Dear Homeschool Mom (who is trying to save money by buying a lower-quality boxed curriculum to save money instead of the expensive, computer or video driven boxed curriculum which costs two arms and a leg):
I honestly think you would be better off with a Bible,a library and a 3 ring notebook than to "save money" using an inferior boxed curriculum. We used one (to save money and save me effort since I was pregnant/nursing) for one year and found that any normal-bright child will learn very quickly how to simply read to regurgitate. Or sometimes not read and just find the short answer or word to "fill in the blank." I have known of folks who graduated from private Christian schools using this type of curriculum (with GPAs of 3.5 and higher) who either lost or never gained a love for learning and were not quite as educated as their GPA suggested.
I've found that many times I'm better off not purchasing that money- or time-saving gadget (or curriculum) and doing the task myself, the right way. Some curriculum is the equivalent of a Ronco product which is more trouble than it's worth and ultimately a waste of hard-earned money.
We have always been on a tight budget (preacher husband....need I say more?) and have found over many years of homeschooling that a little elbow grease can help one can educate very economically.
Here are just a few ideas for you for an ultra cheap, ultra effective education, especially at the K-5th grade age.
1) Do free stuff online.
2) Get a whole education in math from the free video lessons on www.khanacademy.org. Just go check it out. 2000+ free video lessons. Also some science and history on there.
3) Get a great education for free in geography from http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm. Check out our local hs'ing group links page for more ideas (www.lamphomeschool.net. Go to favorite links)
4) Read a favorite book together and find great passages to dictate for him to write down. (spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.)
5) Check out a grammar book from the library (if you don't feel confident) and pick out the parts of speech. Takes much more brainwork than doing sterile workbook sheets. Or invest in Easy Grammar (you can find teachers guide/answer key used), workbooks are $20 or so. These have been great for our family, low cost, very effective for those who want effective, no frills.
6) Read, read, read together about history. Check out the colorful books about topics and time periods in history. Purchase a few Dover coloring books about history. Find DK and Usborne type books at the library or for sale.
7) When a subject is of interest, have your child do more research through books, encyclopedia or online for that topic. Have him create an art project, research paper, poster or something depicting what he learned.
8) Check out http://donnayoung.org/index.htm for all sorts of free forms to document his learning.
With 15+ years of homeschooling experience, I have a bunker's worth of ideas to educate on the cheap......sometimes it costs a little to save a lot, and all that can be done that with a little time, effort and research.
We have now graduated our oldest (with 2 more in high school) doing homeschool "on the cheap." My oldest took honors classes and is majoring in Creative Writing without ever actually completing a writing curriculum. (Shhhhhhh!) He's actually written quite a bunch and is working on his first novel that he's willing to publish. With a part-time job copy-editing a trade magazine, it's proven to me that maybe it wasn't actually necessary for him to ever learn how to diagram sentences. (Yes, I'm bragging!)
Blessings to you dear homeschool mom!
Remember "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" Philippians 4:13
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