You can homeschool for FREE
According to Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum, it costs between $500-$2500 per child to homeschool each year.
It can cost that much but it absolutely does not have to! You can homeschool for free. In fact, you can homeschool multiple children from preschool all the way through high school at no cost (almost).
The caveat I would add is your cost for internet, gas to the library, school supplies*, or a printer, toner and paper. Some of those costs like the internet and gas, you are likely having to consider annually anyway.
*Here is a link for free printable school paper.
It is not only possible, but people have done it for years, even centuries with successful results.
How?
Because there are so many programs and creative curricula choices this is not a comprehensive list. I will not be including them all here but these suggestions will give you a starting point.
Freedom Homeschooling
This is a wonderful resource.
In Freedom Homeschooling, Sarah May has gathered all free and high-quality curriculum and organized it into a neatly wrapped colorful, simple and clean package of a website for homeschoolers to use.
The home page is organized into 12 subjects or categories including Bible. Beyond the basic subjects it offers life skills, technology, foreign language, miscellaneous electives, art & music, and health & P.E. You can mix and match or if you’d rather grab and go, there is a section called all-in-one programs where there is a list of entire programs.
While there are some that offer both free and paid, all listings found on the main page are free.
Each listing includes the grade levels offered along with a brief description below it giving a basic summary of some important points that the link or program offers like style, offline options, and subjects included.
One of my favorite parts about Freedom Homeschooling is that any resource that is Christian is labeled as such. This can help narrow down decisions or just give a heads up for possible necessary caution.
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
Easy Peasy is a website and Christian program put together by Lee Giles so that other families could have easy access to quality homeschooling regardless of time and money. EP can be seen by subject and levels from Preschool through 8th grade. There is a tab for the high school courses however, there is a seperate site for just for high school called All-In-One High School. Subjects included are
One of the best parts of EP All-In-One Homeschool is the addition of My EP assignments. My EP assignments makes homeschool for EP families even easier! It is a system that your child can sign in to that takes them straight to the day they are on of each subject that you have chosen for them. Each student gets their own log in minimizing confusion and simplifying the old way of using EP directly from their main site where you would have to scroll all the way down the current day which can take a while when you’re not on Day 2 or 7.
Parents simply check in daily to see what they have finished, what needs attention and permit them to move forward. It’s wonderful!
Ambleside Online
Ambleside is a Charlotte Mason style, classically-based, homeschool curriculum site for K or Year 0 through 12th grade or Year 12. It was recently changed to a more aesthetically pleasing design from the past.
With it’s easy to navigate tabs, you can search based on level or subject. Subjects include Artists, Composers, Exams, Folk Songs, Geography, Holidays, Hymns, Language Arts, Math, Nature Study, Plutarch, Poetry, and Shakespeare.
The focus is God, humanity and the natural world.
One helpful feature they have had since I have ever known of Ambleside Online is what is called the Ambleside Online Helping Hand Emergency Learning Plan. It is a temporary alternative curriculum for families who have lost their schooling for various reason like disaster or other crisis. There are tips, encouraging words for times of upheaval and important Scripture that speaks truth and comfort.
An Old-Fashioned Education
Puritans Homeschool
Ray’s Arithmatic
Don Potter Phonics
Library/Free Books Online
But am I equipped to homeschool?
Now you know that you can homeschool for free. Feeling inadequate still? Check out my post – You Can Homeschool – to see some examples of families who homeschool regardless of their education levels or constraining situations.
