Anyone HS for free?

[3and3]

After evaluating the budget I have come to the conclusion that we have very little money to spend on books.

 

I love My Father's World, but there is no way I can afford it. So has anyone planned school with your own resoures?

 

How do you do it by weeks?

I would like to have it all laid out for me like the MFW schedule. Has anyone done this for themselves?

 

I have planned for several weeks at a time but never a whole yr. So any tips would be great. We are in the Rome to Reformation period.

I have tons of free links to e-books and books to listen to on MP3. My library is also very homeschool friendly. So finding resources is not the problem.

 

I am thinking MEP for math. I have timeline figures from homeschool in the woods. So I was thinking of pulling some of them out and finding resources on line and at the library to go with them. For LA I love the SWB way. I have Eclectic readers which I could use for narration, and dictation. But I am not sure what to do for Grammar or Science?:confused:

 

Any encouragement or suggestions would be great. Thanks.

[Aludlam]

Hi,

 

I think that Science would be one of the easiest to do cheaply, if you have a library card. Once, you pick which subject area you are planning on teaching (biology, earth science, etc, etc), you might want to look into a good science encyclopedia to use as a spine. You should look on here, ebay, or Goodwill for a cheap used one. I then start looking for great books to read or videos to watch about each subject. You can do internet searches to find experiments for you topics, and then have your kids keep a science journal. Just let the encylopedia be your guide, it will "tell" you which order to go in (kwim?). I do plan a year in advance, but I don't do any sort of "schedule." I write mine out in a simplified outline, ie "do the next thing." Subject, followed by books, experiments, videos, assignments, but about anything I can think of to do for that written in order that I want us to do them. I use the SL, VP,etc catalogs to gather ideas, and this board of course!:001_smile: Also, if you are work booky (is that a word?), and you have the time, there are tons of free science worksheets out there for the printing. You just have to search for them.

 

Angela

[Amy Jo]

KISS Grammar (scroll down to grade level books), or any of many vintage grammar books on Google books (here are some I've found). For planning Old Fashioned Education uses MEP, public domain books and has a 40 week schedule. Ambleside has readings as a 36 week schedule, many public domain books, just add math / phonics daily (it tells you which ones at the top of the book list). With either you could replace the history section with whatever you have for Rome. To plan your own schedule Simply Charlotte Mason has a series of blog posts.

 

HTH!

Amy

[zookeeperof3]

For Science, you could use world book's standard course of study as a guide, and borrow appropriate books from your library. Here http://www.worldbook.com/typical_course_of_study.html

 

You can also use Lesson Pathways, which is now free. Here http://www.lessonpathways.com/Home

 

For Grammar Scott Foresman has free workbooks online herehttp://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html

 

Other Scott Foresman links Science http://www.sfscience.com/index.htm

Spelling http://www.everydayspelling.com/index.html

Math http://baltimore.scottforesman.com/

Social Studies http://www.sfsocialstudies.com/index2.html

Math & Science http://pgcounty.scottforesman.com/

 

Hopefully, you will find something in all of that that will help you.

Blessings,

Kim

[JenninMN]

Here's free life science: http://www.eequalsmcq.com/ClassicScienceLife.htm

 

And free grammar workbooks: http://macmillanmh.com/languagearts/2001/teacher/teachres/workbooks.html

 

These links are for printable math workbooks. There are 6

workbooks available by grade. The "reteach" workbook could

be used for teaching.

 

http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_1.html'>http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_1.html'>http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_1.html'>http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_1.html

http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_2.html

http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_3.html

http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/l _ 4.html

http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_5.html

http://www.eduplace.com/math/hmm/practice/lp_6.html

 

This site coordinates with the one above. It has interactive

quizzes, lessons and games.

 

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmm/

 

HTH

Jennifer

[mrbmom77]

I looked into this when I first started. Someone gave me "Homeschool Your Child for Free" by LauraMaery Gold. Basically what it came down to is LOTS of time. I just don't have the time right now so I have to come up with the money. But it was hundreds of pages of links and resources divided by subject. Might be well worth buying for you.

 

Found it - hope the link works. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307451631/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0761525130&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=114H0EV1QJR9CTY1PY9G

 

If I had more time, I would love to pull together my own curriculum. I put "homeschool your child for free" into Bing and got lots of hits. Good luck!

[MamaT]

There are TONS of free resources here:

 

http://homeschoolfreestuff.wordpress.com/about/

 

HTH!

[momto2Cs]

 

FreelyEducate has been really useful for me too. While I can't say I'm spending no money on hs'ing in the fall, I have cut it way, way down. By getting used, selling a few things here and there, etc., I think I'm spending somewhere around $150 for two kids... that includes all the art supplies we need, etc. And some of that is covered by the money from what I am selling.

[KarenNC]

For science, you could look at http://www.msnucleus.org/

 

What I did to plan:

 

For each subject, I set up a table in a Word document, with one column for the lesson number, one for the description and one to check off when we finished (yours could vary). I figured out how many days we would be working on each one, then put in that number of rows. Then I broke up the materials I planned to use in that way--how much to cover at a time. I included any extra materials (videos, extra reading, field trips, etc) that went along with the lesson in the appropriate place so that I wouldn't forget them when I got there (and could plan ahead to have the needed books at the needed time).

 

I printed off these plans and put them in a 3 ring binder separated by dividers. We "do the next thing" in each of them on their appointed day. By having the lists by individual subject, it's easy to adjust if something in science takes longer than grammar, for instance. I keep a teacher planner book (you can download planning sheets from http://www.donnayoung.org----I use the Homeschooler's Journal http://www.christianbook.com/the-homeschoolers-journal/9780978541309/pd/97152#curr). In the planner, I put a week at a time from my lists, including any other activities like park days, haircuts, etc in there.

[cajunkaren]

I went from paying like $500 for both kids to much less because I didn't just stick to one curriculum. I found it was better to find something that fits the kids for each subject and it was less expensive too.:D

[Guest poly34]

I just typed in "homeschool science free" into google and it came up with a bunch of places on the internet to get free stuff. maybe try that?

[savmom]

Head of the Class is a completely free curriculum with lesson plans, videos, worksheets & activities for grades PreK-3rd (higher grades are coming soon). It takes a little time to figure out, but it is worth the effort (dd is enjoying it and I like the price ;) )

 

Cindy

[3and3]

What I did to plan:

For each subject, I set up a table in a Word document, with one column for the lesson number, one for the description and one to check off when we finished (yours could vary). I figured out how many days we would be working on each one, then put in that number of rows. Then I broke up the materials I planned to use in that way--how much to cover at a time. I included any extra materials (videos, extra reading, field trips, etc) that went along with the lesson in the appropriate place so that I wouldn't forget them when I got there (and could plan ahead to have the needed books at the needed time).

 

I printed off these plans and put them in a 3 ring binder separated by dividers. We "do the next thing" in each of them on their appointed day. By having the lists by individual subject, it's easy to adjust if something in science takes longer than grammar, for instance.

 

Thank you:)

This is the kind of information I was looking for, doing each subject seperately is a good idea. Also, I can have it listed seperately for each child on the subject sheet, depending on their abilities.

[Zoo Keeper]

For grammar this year my oldest is using a combo of Sheldon's (free from google books) and Abeka 3rd grade grammar. I found the Abeka teacher's edition for $.99 at Goodwill; we will follow that for our scope, and use it to help to "modernize" the few lessons in Sheldon's that I think need updating.

Second Primary Language Book by O. S. Reimold (also free on google books) has nice, clear grammar explanations and Robinson Crusoe themed writing assignments. The book was originally written for children in the Philippines who were learning English. I found I liked some of their grammar explanations better than the ones in Sheldon's.

 

A couple months ago, when our homeschool budget was taken over by other unexpected expenses, I too,wondered what I was going to do for next year. Now I'm trying to figure out how to fold in all my freebies. Not a bad place to be in. At least I have options, even if they are not as convenient as I want them to be.

Edited June 3, 2010 by Zoo Keeper

[KarenNC]

Thank you:)

This is the kind of information I was looking for, doing each subject seperately is a good idea. Also, I can have it listed seperately for each child on the subject sheet, depending on their abilities.

 

You're welcome:)---it's been a sanity saver for me this year and I only have one child! We were starting 4th grade and I realized I wanted to be sure I didn't leave out any of the wonderful links and stacks of resources I'd amassed in prep for it. I did the most integrating of additional material into history, and I basically pulled together my own science (Earth/space and physics).

 

Do realize that the schedule will need to be tweaked as you go along. Inevitably someone gets sick, something takes more or less time to complete, you realize part way through that you've simply been too ambitious with the extras, you come across a really great new resource, etc. There are lots of pencil marks in my schedule sheets--both additions and strikethroughs :). I do all my notations in my planner book in pencil, as I rarely get through a single week without some at least slight modification.

[TandLMommy28]

I am doing science almost completely free (I bought one $5 book at a second hand store, and I've spent about $50 on ink, paper and cardstock to print everything I need!). But I have little kids and it's easy with them. We are doing library books and free lapbooks from homeschool share.

 

I found a free site for printing handwriting sheets so I won't be paying for that!

 

I'm thinking about basing our spelling and vocabulary on words we find in the library books, rather than buying curriculum.

 

I *am* planning to purchase Mystery of History and the lapbooks... and I did drop $70 on MUS blocks but I see that as an investment since both kids will use them for years to come.

 

I also obsessively stalk this site because people post free resources all the time and I download or save them whenever I see them, even if my kids won't use them for years.

 

I sat through a seminar on homeschooling for free at the Expo I went to and she had some cool ideas. The lady who gave the seminar is the author of Homeschooling for Dummies and I guess after she wrote the book there was an accounting mistake and she didn't get paid for over a year and had no income at all. So she spoke on her experiences doing it for free and mostly emphasized searching the internet for free printouts, using the library so much the librarian offers you your own key, and connecting with other home schoolers so you can trade and borrow.

[MamaMamaMama!!]

Are you thinking of returning to MFW eventually? Then I would try to stick with the next years time period so you could just pick up with year 5 in the cycle the following year. If I remember right Donna Young has an excell template you can use to schedule your year.

[MamaMamaMama!!]

Are you thinking of returning to MFW eventually? Then I would try to stick with the next years time period so you could just pick up with year 5 in the cycle the following year. If I remember right Donna Young has an excell template you can use to schedule your year.

 

 

Here I found it!

http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/exweekly.htm

[KarenNC]

I found a free site for printing handwriting sheets so I won't be paying for that!

 

Given the cost of ink/toner cartridges and paper, sometimes for things like handwriting sheets or worksheets I have found it more cost effective to try to find sales on those than print them at home or to print them. Printing at home can sometimes be very expensive. For something like handwriting sheets that you might use the same thing over and over, you could consider printing one copy and then have them copied at a copy shop. To compare, figure the approximate cost per page for your printer vs. the cost per page of the materials or having a copy made.

[shinyhappypeople]

Lessonpathways.com has free lesson plans.

[mamalbh]

I have a fairly big list of free curricula & resources on my blog - Click Here

 

I agree about buying certain things can be cheaper than printing, unless you have a good laser printer. I esp. prefer buying workbooks for handwriting because when I write it seems that the padding of paper below helps to write nicer, and binders are rather 'clumsy' for a little one working on handwriting.

 

BTW - I've lurked here for a long time but this is my first post. Hi!

[crazyforlatin]

http://www.usborne-quicklinks.com/usa/usa_homepage.asp

 

You don't really need the books, and the website is really helpful because Usborne keeps the links current for you.

[angela in ohio]

After evaluating the budget I have come to the conclusion that we have very little money to spend on books.

 

I love My Father's World, but there is no way I can afford it. So has anyone planned school with your own resoures?

 

How do you do it by weeks?

I would like to have it all laid out for me like the MFW schedule. Has anyone done this for themselves?

 

I have planned for several weeks at a time but never a whole yr. So any tips would be great. We are in the Rome to Reformation period.

I have tons of free links to e-books and books to listen to on MP3. My library is also very homeschool friendly. So finding resources is not the problem.

 

I am thinking MEP for math. I have timeline figures from homeschool in the woods. So I was thinking of pulling some of them out and finding resources on line and at the library to go with them. For LA I love the SWB way. I have Eclectic readers which I could use for narration, and dictation. But I am not sure what to do for Grammar or Science?:confused:

 

Any encouragement or suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

R&S Grammar is inexpensive. If you are in a pinch, just get the student book and do what you need to do to teach the lesson. Group students together into one book.

 

I planned my own Sonlight-style program for ds last year. I just made a similar grid in Excel and planned out what I wanted to teach each week. Up until this coming year (going to TOG for high school,) I have always planned my own history/literature/writing. I couln't see paying that much for essentially a schedule, even when we did have the money. I did it much like Karen, though I have sometimes written it out weekly.

 

Science the WTM is also pretty inexpensive.

[Embassy]

While I'm not going to be able to homeschool for free this coming year I have significantly cut down on expenses by raiding our local library. I am putting together a lot of our own studies in subjects like science, history, geography, art, foreign languages, music, literature, etc. I have been checking out about 100 books a week for the past couple months choosing what we will use this coming school year. I still have at least another month of books to review. It has been time consuming and fun at the same time. I am very pleased at the choices available and I will be able to use books that I would have never been able to purchase.

 

As for a schedule I plan our the number of hours I want to spend on each subject for the school year and list assignments/activities chronologically. I keep track of the time spent on each subject and the subjects done each day can vary.

[Mommyfaithe]

After evaluating the budget I have come to the conclusion that we have very little money to spend on books.

 

I love My Father's World, but there is no way I can afford it. So has anyone planned school with your own resoures?

 

How do you do it by weeks?

I would like to have it all laid out for me like the MFW schedule. Has anyone done this for themselves?

 

I have planned for several weeks at a time but never a whole yr. So any tips would be great. We are in the Rome to Reformation period.

I have tons of free links to e-books and books to listen to on MP3. My library is also very homeschool friendly. So finding resources is not the problem.

 

I am thinking MEP for math. I have timeline figures from homeschool in the woods. So I was thinking of pulling some of them out and finding resources on line and at the library to go with them. For LA I love the SWB way. I have Eclectic readers which I could use for narration, and dictation. But I am not sure what to do for Grammar or Science?:confused:

 

Any encouragement or suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

I have done this for many years using Ambleside Online as my spine and going from there....I substitute some books where I think I have one I like better. i re-fill my own ink cartridges and buy paper at Sam's.

 

I do buy Math, but MEP is beginning to look very good to me....

 

I have also bought grammar books because they are usually really cheap...but when I couldn't afford them, i was able to teach grammar using online resources.

 

There are many past posts for you to get links to free resources if you do a site search for Free Resources.

 

Old Fashioned Education, Ambleside Online,Google books, MEP, KISS Grammar, etc are wonderful resources and wonderfully FREE! That and a library card will get you far.

 

Good luck!

Faithe

[Supertechmom]

I've used dry erase board both the large ones and the lap size one for handwriting practice and scratch math "paper". I draw the lines on the board or one board had the lines all ready and they practice,erase and go again.

 

Funny thing I found that when I do it that way, we actually get handwriting taught correctly. With paper, I tend to get busy and walk away and when I come back they are done. With the board, they have to wait until I give the next letter or number.

[KarenNC]

I've used dry erase board both the large ones and the lap size one for handwriting practice and scratch math "paper". I draw the lines on the board or one board had the lines all ready and they practice,erase and go again.

 

Funny thing I found that when I do it that way, we actually get handwriting taught correctly. With paper, I tend to get busy and walk away and when I come back they are done. With the board, they have to wait until I give the next letter or number.

 

I found a great lapsized one at an education supply store last year. One side is blank, the other has a grid on it. Works well for graphing, keeping things lined up for math (especially multiple digit multiplication and long division).