Limited Funds for Homeschool? God will Supply!

Bonnie Erickson spoke on the topic:
Effective Homeschooling on a Limited Budget

Bonnie introduced her subject by reminding us of God’s goodness and the importance of being good stewards of all God has given us. The basis for this exhortation: Matt 25:15 – 30.

Bonnie said she chose to homeschool her own sons for several reasons. Despite a difficult time in school, she loved to learn and received grace from God through his provision for college. She learned that homeschooling was a better alternative for her family than what she found available for them in classroom schools. Bonnie pointed out that after praying for God’s help to provide her with what she needed to home educate, He blessed her with ideas to create what she needed and a willingness to settle for less-expensive means to teach her two boys. She has been very pleased with the results of this frugal way of homeschooling, and wanted to share with the group a number of ways homeschooling can be done on a limited budget.

Some of Bonnie’s favorite ways to equip her homeschool have included: extensive use of library resources, free samples, and leftovers from others. She has used basic texts as her core curricula, supplemented with items like math manipulatives and workbooks from other inexpensive sources. Bonnie has also made many games and simple learning tools herself.

Some of her favorite purchases which could be used at a variety of levels for her students have been: Hands on Math, Institute for Excellence in Writing curriculum, the Well-Trained Mind, Spelling Power, and Bible Study for All Ages. In addition, Bonnie created her own curriculum at various times, by combining resources from the library, her own materials, and ideas from the Internet.

One of Bonnie’s best tips for keeping costs down is: Do it yourself! One can make good use of freebies, yard sales, and even nature. There are MANY things ourdoors which kids can collect and study that are right out your back door!

At times Bonnie wondered if she was harming her children by using less expensive curriculum choices, but she praises God that standardized testing has proven her creative, hands-on method of teaching has been very successful.

A few words of encouragement to the moms in CHEG included a warning not be be too activity-oriented, rather than focusing on the basics. Too much time out of the home doing extra-curricular activities can be a distraction from the daily routine, as well as expensive financially. Some of these ‘extras’ are fine, but most of us end up with regrets if we do too much “running”.

Bonnie remembers a time when she became quite stressed during a slow period of learning for her students, but has since learned that there will always be future times for them to catch up. She encouraged parents to watch for signs that a child is struggling with learning, and to give both the student and the teacher a break occasionally in order to re-evaluate and perhaps try a different learning-approach to cover material. Bonnie also admonished moms not to compare their students with one another too much, since learning styles, needs, and goals will differ, even within one family. Negative comments from others about using a ‘creative curriculum’ should also not be a reason for worry, if the basic learning of a child is progressing.

Bonnie made her own self-created curriculum available to the group for viewing. As a final word of encouragement, she reminded everyone to never stop learning, as we seek to glorify God in our home schools with the abundant resources He provides.

Thanks so much, Bonnie, for your practical encouragement to be good stewards of God’s gifts!