Homeschool Community

Hi everyone, My husband and I have decided to home school our 10 and 11 year old children, because we have moved back to FL from GA and our girls hate the schools here. We have been interested in home schooling for a few years, but w/ the little research that I had done, it seemed to be to expensive. Now that the girls seriously want to do this, I have done more research, and it seems like I do not need to buy much at all, but that confuses me. Don't you need to have books and work books in order to teach 5th and 7th grade??? I was a pre school and after care art teacher for over 10 years, so I am familiar w/ a teaching setting, but I am LOST on what I need to buy, and how to do it at a LOW price, since money is a HUGE issue right now. ANY suggestions from anyone would be great!!!!!!! I have reviewed this site for hours now, and I still don't know exactly what I need to get for them, maybe the package that has the workbooks for all the subjects?????? ANYONE HELP!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Lacey,

Welcome!  Don't worry - you'll find lots of help here!  I'm manager of member services for HSI and I'd suggest you take a look at the New to Homeschooling? link (top right of our home page).  This will take you to other pages on our site that have great helps for new homeschoolers.

Marjorie Lock

Welcome!!  I'm new to homeschooling also and have moved to FL from NC.  I know what you mean about expensive.  I've been homeschooling since Aug 07.  Initially I chose to do the Abeka curriculum which I've read from others that it is really good.  I'm learning that it is advanced.  I have 3 children and one is on track my other two are having trouble keeping up. In their case I have to adjust our day to day work.  You also should look into fpea.com  It has been very helpful and useful information.  Joining is very inexpensive and worthwhile.  Also you might want to check out online sites that offer online curriculum.  Hope this has been a little helpful.

 Use your local library to the max. See what the local grades are learning and grab some books from the library on that topic.  

We also check out dvd's and videos from there.  The history channel, PBS, BBC, discovery channel, National Geographic, etc.

Another thing is to buy used cirriculum.

An online resource is http://www.amblesideonline.org/  

 

What a wonderful choice you and your husband have made for your girls! When I first brought my daughter home for school, we started with an all inclusive package.  It was good for that first year because I was so unsure of myself (still am unsure on many days!)  However, today we use a much more flexible plan.  The best thing to do is get plugged into a homeschoool group in your area.  Meet others and take a look at what they're using....you'll be amazed at what's out there.  You'll probably be able to find people willing to lend you curriculum they are not using this year.  Not only will that save you money, but you'll be able to see what works best for each of your children in different subjects.  We seldom write in the books we get, I have her write her answers in a spiral notebook.  I feel that we are being better stewards of our materials that way because we can share them, pass them on, or sell them later...or return them in good condition to the person we borrowed them from! 

THANK YOU everyone for your help. We just got settled this weekend in Jacksonville, FL , so now tomorrow we need to get started! If anyone else has any other suggestions for a 5th and 7th grader, I am open to ANY!!!! but thank you so much for the help I have already received, it's helped me a lot.