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time4tea
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 12:42pm | IP Logged
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Hi All,
Well, I thought I had the upcoming school year all figured out, but then the reality of our very tight finances hit me square in the face  . Now, I am trying to re-group and reconsider what to do for our two oldest Middle School aged children (ages 13 and 11). While I typically try to find as much at the library as I possibly can (which is sometimes no easy task at our library), I am needing suggestions for other subjects like English Grammar, for example, and I was hoping to do some kind of formal writing coursework with our older dc (something like Lingua Mater, which is currently on my wish list). I am also needing some religion suggestions. Beyond using the library, how do the rest of you stretch your homeschooling dollar? Do you combine ages? I was thinking of combining my 13 and 11 year old as much as possible, using many of the suggestions from Mater Amabilis Levels 3 and 4. While I do not own From Sea to Shining Sea or All Ye Lands and cannot afford either one at this point, I do have The Old World and America. Would that be a workable "spine" for a 13 and 11 year old? Even after all these years, I still worry at times that I will skip over some important facet of the dc's education that will negatively impact them later on. There are so many choices for books, materials, etc., out there, and of course, it isn't possible to "have it all". I'm sorry for starting to ramble here. Looking forward to all of your comments!
Many blessings to you all!
Tea
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ALmom
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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Could you borrow from another homeschooler nearby. I know my sis and I exchange books (we deliver and return them in ziplock bags for protection and tend to store them a bit higher on the shelfs). If we are doing totally different time periods or grade levels, we loan some TB - esp. math and history. My dd and another homeschooling friend exchange literature and historical fiction so we don't have to purchase it all. The live a fair distance but we do see them at Mass on Sundays so this is generally when they exchange books.
Still I'm in the same boat - already over budget in books ordered and I still need a few. The library is no help here. I have yet to find anything.
Janet
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
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I know what you mean. I would love an unlimited ability to purchase homeschooling books and materials...I am so bad at finding and returing books on a regular basis to the library... (I need a better system) Maybe I just have to learn how to do it better and just go...sorta like a penance I have been avoiding the library like the plague since our van died...I would rather buy a book than pay a fine! And to make it worse...you all have such great recommendations for books that I just want to OWN them ALL...I would have to buy a new house just for this purpose!...shame on you!!  (Just Kidding!)
I try to stretch dollars by selling what we don't use and trying to use that money to buy what we need -used. If I pay with paypal...nothing leaves my bank account as I will use the money from the sold items to pay for the new ones. If the balance is gone...I have to be done purchasing too...or at least that is the general rule.
If I have a great idea to purchase a book that just came out...I TRY to wait until I start seeing it used on cathswap. Purchasing from Cathswap has been our saving grace!
I do combine ages. I homeschool my 5yo and 7yo together and my 10,12,12yo together. The only thing that varies is Math....for that they have their own pace. For Science and History I will do the same thing for all as well. I just simplify more for the younger ones. This makes it especially fun to explore a topic as a group with a field trip or activity....and enhancing their play time...they will act out Columbus' discovery on the swing set as a group and the older will read books to the younger on any given topic and they will all benefit...etc...
Using the computer to research things has filled in a lot of gaps for us. There are so many great field trips on the web too! In addition, educational DVD's from Netflix were great for capturing the immagination of the dc...we would jump from there to a book from inter-library loan. I loved Family Pass/Mentura for this...I used to load my queue by topic and balance that out with my book list...too bad they are gone!
__________________
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 2:18pm | IP Logged
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Yes, I know what you mean! I second the internet as an awesome tool for so many subjects. There are websites for everything nowdays! We use it ALOT. And for the ages you are talking about the internet is especially rich.
I think I have links to online sources for every subject you listed! I will be glad to share them if you wish, but they are quite easy to track down through google and such.
I think Old World and America would work as a spine, any history text would, really, even if you just go through the table of contents for a list of topics and then research them on the internet, then have dc notebook it. Having a timeline book also helps to make sure you don't leave huge gaps because it is so obvious due to the blank pages!
Cheer up! This can be done!
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Natalia
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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Have you taken a look at the Ambleside website here ?
For grammar I am considering using this .
and there is also:daily grammar
For Spanish (if you are interested) i have found these
Spanish grammar exercises and this
Last year someone suggested this site of online courses at a good price
online courses
I have never use any of these sites as stand alone curriculum but I think they will do in a pinch.
Natalia
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time4tea
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 3:11pm | IP Logged
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Natalia,
Thanks so much for the links, esp. the one ot the online courses! I had no idea anything like this existed - I always just assumed online courses would be out of reach for us. Have your dc ever taken any of these courses before, and if so, which? Thanks again very much!
Blessings,
Tea
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Natalia
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 3:34pm | IP Logged
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time4tea wrote:
| Have your dc ever taken any of these courses before, and if so, which? Thanks again very much! |
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No I never got around to it but there some information on this thread
online classes
Natalia
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aussieannie
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| Posted: June 23 2006 at 5:20pm | IP Logged
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time4tea wrote:
| Thanks so much for the links, esp. the one ot the online courses! I had no idea anything like this existed |
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ditto!  thank you Natalia, will be handing this link address out to others in Australia - the kind and generous comments and support given on this site have wide reaching effects, very apostolic when you think about it. (Timely too, I've just started our two week break so lots of planning ahead.)
__________________
Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: the $ cost of homeschooling
