Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular way for families to educate their children and is part of a schooling option estimated to involve up to 3-4 million students. A major component of homeschooling is curriculum, which can be expensive and time-consuming to research, purchase, and implement. In this article, we take a closer look at homeschool curriculum and the associated costs involved when managing four children’s education.
What is Homeschool Curriculum?
Homeschool curriculum consists of the instructional activities, material, and resources chosen by families for use in educating their children at home. This can range from books and other printed material, to online resources, and even hands-on activities and field trips. Homeschool curriculum usually follows a particular approach to education, for example, the Charlotte Mason educational philosophy, which involves a love of learning through literature and the arts.
Many homeschool curricula also focus on a certain subject, such as mathematics or language arts. Homeschooling parents are often single-handedly choosing and coordinating their children’s curriculum, in addition to other parental duties and responsibilities.
What are the Benefits of Homeschool Curriculum?
There are a number of benefits to using a homeschool curriculum with children. Flexibility is a major advantage of homeschooling as families can tailor their teaching to their own preferences, budget, and teaching style.
Homeschooling can also be tailored to the individual strengths and weaknesses of each child, and there is no need to compete with other students or manage peer pressure. Additionally, there are often more opportunities to collaborate with other homeschoolers and build on relationships within the home and in the broader community.
What is the Cost of Homeschool Curriculum for Four Children?
The cost of homeschool curriculum will vary greatly depending on what types of resources are chosen and how many subjects or activities are included. Many parents opt for print-based material, such as textbooks and worksheets, which can be purchased from retail stores or online.
Textbooks and worksheets are usually estimated to cost anywhere between $50 and $400 for each of the four children. Additionally, there are fees associated with activities and field trips, which can add up to an additional $200 to $500 annually. Additional costs could include online curriculum subscriptions and tutoring fees.
For those who opt to buy only digital material, the costs can vary drastically. Most online learning platforms, such as K12 and Khan Academy, offer extensive and comprehensive curriculum packages at a fraction of the cost of traditional print-based material.
Furthermore, such digital platforms often offer some of their material for free—allowing parents to save money and possibly select only the more engaging and educational material for their children.
What are Other Important Considerations for Homeschooling Cost?
In addition to the costs of purchasing homeschool curriculum for four children, parents should also factor in the cost of supplies and equipment, such as computer hardware and software, paper, and other materials that may be necessary for certain activities. While many parents opt for a print-based curriculum and already have the necessary supplies and equipment, those who choose to purchase digital material may be required to invest in certain tools and equipment.
Furthermore, homeschooling parents should also consider the time and effort associated with managing four children’s curriculum. Homeschooling is a time-consuming activity, and it may require parents to set aside several hours each week to coordinate student activities and keep track of progress.
Where Can I Get Discounts on Homeschool Curriculum?
There are several ways to save money on homeschool curriculum. Online websites, such as Homeschool Supercenter, offer discounts on popular printed material and subscriptions to online curriculum, giving parents the opportunity to save up to 50 percent off the retail prices.
Additionally, many homeschool curriculum providers offer rewards programs and coupon codes that allow parents to purchase a certain number of items at reduced costs. Additionally, many parents opt to trade or barter with other homeschooling families, allowing them to save money on materials.
What Options Are Available for Making Homeschool Curriculum Affordable?
Parents can also make homeschool curriculum more affordable by looking into free and low-cost options, such as open source and free curriculum. Open source curriculum, such as CK-12, is available for free and offers a range of engaging activities and materials for every subject and grade level. Another way to make homeschool curriculum more affordable is to purchase used books, either from retail stores or online.
Additionally, many libraries offer extensive collections of textbooks and other printed material, allowing parents to borrow books without having to purchase them.
What About Homeschool Co-ops?
Homeschool co-ops are a great way for families to share the cost and workload of homeschooling. Co-ops typically involve four or more homeschool families joining together to provide educational programs for their children and can be a cost-effective way to share the responsibility of homeschooling. Families may join co-ops that specialize in certain subjects, such as music or language arts, and they can often take turns providing teaching materials.
Additionally, co-ops can also provide opportunities for social interaction between students of a similar age.
Are There Homeschool Scholarships?
Organizations, government programs, and other entities often provide scholarships for homeschool students. These scholarships may include financial assistance for tuition, fees, and materials, as well as discounts on homeschool curriculum and other learning resources.
Furthermore, many states provide assistance through tax credits or deductions, allowing parents to save money on their taxes and utilize these funds to pay for homeschooling expenses.
How Can I Create My Own Homeschool Curriculum?
Many parents opt to create their own homeschool curriculum. This involves families researching, planning, and organizing their own materials in line with the goals and learning objectives for each of their children.
There are many homeschool resources available online and in libraries, allowing parents to incorporate these materials into their own curriculum. Additionally, parents can take the initiative and create their own activities and lessons, allowing them to customize their children’s education and cater it to their individual learning needs.
Conclusion
Homeschooling is an increasingly popular option for families to provide their children with an enriched education. A major factor in homeschooling is curriculum, which can be expensive and time-consuming to research and purchase.
In this article we have discussed the cost of homeschool curriculum for four children, as well as other important considerations such as supplies, time, and effort. We have also discussed the various ways in which parents can make homeschool curriculum more affordable, such as through using open source material, rewards programs, and homeschool co-ops. Finally, we have looked at the possibility of creating one’s own homeschool curriculum, allowing families to customize their children’s education.