:

Apologia elementary is great and the notebooking pages are free online and the upper Apologia is great, too, I find myself so thankful with the lack of a library that I don't have to supplement and it's really reasonable science. (of course, if you're a secular homeschooler it might be not a good choice as it's really christian.)


History:

Good advice to buy the Kingfisher encyclopedia, but, I would also add some Usborne internet linked books. We have from Ancient Egypt to the Middle Ages and use them all the time. In fact, right now for my youngers, those books coupled with History Scribe world history pages and biographies we are going through our history.

Also, find a few good spines to use like SOTW or Guerber and you can supplement with the internet and a few bought resources.


Grammar:

I use Ridgewood, but, I've also looked at KISS Grammar which is free online and really looks good also.


Math:

We're using Saxon 5/4-8/7 and then Teaching Textbooks from Algebra up. These are non-consumable.


Literature:

Drawn Into the Heart of Reading is a good choice (you can copy the pages you are going to use in the student books) and you get to choose the books you use so that helps. Also, we like Lightning Lit. for the older grades. After you use the workpages, you only have to replace those, not the whole curr. You could also copy those if you wanted to, but, the replacement is inexpensive.


Hope this helps a little!

[hsm]

do you have your main things (3r's) picked out? Many of those are nonconsumable. History and science can be totally nonconsumable here are more free resources

amblesideonline.org
http://gardenofpraise.com/art.htm
materamabilis.org
http://www.sfreading.com/teachers.html
ourlosbanyos.com
donpotter.net
mainlesson.com
gutenburg.org


there are tons of free lapbooking/unit studies online if that's your thing.
Tons of free worksheets on any subject if you like those
free flashcards--interactive or print out

k12 core curriculum has free stuff online-can't recall address
oak meadow science has free online stuff.

[Tami]

Geography
Trail Guides: World and US (all I need for geography drills)
MAPS! by Teacher's Friend
US and World Atlas (suggestions at Geography Matters)

Art
Global Art and Discovering Great Artists by Kohl (have used for years)
Ambleside Online

History/Literature
TruthQuest Guides
Sonlight Catalog
Ambleside Online
Country Report Projects for Any Country (Scholastic)
Hands-on Heritage activity books (Edupress)
Hands-On History (Scholastic)
How to Report on Books (fun project style by Evan-Moor - don't be afraid to go up a level)

English
Scholastic Writer's Desk Reference (good grammar/writing reference written in kid-friendly language)

These are a few I have used from year to year.

[FloridaLisa]

if you want to use consumables, you can use sheet protectors and dry-erase pens so that the book can be passed down. I have 7 kids so I really like being able to hand down logic, vocab and other consumable books.

HTH,
Lisa

[Karen in CO]

I would go for online resources and CM resources.

http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/

mainlesson.org and libravox.org are great.

I have really gotten a lot of miles from Andrew Lang and James Baldwin. They are great sources for tales and copywork and Baldwin is great for elementary history stories.

What are the grades you have now?

[mo2]

I have a 1st grader. I don't mind buying books if I know I can get a lot of use out of them. These suggestions are great...keep them coming!

[mom2abcd]

Understanding Writing is a good writing program that can be used for grades 3?-12. I have a friend who has used it for years and whose son is in college majoring in journalism. $20-25 used.

The Robinson Curriculum method is very inexpensive. We choose not to use their book choices (or print books off on our printer either), but the method uses mainly math books and living books and paper and pencil;o) I buy good books from book sales and have a wonderful home library. (Have plenty to sell if interested.)

Spelling Power is another spelling program my friend uses for years and years and lots of kids.

Kiss Grammar is free. It uses excerpts from literature to teach grammar--no diagramming, though.
http://www.annesschoolplace.com/teachinggrammar.htm



Here are some links that might help:
http://budgethomeschool.com/?f=/&o=5
http://www.homeschoolersofmaine.org/free_curriculum_on_internet.htm


http://www.ignitethefire.com/freefirewood.html

www.easyfunschool.com
http://oldfashionededucation.com/
http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/links/free.html
www.amblesideonline.org
http://oldfashionededucation.com/fullcurriculum.htm
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/units/units_with_books.htm
http://gardenofpraise.com/bbspel.htm
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/
http://www.handwritingforkids.com

Music appreciation and music history
http://web.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/music_room/themusic.htm

Baltimore Curriculum Project - this is NEAT – goes along with the “What your ___________ Needs to Know” series. It has basic lesson plans for each grade!
http://www.cstone.net/~bcp/BCPIntro2.htm


Core Knowledge
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/index.htm
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/about/corenet.htm
Core-Net-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
ckhomeschoolers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.coreknowledge.org/ckforum/index.php
http://www.geocities.com/ckhomeschoolers/index.html

Free curriculum/course/worksheet sites
Bible
http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum.htm
http://www.bibleinst.com/BibleSchool/INDEX.htm
http://guide.discoveronline.org/disc...de01/hello.htm
http://www.kidsbibleinfo.com/
http://www.wbschool.org/ads/google/index.php
http://www.amesbible.org/
http://www.charlesstanleyinstitute.org/portal/home.html


Christian History
http://www.americanchristianhistory.com/

Christian Resources
http://www.freebooks.com/

Curriculum/Worksheets
http://www.christian-parenting-source.com/
http://www.schoolexpress.com/fwsindex.php
http://school.discovery.com/teaching...heetgenerator/
http://www.schoolhousetech.com/produ...eets/index.htm
http://abcteach.com/index.html
http://www.worksheets4teachers.com/
http://www.sitesforteachers.com/index.html
http://www.easyfunschool.com/
http://www.50states.com/

It takes a bit of digging but homschooling can be done for free, or very close to it, and still provide your child with a high quality education.

[mcconnellboys]

I think most of the Rod and Staff books are non-consumables and they're also very inexpensive, so you could reuse them all over the years.

Regena

[Carmen_and_Company]

You can pretty much provide your 1st grader a classical education for under $200. I'll post later how, but must run Blaze to swim practice.

[mo2]

You can pretty much provide your 1st grader a classical education for under $200. I'll post later how, but must run Blaze to swim practice.


If you have time, I'd love to hear your ideas! Thanks!

[HootyTooty]

I'd like to add:
http://www.edupics.com

They have historical (perfect for all SOTW books )coloring pages that you can save to your computer or on their site.