The economist Milton Friedman once said, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” He was not just talking about lunch, but saying more generally that everything has a cost or a trade-off. The same is true when it comes to homeschooling. Many free homeschooling resources exist online that may provide a partial or surface-level “curriculum.” But there are often trade-offs in time, effort, and educational quality.
Is homeschooling free?
Homeschooling is not free. Even if you use free homeschool resources you find online, there is a significant added cost to your time. It takes time to put together a curriculum that will meet educational best practices and state requirements. While homeschooling is generally much cheaper than private school, it is not a tax-funded “free” service like public school. Whatever your reasons for choosing homeschooling over public and private school, you are making an investment in your children’s education. Investments, by nature, cost something.
Can you homeschool for free?
There are very few complete resources for a free homeschooling curriculum for K–12. Free curricula may not provide comprehensive lesson plans or detailed instructions, requiring parents to create and customize their own lesson plans. This involves determining the scope and sequence of topics, selecting appropriate activities and assessments, and adapting the materials to meet a child’s specific needs.
Developing lesson plans and organizing the curriculum can be time-intensive. When parents use free homeschool curricula, it’s important to research resources to find materials that align with parents’ educational goals and suit their child’s learning style.
You can homeschool on a tight budget, and there are many ways to save money as you go. But you do not want to skip investment in a good curriculum that is backed by educational research, continually updated, and provides plenty of support and resources to you, the parent.
Tips for homeschooling on a budget
Borrow or exchange materials.
Connect with other homeschooling families in your community or online to borrow or exchange curriculum materials, textbooks, and educational resources. This can help reduce costs by sharing resources and accessing materials that you might not have otherwise. If you have multiple children, some of the books you buy can be reused, so that you only need to buy workbooks for the next child.
Incorporate everyday activities.
Learning doesn’t have to be limited to textbooks and workbooks. Look for opportunities to incorporate everyday activities into your homeschooling curriculum. For example, cooking together can teach math (measurement), science (chemical reactions), and reading (recipe comprehension). Visiting local museums, parks, and community events can provide hands-on learning experiences at little or no cost.
Make use of the library.
Public libraries are excellent resources for homeschooling families. Beyond borrowing books, many libraries offer educational programs, workshops, and access to online databases and research materials. Take advantage of these resources to enhance your curriculum without spending extra money.
Keep an eye out for sales and discounts.
BJU Press and other homeschool curriculum publishers offer sales and discounts at various times of the year. Sign up for email alerts so that you will not miss out on discount opportunities. You might also find bulk- buy discounts when purchasing curricula for multiple children.
Effects of free homeschooling programs
Pros
Monetary cost
One significant advantage of using free homeschool programs is that they save money. Purchasing commercial curricula and educational materials can be costly per child per year. Using free homeschooling resources can help ease the financial burden.
Flexibility and customization
Free homeschool curricula often provide flexibility in content and structure. You can tailor the curriculum to suit your child’s individual needs, learning style, and interests. A personalized education can enhance engagement and overall learning outcomes.
Variety and availability
With the proliferation of online resources, a wide range of free homeschooling materials exists. You can find various subjects and grade levels. The abundance of choices allows you to experiment with different resources to find what works best for your family.
Community support
Many free homeschool curricula come with a supportive online community. Homeschooling forums, discussion boards, and social media groups provide opportunities for parents to connect, exchange ideas, and seek advice. This community can be valuable for both parents and students, fostering collaboration and support.
Cons
Quality and consistency
Free homeschooling programs may vary in quality and consistency. Anyone can put some worksheets online, but a pile of worksheets is not a curriculum. Some resources might lack rigorous academic standards or alignment with your educational goals. It’s essential to evaluate the materials you choose to ensure they meet your standards and cover the necessary content.
Limited support and guidance
Unlike commercial curricula that often come with detailed teacher guides and support materials, free homeschool curricula may offer limited guidance. Often, the curriculum is offered “as is” without any option for additional help. This lack of support can be challenging, especially for parents who are new to homeschooling or prefer a more structured approach. Extra effort may be required to supplement the curriculum with teaching aids, lesson plans, or additional resources.
Time-consuming research
Finding suitable free homeschooling programs requires time and effort. You will need to research, evaluate, and compare different resources to determine their suitability for your child’s needs. This is time-consuming and often requires continuous searching for new materials as your child progresses in school. If you do not have an educational background, you may struggle to determine the quality of the resources you find.
Limited offline resources
While there are many online resources available, free homeschooling programs may have fewer options when it comes to offline or hands-on activities. Depending on digital materials may limit opportunities for hands-on experiments, field trips, or other interactive learning experiences that enhance children’s understanding and engagement. Parents will need to supplement online resources with other activities.
Homeschooling often relies on the active involvement of parents or caregivers. Parents are responsible for delivering instruction, answering questions, providing feedback, and assessing progress. This level of involvement can be demanding, requiring dedicated time and effort daily. Add to that the extra effort required to use free homeschooling resources successfully, and parents may find that they are leaning toward a monetary investment instead.
Save with BJU Press homeschool curriculum kits
Are you ready to invest with the experts? BJU Press offers curriculum kits for each grade that save you money by bundling all the subjects you need. Whether you prefer video courses taught by professionals or textbook bundles so that you can teach and reduce screen time, the curriculum bundles are available at a discount compared to buying subjects separately. If you buy two or more grade kits or three or more subject kits, you are eligible for additional discounts.
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Valerie is a wife and a mother to a busy elementary school student. In her free time, she enjoys reading all kinds of books. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Bob Jones University, minoring in Mathematics, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Ohio State University. Valerie has 15 years of experience working in research laboratories and has coauthored 8 original research articles. She has also taught several classes and laboratories at the high school and college levels. She currently works as a Data Analyst and a freelance writer.
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