How to homeschool on a budget
With school starting right around the corner, many full-time working parents are at a loss of for what to do. They don’t feel comfortable with new social distancing policies. They may not like the way distance learning is being implemented at their school. If you’re wracking your brain trying to figure out how you’re possibly going to afford homeschooling or manage it with two full-time jobs, you are not alone.
What many families don’t realize is that homeschoolers are not rich typically In fact, they are just as likely to be poor or near poor than other families. In fact, homeschoolers generally spend only $300-600/year on curriculum.
For decades, homeschooling families have found creative ways to educate their children on a shoestring budget. We’ve talked to thousands of homeschooling families around the world about creative solutions they’ve found and are excited to share them with you.
Here are a few ways that families can homeschool affordable.
1) Use free curriculum
There are so many wonderful free resources available to homeschooling families. A great place to start for free curriculum is Khan Academy for PreK-12th grade or Khan Academy Kids for Prek-2nd. Khan Academy is a strengths-based program. This means that your child will get positive reinforcement for doing well, not penalized for weaknesses. It is also mastery-based, meaning children move ahead at their own rate.
Some others we love that offer free or inexpensive options are:
Mystery Science for science
Math Tango for rmath
Code.org for coding
Duo Lingo for foreign language
Zinn Education Project for US History
Teach your Monster to Read (for learning to read)
Cosmic Kids Yoga for movement
Art Hub for Kids for drawing and fine motor skills
Brave Writer for writing
Blossom and Root for a nature and art based curriculum
Schoolclosures.org offers free tutoring in every subject for all ages
Here is a more comprehensive list of free homeschooling resources curated by homeschool parents.
2) Solve for your childcare problem, not your education problem
Education and childcare are inextricably linked, but when trying to find creative ways to budget for homeschooling, I find it helpful to focus on the childcare problem, rather than the education one. Homeschooling one on one is very different than learning in a classroom because children get individual attention from their parent or tutor and thus benefit from mastery learning. When learning happens through independent study or with a tutor, it happens much more quickly than in a classroom setting. This is why most homeschoolers only need 1-2 hours a day of parent-led instruction to optimize learning outcomes and meet or exceed state standards for learning.
Many of the curriculum available are designed to be easy to facilitate for a parent or a caregiver, so you don’t need to necessarily spend extra money on a professional teacher or tutor. Lastly, if you do need extra professional teaching support, many free tutoring platforms exist with exceptional teachers and grad students available to guide your child’s learning.
Often, parents can just set their children up to the day and they’re off to the races. And there are many great curriculum options available to support parents teaching their children in this way for the first time that require no prep or teaching experience.
Therefore, it’s useful to think about how you managed childcare when your child was in preschool when school was not available to you and start thinking of creative solutions in that context.
Here are a few great ways to make childcare more affordable:
Ask a family member to watch your children: While this might seem drastic, having a family member live with you and take care of childcare is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get the job done. It’s very common in other cultures, but in the United States, we’re not accustomed as much for asking for this type of support from extended family.
Swap childcare with other families: Are there a few other families in your neighborhood who need childcare support? Consider creating a schedule where each family watches the kids one day a week or alternate half-days. Each family takes a morning or an afternoon.
Ask your company for support: During this time, it’s not unreasonable for parents to ask for special support from their companies to do the impossible (work full-time when schools are not providing childcare for kids). Ask your company for completely flexible hours. Ask them to make meetings optional. Ask them to give you a schedule where you do one 3 hour block of work a day.
Take advantage of free classes online: While the online experience has not been optimal for many students, there are definitely many teachers who are finding creative ways to build highly engaging online courses. The best place I’ve found for inexpensive or free classes for kids is Eventbrite. Here is a search I did for free virtual classes for kids.
Hire a sitter to homeschool your child: There are so many great secular, homeschool resources available that are easy for parents and caregivers to follow. You don’t need a professional teacher to guide your child’s learning and a caregiver can often be less expensive. You can also share a sitter with another family to reduce the price. During quarantine, families are also hiring virtual sitters to great success. The more interactive activities a sitter does with a child online (Art projects, movement, etc) the more likely they are to stay engaged.
Ask a neighbor or friend to watch your child. You might be surprised by people’s generosity. Often older people in your community feel lonely and would be thrilled to spend time with a child. Likewise, many people are looking for ways to be helpful during the pandemic and helping others (like a working parent) helps them feel like they can make a difference. Have the courage to ask for help from your community.
Join a virtual skill share community: Modulo has a community of parents who offer free classes to other families. This can be a great way for kids to learn and connect. To learn more about joining, contact us.
3) Find a job that lends itself better to homeschooling: The optimal job for a homeschooling parent allows work from home with flexible hours. Generally homeschooling parents find that they work best in 2-3 hour a day chunks.
Here are a few jobs we’ve found homeschooling families tend to love:
Homeschool another family: If you’re homeschooling your own child, you can make extra income bringing another child into the fold and give your own child a great social experience as well.
Outschool (teach classes to kids online)
Airbnb host (rent out an extra room)
VIP kids (teach English online)
Start your own business (I started my own and am happy to chat with anyone who needs help getting started)
Tutor on Wyzant
If you’re a certified teacher, tutor on Chelsea International for the best pay
Write content on Contently
Become a bookkeeper (very well paid and no shortage of work)
Start a preschool or family-based childcare with Wonderschool.
Deliver food or groceries with a company like Uber Eats. Food delivery can be a surprisingly lucrative job and very flexible. Kids can come along for the ride and listen to educational podcasts on Audible or Torchlight. The best paying food deliver app varies from state to state but families we’ve spoken to tend to make the most income on Uber Eats.
For more great website to find remote jobs, try these favorites of homeschooling families:
Modulo is on a mission to support all families in finding exceptional social, emotional and academic support for their children. We believe that money should never be an obstacle in providing children with the highest possible quality education that honors their unique strengths and potential.
We are happy to talk to any family and give free advice. Just contact us!
We also offer personalized curriculum, social-emotional learning groups and private coaching for families and caregivers. We are committed to helping all families get the support they need, so if you’re interested in joining our program and need a scholarship, just reach out and we’ll find a scholarship plan that works for your family and meets you where you are.
For more information on homeschooling, watch our intro to homeschooling workshop!
