Now that you have determined which subjects you want to teach, and on which days to teach what, it's time to put together the next column in the curriculum chart. In this column, write/type in what books/materials you'll be using for each subject, along with any other info you will need to include, for example, if there are some subjects that your husband, and/or a co-op will be teaching, you may want to note that, etc. I titled this third and last column "Books/Info."
This is where it gets exciting, because this is the point where it's time to determine curriculum. Which books/curricula do you want to use for which subjects? After you've determined that, then you can shop around, to find the lowest cost option, to save you money.
I just purchased all the books/materials we'll be needing for this 2017/2018 home school year, and for all of my kids, the grand total was 165 dollars. That is cheaper than any curriculum package I know of out there, for just one child, and I'm homeschooing multiple children.
Before I get into which books/materials I'm using for which subjects, let's touch on saving money on curricula...
My curricula for my kids was fairly low cost, because:
1) My oldest child accelerated his schoolwork, and reached his goal of graduating early. He graduated at age 17. It was his choice to accelerate his education, and graduate early, or not. I also had a very long test he had to pass with flying colors, before I'd graduate him. He did all his work, and passed the test, so I now have my first homeschool graduate child. Therefore, part of saving on curriculum this year, was that I only had to buy for three children, instead of four.
2) Also, I have just about every teacher's guide for every subject where I need one, for about every grade, so I didn't need to buy any teacher's guides this year. This is big savings, because teacher's guides are often much more expensive than the textbooks/workbooks.
3) In past years, when I did need to buy teacher's guides, I rarely bought them brand new. I'd look up the edition to the textbook/workbook that I was going to purchase, and then I'd check used bookstores and Amazon.com for used teacher's manuals. It is imperative that if you do this, that you match the edition of the teacher's guide with the edition of the workbook/textbook. Different editions don't always match up.
4) I buy some of our textbooks/workbooks used. For example, for literature, we are doing Themes in Literature. Brand new, it costs around $47.30, which includes the textbook, a supplemental lessons book, and a teacher's guide. I don't need the supplemental lessons, or the teacher's guide. I only need the textbook, because I will be teaching from it via the Trivium method. The textbook, by itself, new, is around $38.80. These prices are from Christian Liberty Press, as of summer, 2017.
I then decided to check Christianbook.com, and Abeka.com, and got pretty much the same prices. I then went to Amazon, and found a used one, in great condition for 10 dollars, with free shipping. Sold!
When you need to get workbooks that are to be written in, don't write off getting them used. I've gotten used ones with their teacher's manuals from used bookstores, in brand new condition. Also, I've often gotten used workbooks off of Amazon that were never used. The details by the seller should tell you if the book has been written in, or not.
5) There are also many free, online sources for schoolbooks, these days. The public domain holds many educational books that are still very relevant for today. Also, if you can catch a library, when it is purging its old books, you can often get educational material for little, or even no cost. I got a lot of free books that have lasted us for years, from a homeschool provider business that closed down, and eventually just gave away a lot of its used books for free, or just for pennies.
6) Don't forget shared curricula. Over the years, I've gotten a lot of free curricula from other homeschool moms who ended up changing curriculum. Sometimes you can trade curricula with other homeschool moms, because you have what they want, and they have what you want, etc.
7) Also, sometimes the best curricula for certain subjects is homemade. For example, I could never find a good, Christian, homeschool curricula for practicing cursive, that I liked. So - I made one. My cursive homeschool book is for all ages - even adults. It is for those who already know how to write in cursive, but need/want practice, while learning scriptures. It is free - Cursive Copy Work With Scriptures.
8) You don't necessarily need teacher's manuals with all subjects and books. This will depend on how good you are at the subject at hand, and also on your teaching style. Other than math and grammar, I don't generally need/use teachers books/answer guides, as that is not necessary in teaching via the Trivium method. For example, with reading/literature - we discuss, and the child may either verbally dictate back to me what he or she read, in their own words, or write a summary of what they read. If they are younger, then I would often have them copy key portions of what they read into their copy work books, etc.
9) Combine grade levels. If your children aren't too far apart in age, you can combine some of their lessons, such as history, science, foreign language, etc. For example, if you have children ranging from sixth grade to tenth grade, then you may want to consider just getting curricula for tenth grade history, and teaching history to all of your children at once. You can read the lesson out loud to all of them during a meal, for example, and then afterwards, they can do grade-appropriate assignments that you give each of them. If you teach via the Trivium, then the children would either verbally summarize what you read, or they'd write a summary, with or without a picture illustration, etc, and you'd all discuss.
Hopefully the above nine points gave you some ideas on how to save money on homeschool books and materials.
When it comes to choosing which books/materials you will be using for which subject, it is important to first know what your teaching style is. Since I know how I like to teach, how my children learn, and that I like the Trivium, this helps me determine which books to choose and use.
To choose which books to use:
1) Choose what teaching style you are going to follow.
2) If you are able, go to a store that sells curricula, such as a Mardel's, or similar, and look at the various books/options they have available.
3) Use the internet. Use a search engine to find various homeschool providers, then open Notepad, and make a list of URLs of providers that you are considering.
4) Decide if you are going to use a pre-packaged curriculum from a provider, or specifically choose which books/materials you want for which subjects. Most providers give you either option.
5) Decide if you are going to use books and materials all from one provider, or different ones. If they have the option, try to view an online preview of some of the books you are considering. Look at the Table of Contents, and also at one or more sample lessons, if possible.
Here is what I'm going to be using for the 2017/2018 school year:
Bible - King James Bible
Devotional - Morning and Evening, by Spurgeon
Grammar, Writing, Spelling - ABeka books for their individual grades, and spelling lists from Graded Spelling Lists (on the public domain, lists for each grade are in the book)
Copy Work - Assignments from a list of things I want them to copy. I make this list each year. This list includes scriptures, the states and their capitols, geography and science, vocabulary words, and anything else I want them to have extra work on, or to memorize.
Cursive and Penmanship - My book - Cursive Copy Work With Scriptures
Math - Everyone does their grade level from ABeka
Science - Chemistry: Precision and Design, and Handbook of Nature Study, which is available free on the public domain
History, Geography, Citizenship, U.S. Constitution - A Beka - United States History; Label maps; U.S. Constitution (in reading lists); Verbal lessons with Dad, and various YouTube videos
Latin - We have been slowly going through Getting Started With Latin
Logic - Logic: A God-Centered Approach
The Fallacy Detective
Reading - I make reading lists for them each year. In these lists, I include books on science, history, math, classic literature, etc. I also make sure to also include some reading above their levels, to encourage vocabulary. If you are stumped on what books to put on your child's reading list, consider some of the curriculum whole book choices from Amblesideonline.com
Literature - Themes in Literature
Music, Picture study, Poetry, and Art - Hymns, classical music, and art combined in lessons and assignments in other subjects, craft projects throughout the year, etc, and Type Lessons for Primary Teachers in the Study of Nature, Literature, and Art, available free on the public domain
Family Read Aloud - We choose mostly classics, but sometimes practical Christian books, as well. This year, we will be going through some of the books by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Government, Automotive Mechanics, Computers, Electronics, etc. - taught by Dad
Health, Safety, Conservation, and P.E./P.T. - Life skills, home economics, walking/jogging, swimming, gymnastics/tumbling, foraging, gardening, nature study, form and function in proper exercise, cooking and eating healthy meals etc.
In the next installment in this Homeschool Plan With Me, we will be creating a homeschool schedule. This is also where you may start to see a way to homeschool, without having to keep an extensive lesson planner.