by Selena Robinson

Created on: September 25, 2009   Last Updated: October 06, 2009

Homeschooling is a great responsibility to undertake. Being in charge of your child's education can be daunting. Some parents may think that the way to ensure a quality education is to invest a lot of money into the supplies and curriculum they use. Fortunately, giving your children a good education doesn't take a big bank account. You can access many resources for little or no money at all! Here are a few ways to save money on homeschooling supplies.

Make liberal use of your local library. A lot of your history curriculum can be covered by using biographies of famous people. Supplement your geography class with videos of exotic places and cultures. Encourage your child to explore the novels and you can assign them book reports on what they read. Sign up for story time for your youngest homeschoolers to keep them excited about reading. Many libraries also have book sales where you can browse used books that you may want to add your home library.

Search for curricula on the Internet. Many encyclopedias are available online for research. Type in "lesson plan" into your search engine and watch hundreds of links come up for free worksheets in just about any subject you can think of. It is actually possible to cover your child's complete education just from what you can access online.

Seek out your local home-school support group. Some offer book swaps and group buys for curricula. If you can't find one, start one! Ask your librarian about home-school parents who come in regularly so you can network with other homeschooling families in your area. Add flavor to your science class with regular walks through nature.

Examine the native plants and animals in your own backyard! Take your time and encourage your child to sketch what they see. Later on, they can research the things they observed. Visit your local city's attractions and see what they have to offer for homeschooling families. Many museums, aquariums, botanical gardens and parks have special rates for homeschoolers. You might even be able to get in for free!

If you're interested in signing up for a virtual academy, try your state's online K-12 program. It provides a structured education that runs concurrently with the public school system. The best thing about the program is that you will receive all your child's books and supplies absolutely free! Find out more about the available programs at: http://www.k12.com/.

Homeschooling doesn't have to break your family's bank. Spending time learning along with your children is worth more than any expensive education. Making use of your local resources will help you and your family to save money on your homeschooling journey.

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