Education does not have to be expensive to be high quality. If you doubt that, please research Abraham Lincoln. He educated himself with hardly any money and without access to very many books. Yet no one could honestly say that he was not well educated.
It can be done – IF you are determined.
As a mother of two who did not have a lot of money but believed that parents (not civil governments or churches) are commanded to disciple our children in the Lord, I was determined. And so I found ways to educate them very frugally.
Key Principles:
A handful of key principles helped me limit spending.
- ALWAYS spend time in prayerful review of my vision for our home BEFORE making any curriculum purchases. (This is extremely important in vendor halls.)
- Prioritize living books and timeless classics over textbooks.
- Prioritize resources which can be used and reused with multiple children over multiple ages and ‘grade levels.’
- Prioritize resources which encourage deeper thinking (written narration) rather than regurgitation (fill-in-the-blanks).
- Whenever possible, borrow books first. Only purchase the ones I find to be repeatedly useful.
- Purchase used books if available – especially from other home educators.
- Remember that when God commands us to do something, He also equips us for the task. Trust that He will provide the resources and opportunities we need without tax dollars.
- WE NEED MUCH LESS THAN WE THINK. Remember Lincoln?
Resources:
Books
These are just a few of the books I referred to repeatedly over the years.
Unless otherwise noted, the links in this section are Thriftbooks’ links. I do not receive any renumeration when you use them. However, if you first use this link to join their free rewards club and then spend $30, you and I will each receive a “free book” credit.
I do kindly ask that you shop at local used curriculum sales and local booksellers first. I would much rather you support home educating families and small businesses.
Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt.
The author writes: “A good book is a magic gateway into a wider world of wonder, beauty, delight, and adventure.” She loves books. This work is not only a list of timeless children’s books, it is a discussion of the benefits of reading together as a family and of the principles of quality literature. I highly recommend it to every parent – whether they are planning to educate their children at home or not.
The Three Rs by Ruth Beechick.
(Also offered as three separate booklets on reading, writing, and arithmetic.) This how-to book could save you hundreds of dollars. It is designed for parents of children in grades 1-3 and provides all the information you need to give your children a solid educational foundation in reading, writing, and arithmetic. The methods she shares are natural and proven effective. Best of all, it does not require hours of your time each day.
You Can Teach Your Child Successfully Grades 4-8 by Ruth Beechick.
I loved this book and used it even through high school. It is a continuation of The Three Rs and contains practical how-tos which will get you through the upper elementary and middle school years. Do not let the simplicity fool you, these methods are timeless for a reason.
All Through the Ages by Christine Miller. (non-affiliate link to author’s site)
‘Bring the “story” back into “history” by using this exhaustive guide of thousands of the best in quality historical narratives, historical fiction, literature, and “living books.” With nothing more than a library card, parents or educators can effectively teach their children both World and American history using this guide.’ This book includes recommendations for all ages.
Websites
The links below are all non-affiliate links. I share them because they were helpful to me and/or because I would be using them now if I were still teaching my kids.
DonnaYoung.org
If you need forms, this is the place to go. She offers planner pages, handwriting pages, subject specific pages, and more. Additionally, you will find book recommendations and tips for teaching just about everything. I primarily used this in our early years, though she has information which is helpful through high school and beyond.
A subscription is $25 per year. That is about the cost of taking a veteran homeschool mom to lunch, browsing through her pile of old lesson plans, and asking her detailed questions about how she taught her kids. Except that with this site, you receive MUCH more than she could share in one afternoon. Plus, can go back to look at her planners and read her insights mid-year without taking her to lunch again.
Teaching more than one kid? The price is the same whether you have one child or a dozen. BARGAIN!
NotebookingPages.com
If you want to break free from grade-level thinking with its textbooks and workbooks, check out her personal story. If you want a beautiful way to record your children’s learning, check out her products. These were a key component in fostering togetherness in our studies.
When I first heard about the benefits of notebooking, I thought we could just use regular, lined or unlined paper or composition books. I was wrong. The frames and formats of notebooking pages inspired my kids to record what they learned in more creative ways. They produced more illustrations – which required focused observations. The lined sections were smaller and less intimidating than a large page full of lines. Even copywork was more fun when it was encircled by flowers or animals which could then be colored.
I purchased a few basic sets (like this one and this one) early in our home education journey and used those pages for both kids – all the way through high school. If you decide you really love notebooking pages and want to gain access to everything she has created (which is quite extensive), she also offers a lifetime membership option which is pretty reasonable.
AmblesideOnline.org
If you love Charlotte Mason methods (or want to learn more about them), this website is for you. For those who want a proven, complete, pre-planned curriculum with weekly schedules from K through 12, look here. And it is totally FREE. No ads. No strings. Best of all, it is NOT tax funded. (Learn why this is important.)
This website is also a great resource for those of us who appreciate some Charlotte Mason methods and principles but prefer a slightly different approach. It is especially helpful for finding lists of quality living books organized by reading level, historical time period, and subject. It also offers advice from mothers with years of experience in home education.
NickiTruesdell.com
Nicki Truesdell is an amazing woman. She is a second generation homeschooler who encourages everyone with the exhortation that Anyone Can Homeschool. (I also highly recommend this book.) Additionally, she works diligently to preserve American history by finding and reprinting primary source books (diaries, autobiographies, and firsthand accounts) and selling them at Knowledge Keepers Bookstore. Fill your home library with truthful history books instead of revisionist drivel.
MyAudioSchool.com
Read alouds are wonderful. But they do not work as well when Mom is driving or simply tired and needing to keep her hands busy so she can stay awake. (Just keeping it real.) So occasionally, we used MyAudioSchool. This free resource was compiled by the mom of a child with dyslexia. The audio files are organized according to time periods.
Lee Binz, the Home Scholar, is an author and consultant who specializes in helping parents navigate the high school years. Her website was invaluable in helping me with record keeping as well as transcripts. She even offers free courses on delight directed learning, finding scholarships, and more.
Other Resources
Map Trek Printables
Map Trek eBooks are designed to teach geography alongside history studies. They offer volumes for each of the four major time periods (ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern), as well as atlases. Often, the kids would label and color these maps during read alouds. Again, these are a one-time purchase with activities for all grade levels. I used them in rotation every four years.
Don Potter’s Multiplication Matrix was a HUGE help for our family. It is extremely simple, but WORKS. Be sure to read the instructions and use it the way it is intended. Even long after my kids had memorized their multiplication facts this little exercise was invaluable as a warm-up to get their brains in gear for math. Be sure to check out the rest of the resources on Don’s website.
Conclusion:
Obviously, we used MANY more resources than these. But those listed here were among my absolute favorites – the ones I continue to recommend to home educating families even today. I pray they help you on your journey.
Related Posts
Be sure to check my blog for more information on home education.
