Support for Parents Involved in Christian Education
It Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank!
Encouragement from Brandon and Margo Frantz - April 2010
In these tough financial times we want to encourage homeschooling families
in the valley. What you are doing for your families has eternal benefits,
and thankfully homeschooling does not have to be complicated or expensive.
All you really need to homeschool is a library card, an internet connection,
and a willingness to be creative. There are many, many free resources online
and at the library to help your children learn.
If you like the security of following a curriculum, check out
www.oldfashionededucation.com and
www.amblesideonline.com Both of these websites have almost
complete curricula in a Charlotte Mason-style of instruction. Charlotte
Mason lived in the 1900's and emphasized learning from real literature (she
called them living books) and providing a wide variety of
subjects/experiences to keep the children from being bored. Neither site
provides math, but never fear! There is a website based in
Britain that provides a completely free math curriculum from kindergarten
through grade 12,
www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm. This math won't look
like your average American textbook but provides a strong foundation in all
areas of math and is unique in that it integrates all the math subjects from
arithmetic to upper algebra in the high school years.
Following a full curriculum isn't necessary though. If your child reads
about what he is interested in, writes, and does some math each day he can
still progress and have a well rounded education. You can visit
www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum to see a typical course
of study for public schools. But don't feel like you have to cover it all!
This site can guide you in choosing topics at the library, especially in
science and history. If your child is interested in horses, go get every
book and video about horses at the library and use the guide when you need
new ideas. The best way to "test" whether or not a child has understood what
she has read is simply to ask her to tell you about the book. If she can go
on and on then her comprehension was high. If she can only say a generic
sentence or two, her comprehension may not have been as high (or she needs
help expressing her thoughts with a specific question or two).
If you need extra practice on a specific math topic you might want to try
www.themathworksheetsite.com
. If math is getting really difficult or boring try taking a break and
reading some of the books listed on
www.livingmath.net . Quite a few of them can be found in our local
library system. If not you can look for the book using
www.worldcatlibraries.org . I
have found that if the book or video is within the state, it is much easier
to get through interlibrary loan. Don't forget to use your favorite search
engine too! Searching for "free worksheet [topic]" usually provides a
plethora of choices just waiting to be printed.
Writing can be as easy as copy work when the child is young. Have him
carefully copy a word, sentence, or paragraph (whatever he can comfortably
accomplish) from a favorite book, the Bible, or any other well-written piece
of literature. You can point-out how words are built (spelling), sentences
are formed (grammar), and what makes the paragraph flow (writing). After the
experience of copying good writing you can proceed to helping your child
write his own words.
Don't forget the learning that happens all around you every day. Learning to
cook or ride a bike, playing a game, doing chores, watching an interesting
movie, or tending a garden all teach. But especially don't forget that the
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If we do "nothing" but teach
our children the Bible and the grace Jesus provided for us we have laid an
eternal foundation that is richer than all the math and grammar worksheets
in the world.
Keep on keeping on!
Brandon and Margo are SPICE council members and homeschoolers of 6 ages 12,
10, 6, 4, 2, and a new March baby.