As a family, we have been a little unconventional over the years. By some people’s standards, we are a little weird. We are vegetarians, we have a large family, and we homeschool all of our children. I am used to not quite fitting the mold. Because of covid, homeschooling is now all the rage. I suddenly feel like the popular kid in class. While other parents are floundering, I feel confident, cool, and collected.
If you have suddenly found yourself thrust into the world of homeschooling, don’t panic. I’ve been doing this for years. It’s not as stressful as you think. You can totally do it! Today, I want to share some tips for homeschool success. These suggestions will help save you time and money as you start your journey.
Don’t buy a complete box curriculum
There is a temptation for new homeschoolers to buy a boxed curriculum that includes everything you need, for every subject. I fell victim to this trap myself. When my oldest was in 2nd grade, I purchased a boxed curriculum for nearly $1,000. And guess what? We didn’t love it. I have found that researching and purchasing different materials for each subject has been a better fit for our family. For example, we love McRuffy Press for language arts, but we do not like their math program. Instead, we use RightStart for math.
Use free YouTube videos
Watching videos on YouTube has been a life saver. It’s great for general science content, but it’s also very helpful with higher level math courses. My oldest daughter did Algebra I this year. When she was stuck on a concept, I was usually able to find a tutorial on YouTube to clarify the confusion.
Go digital
When my children are in elementary school, I prefer to do all schoolwork with books, paper, and pencil. However, in middle school we transition to some online learning. This is a great option for kids who are able to be more independent in their studies. In the past, we used Power Homeschool for science and social studies classes. My kids really enjoyed it, and they learned a lot. For $25 a month, it’s an economical choice for beginning homeschoolers.
Save materials for your next child
I like to use consumable workbooks when possible. However, I do save all teacher manuals, reading material, manipulatives, etc. This practice really cuts down on our out-of-pocket costs each year. I have used the same math curriculum with 3 different kids. After the first year, I only have to order the consumable worksheets for $20.
Look for classes being offered by other homeschool families
Some subjects are difficult to teach. When you’re feeling uncertain, search your local homeschool Facebook pages for other moms who are offering classes. For the last few years, we have been attending Spanish classes taught by another homeschool mom. She only charges $5 per student for an hour lesson. It’s a ridiculously good bargain.
Using these tips, you will be well on your way to having a successful school year. Below I have provided links to some of my favorite homeschool curriculum. This post isn’t sponsored. These are my tried and true favorites! I hope these links will help you on your new homeschooling adventure!
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Teaching Textbooks (online math)
Power Homeschool (online curriculum)