It’s that time again when the school year is cranking up, and those homeschool families who tentatively follow local school calendars are making their plans and schedules. Indeed, many homeschooling families are looking for how they will homeschool and how they will find affordable homeschool curriculum to homeschool. Simply put, one major difference between homeschool and public school families is the upfront cost of purchasing a curriculum for your children. Most families are on a strict budget, and the cost of a year’s worth of books and supplies, especially if multiple children are in different grades, can be an extremely hard financial pill to swallow.
While there are online private schools and some curricula with giant price tags, those aren’t the only options. Did you know some homeschool curricula are free? Though these may require a bit more effort on your part, there are certainly ways to be able to have the freedom of homeschooling in a way that works for your family. And, in particular, without breaking the bank! Let’s start!
Free Homeschool Curriculum
One thing in favor of public schools for many families is that they are low-cost. In fact, in some states/districts, even meals at school are free. Indeed, for those who struggle financially, the cost of homeschooling may make it seem like a hardship and an impossibility. Never fear! We are here to help! Of course, we desire to help any family who wants to homeschool and help them to be able to do so. So, if curriculum cost is in the way, here are some solid, free homeschool curriculum options.
Start here with these suggestions.
- Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool: This is a complete K-12, online, and totally free Christian curriculum in the Charlotte Mason style. Students can complete many assignments online. And some you need to print. This program also includes lesson plans. This is a wonderful budget-friendly solution for homeschooling families, and very simple to use to start homeschooling.
- AmblesideOnline: This is another completely online, faith-based option in the Charlotte Mason style. Their curriculum seeks to prepare “children for a life of rich relationships with God, humanity, and the natural world.”
- Khan Academy: They are a nonprofit that works to provide top-notch education to any and every student. This is also a great supplement if you choose a different curriculum.
- Create your own unit study: This simple, amazing option integrates subjects and allows your children to focus on their interests. Unit studies can include all or just some subjects and can be as in-depth as you desire.
- The Good and the Beautiful: Their books are available for free as a pdf download, or for purchase as a hard copy. The free curriculum includes Language Arts, Math, and Science. Along with the curriculum downloads, they also provide videos, audiobooks, book lists, and two free learning apps!
- Zearn.org: Students explore math through pictures, visual models, and real-life examples— and it’s free for K-8th grade. This program was made by teachers to help struggling students by reinforcing what is being taught during math classes.
- At Home Middle School: This site pulls from different online resources to create lesson plans in core subjects for middle school students. They offer 180 lessons – the same as a typical school calendar requirement – for math, language arts, science, social studies, Spanish, coding, art history, and chess.
- K12: While this is an online public school and not a method of homeschooling that provides the freedom most of us are searching for, as it is free, it deserves to be included in this list. If you don’t want to research, choose, and purchase a curriculum, teach lessons, or have a faith element in your schooling, this may be a good option to consider.
Affordable Homeschool Curriculum
If none of the free options seem like they are a good fit for your family, then try these affordable homeschool curriculum that are available for a small cost. In fact, many companies do their best to keep prices low so families can provide their children with quality education without going into debt to do so.
Here are some of the best affordable homeschool curriculum options.
- Time4Learning: This is a comprehensive, online, PreK-12 curriculum for a very reasonable monthly fee. Time4Learning can either be used as a complete curriculum, or it can be used to supplement and enrich your homeschool. Along with the core subjects – Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies – Time4Learning also offers many exciting electives and foreign language options.
- Compass Classroom: This faith-based company provides video classes for grades 4-12 for a low monthly (or yearly) fee. In addition to classes for children, they are also passionate about helping homeschooling moms and offer resources for you too!
- Alpha Omega Publications (LIFEPAC): LIFEPACs are workbook-based learning for grades K-12 with affordable homeschool curriculum prices varying by grade/subject. Published by AOP, LIFEPACs use a mastery approach to teach Language Arts, History, Math, Science, and Electives through a Christian Worldview.
- A.C.E. School of Tomorrow: Another faith-based option, A.C.E. uses PACEs, or individual workbooks, that are customizable. Students work independently and at their own speed. Prices will vary due to how you choose to build your school year.
- Used Homeschool Books: If you find a curriculum you’d like to try before investing in a new set, this website offers used homeschool curriculum items at lower prices. The companies they stock are ABeka, Apologia, BJU Press, Life of Fred, Math U See, Rod and Staff, Mystery of History, Saxon Math, and many more!
Free Homeschool Curriculum by Subject
Perhaps you already have most of your curriculum and are only looking for a certain subject. Then, if that is the case, here are some pages with many free curriculum options in some core subjects.
Homeschool For Free:
How to Homeschool by Subject
Do you feel more confident teaching your child at certain ages and in certain subjects? Indeed, most of us have a niche where we feel most comfortable, but unfortunately, we can’t keep our children in our comfort zone. If you’re feeling a little insecure in certain areas or just need some added encouragement or helpful tips, check out our “How to” series for some friendly advice from homeschool parents who have been where you are and made it through…just like you will.
How To Homeschool:
- Your Preschooler
- Language Arts
- Science
- Homeschool Social Studies
- Math
- Bible
- High School Foreign Language
- High School Health and P.E.
- Using the Unit Study Method
Additional Free and Affordable Homeschool Curriculum Resources from Homeschool.com
