I keep running into these little conversations about how much we've spent on the kids curriculum. Its mostly my own fault I guess cuz when people ask me about homeschooling and how I plan to do it, I tend to give them all the information I have including the total price. It just kinda bugs me that people will consider what we spent for their program "too much" or "wastefull" but has anyone seen the student loan debt most people have for college years they remember mostly nothing about... other than partying and a few eccentric teachers/students?! Don't get me wrong..I get it..education ain't cheap ....we'd spend tons more putting them in a "private" school...and i wouldn't be able to slow down or speed up as needed. I wish people would understanding that education is worth it at any age. If I were a wicked awesome mom with a gift for teaching...I'd prolly spend less then 300 dollars to school all three of my kids...but i'm not. I am however, very dedicated to making sure they have what they need to become useful in society and serving our GOD. I need the box set..not the most expensive set out there...but something that gives me everything i need to give to them without me having to search high and low with no real clue as to what I need. ok...with that..my rant is done...as is our first successful full day of education :love:
The only person it needs to be "worth it" to...is you. I'm sending my kid to more-expensive-than-average university. It's worth it to me, because it's one of the best schools in the nation (and world) in her given field. As long as it all makes sense to you...you have nothing to prove to anyone else. Do what works for you. You have to be comfortable with how you do it. I didn't use any curriculum. Made it up as I went....with pretty good success. But that was a learning strategy that worked for me and my particular kid. Wouldn't work for everyone. Everyone's different and has a right to be different....and run school in the way that works best for them. Personally, I can't think of anything more important to invest my resources (time, money, love) in....than my kid. Congrats on your first day!
Thanks CraMom!! I'm over enthusiastic about this whole process and I guess I just need to calm it down... If they are truly interested they will google if and see god themselves ...and if they have questions after that I can chime in I guess
I did a lot on my own as well. Did currclick classes (Science Jim). Feeling the need for more structure in math as they get older looking into Teaching textbooks....
I hear you!!! I stopped giving price tags a llllllooooooong time ago! No reason too. They would have their eyes bulged out if they know how much curriculum companies charged for kids' books in PS....so....the book we pay $50 for, they charge the schools at least $100. So.....
I am getting it the other way. Most parents here spend way more than me. And they do tons of outside classes. We just cannot afford it. And I mean each child is in several outside classes.
Maybe...I never did any outside classes, and money was tight with one of us not working. The only thing I spent money on, was an out of district membership to a library in a bigger town. Our little library is adorable, but we read all the books...both of them. LOL! There's a pretty big town about 20 miles from me...so I bought an out of district membership for about $150 a year. Was worth every penny. It had SO many amazing resources! Books, videos, a MASSIVE children's library. It even had a learning TOY lending library. You could check out a learning toy for a week...stuff like microscopes and telescopes and electronic geography maps....really wonderful sturdy stuff, too. We went every single week. The library was a HUGE part of our home school effort. Other than the library and basic art supplies...I don't think I spent anything on homeschooling. Seriously. Elle did end up taking some classes at the Art Center, but they were a stipend for helping to paint murals in public places, and helping to teach simple art projects to little kids touring the center on Saturday mornings. And if Elle's scores are any indication....we did really well Lots of ways to get things done without spending a ton of money.
We do currclick classes mostly science Jim... at Christmas they do stocking stuffers so I had like 3 months of science for like 40 dollars.... was happy with that!!! I take advantage of free classes or discounted ones!!!
What I have found is that when someone asks me about homeschooling, less is more! I have never told anyone what I spend and I do tend to spend more than I should! I just say you can spend as little or as much as you want and there are all kinds of curriculum and other resources. Congrats on your first day!
