Can anyone tell me what school supplies I need to home school my sixth grader?

Question

We have a very low income. Last year I homeschooled him for the first 9 weeks of the year and used this book I have called "Home Learning Year by Year", which I still will be using, a few second hand A Becka books (don't have any now that are grade appropriate), and (mostly) a lot of library books and videos. I also copied worksheets out of one particular library book with a copy machine at the library. I need to do this as cheaply as humanly possible, and other than the limited guidelines my book gives me I have no idea about curriculum and worksheets and such. We are in Tx, in case that matters. I also will need something to help him practice times tables (he forgets them all over again whenever he goes longer than a week w/ out practicing, and to help him practice the names and capitals of states. I had flashcards for those things, but can't find them now. He is behind his grade level, which is why I want to homeschool. Last year he caught up a LOT after the 9 wks homeschool.

P.S. Last year I would have homeschooled him all year, but finances forced me to go back to work, and I was already attending college. I've found that I can do any two of the following three; homeschool, work, college, but not all three at the same time.

O.K. There are too many really great answers for me to pick just one, so I am putting it to a vote! I can't choose one w/ out feeling like I shortchanged the others!

Answer 1

Book Samaritan helps homeschoolers with free curriculum,
http://www.booksamaritan.com

Also try



http://www.abcteach.com
http://www.homeschooldiscount.com
http://www.rocksolidinc.com
http://www.kn.att.com
http://www.wxdude.com
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/star
http://about.com/education
http://www.freeworksheets.com
http://teacher.scholastic.com
http://www.tlsbooks.com
http://www.mathsisfun.com
http://www.coolmath.com
http://www.dltk-kids.com
http://www.auntlee.com
http://www.funbrain.com
http://www.brainpopjr.com
http://www.iknowthat.com
http://kidsites.com
http://www.eclectichomeschool.org
http://www.rainbowresource.com
http://www.donnayoung.org
http://www.triviumpursuit.com
http://themathworksheetsite.com


Some of these are free and some are just reasonably priced. There may be a few that are geared toward younger kids, I think I weeded them out of the list, but I might have missed a few.

Answer 2

I can understand not being able to do all three at the same time. It can be hard. Remember he doesn't have to do homeschooling 8 hours a day. It really only takes a few hours out of the day to fit everything in. The library is the nest resource along with the computer. It is amazing the free sites they have for kids to learn things like math, science, history, etc. You really have to do some major researching, but google is your best tool for searching thru and finding these sites. I do researching everyday for a bit and seem to come up with something different each time. I wish you luck.

Answer 3

If you have a store called Dollar Tree near you , take advantage of it as they carry a lot of things that can be used for schooling including Times Table posters and Sticker sheets. The sticker sheets also come in States/Capitals, Punctuation, Money,Add/Subtract,Multiply/Divide and many other educational venues. You can make your own flashcards using blank index cards and there is a card game that is called Go Figure that uses the same rules as Go Fish ( each player asks a math ???? and then have to look at their cards to see if they have the answer---do you have a 4 + 8----if you don't have the 'answer' say Go Figure) for higher math, you can make 'playing cards' that go higher....my 9 yr old loves that game and she does Divison.

For Science that is FREE I suggest Krampf.com. All you do is sign up at his website (he has a yahoo group too) and he sends you Science Experiments at no cost and as he freelances with the school system, his stuff qualifies as too what they learn in a classroom (but much more fun). There are websites for just about everything and if you look hard enough you can find the FREE stuff. I suggest that you invest in a printer/copier as it will save you in copy money...the Lexmark 1200 series is good as it is an All in One (print/copy/scan). It runs about $65 dollars but worth the investment.
I get workbooks for my daughter from a variety of places, but Amazon.com is the best place as you can get used workbooks for half the price ( I bought about 4 that were considered used, but had no writing in them) and they have one about Presidents & States that has President flashcards you can cut out. Walmart carries some of the workbooks but they will run you about $15 just for 1.

Here are some good sites:
www.aaastudy.com
www.handwritingforkids.com
www.polytechnic.org (U.S History practice quizzes)
www.multiplication.com
www.OBDK.com (virtual Owl Pellet dissection)
www.funology.com (science)
www.printablemaps.net
www.the teacherscorner.net
www.math.com
www.Iknowthat.com
www.pecentral.org (for PE)
www.teachertools.org
www.totallyfreemath.com
www.howstuffworks.com
www.hotchalk.com
www.lessonplanspage.com

Also troll the Thrift stores (remember stuff is always coming in).

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

We did a lot through our public library. Have you searched the card catalog/computer for texts? My son checked out an algebra text and renewed it until he finished the book. We look online at our LEA's curriculum review and find books to fit it. It is quite precise
http://www.norman.k12.ok.us/088/index_files/page0001.html
We probably spent less than $20 a year so far and most of that on craft items since we have so many young ones in our home. We also have memberships to the local museums, science, art, history as well as the zoo, so that is another $200 a year, but worth it because their programs are free to members and the kids have learned so much there.

As for multiplication, when kids have trouble with that, usually it's because they don't understand that multiplying is nothing more than fast addition. There's a great website for teaching it...http://www.multiplication.com/teach.htm
but these are fun too
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/mmathmult.htm
http://www.teachingtables.co.uk/

Answer 5

You can find used text books for a lot less online. Keep utilizing the library, that's a great resource! For flashcards index cards and a permanent marker will do to make your own. Check out Christianbook.com in their homeschool section. They have a lot of reasonably priced items.

Answer 6

Well before you go and tell someone you should really ask her about the entire situation and exactly what she is planning to do, telling someone doesnt seem like a good idea at this point and if you do decide to tell someone have it not be a teacher, teachers would just go and tell her parents and not help the situation at all they might even make it worse. You should just talk to her.

Answer 7

Contact the school board. They are required by law (as long as they have the supplies) to supply you with the same textbooks that are used in public schools for free (as long as you return them at the end of the year, otherwise you will be billed). They do not let you use the teachers manuals, but for most, you can just go by the student version. You can also find some educational games online. I also use edhelper.com.

Answer 8

Make a booklet (hand written) 4 pages double side. 8 questions on one page. for everyday so ex. 26 booklets for 26 days and make him do one booklet everyday. he has to write the time ex. 6:00 - 6:14 . this will help him not forget his multiplication

Answer 9

First of all, good for you for utilizing the library and used curricula. We seem to be the most resourceful when it counts the most, right? ;D

We h.s. with "a la carte" curriculum, never adhering to one particular program. I have never seemed happy with just one way of doing things anyway. You may agree, that's why you're making the sacrifice you are. ;)

I go with Horizon Math for the arithmetic portion and for the 6th grade you'll probably need the teachers edition to help you answer questions and correct his work. (hint: have him correct his own work if you can, it teaches them to be responsible for this area. All kids are different though so go with your gut on this) You can get new consumable math books for around $11-$13, you'll need 2 per year, one for each 'semester'. You also should have a good selection of used teachers editions at the homeschool store you use for these and it'll save you a few $'s not buying the boxed set. Just make sure the T.E. matches the workbook, sometimes they revise these every few years. Horizon is a wonderful program, inexpensive and proves you don't have to go with a pricey "A-Beka" type to get a thorough system.

For science we use Apologia Creation series. (Right now we're on Exploring Creation through Botany) A little pricey but you may be able to find it used. $30 for a hard cover that's good for the whole school year and I use it for a group session with my 5th, 3rd, and kindergartner. So think about it being used for more than 1 child, it's not too bad. It's very well written and very organized with a complete list of needed supplies and the option to purchase a kit instead of following the shopping list.

History for us is Story of the World. Some folks like it, some don't. We do, so review it some afternoon in the bookstore and see if it fits with what you'd like to do.

The grammar we use is Easy Grammar. Super easy for them, they just love it. You probably won't need a teachers guide if you're good at this subject, or you may be able to find a used T.E. Once you're done through 7th grade, that's it. No more grammar because it's time to move on from there.

We splurged on Spelling Power 4th edition, maybe you could find it used or on Ebay for less. We paid about $65 for the main book and 2 consumable study books for the 5th and 3rd graders. This program is AMAZING! I would highly suggest it. Once you're done with the book, that's all you have to do. It's good from about 8 yr old through adult & you tailor it to your child's skill level.

As far as a formal writing program, I'm still searching for one. Daily journaling is important is is very inexpensive. The writingfix.com site at the bottom can be a springboard for you to use if you're at a loss for ideas, I know I do sometimes. It also has many ideas you can use for teaching this important skill at home.

Surf the web for sites that give free printable templates. There are many to choose from.

About the capitals and states. There is a great series of childrens music that teaches states and capitals, presidents and government, ABC's, numbers, letter sounds, division, multiplication, adding, subtracting and is available in both tape and CD form. They run $10-$13 each, but the investment was worth it for me. We listen to them non-stop in the car and my 5 year old is well on his way, the older girls memorized all 50 states and the capitals in 2 weeks. The president's song gets stuck in your head, but what better way to learn? Put to song, these drills become enjoyable and addictive. It seemed a lot to me at first, but I realized that weeding out some of our unnecessary expenses, we could afford these.

Now, affording these things takes money. Easier said than done sometimes, I know. We have 1 income and 4 kiddos. I don't get my hair or nails done, or have a house keeper, or name brand clothes. We don't eat out and we pack a snack on outings. Be creative.

1. When the holidays come around and the grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins/friends ask what to get you or the kids? Be honest. School curriculum is just as good if not better than $ being put into a college fund because if you can't get to college, what good is the $ going to do you?

2. Have a fundraiser. I'm personally going to do this in the fall to teach savvy money skills, savings, budgeting and charity. There's a website that you can get T-shirts for your very own findraiser you can do with just 1 person. The link is below. What we'll do is figure out our budget for the next school year (we school Jan.-Oct. and break for Nov. and Dec. Our family is in CA so an extended Christmas break is ideal). We'll then figure out how many T-Shirts we need to sell to reach our goal, and any extra $ we make will be donated to a local at-risk childrens home in my children's names.

3. Sell back your curriculum after you're done with it. Obviously if you have more children to teach, you may want to hang onto them. But it can help defray the cost of the supplies and the store may give you more of a credit towards purchasing the next set you need vs. getting cash.

I'm in Texas too so if you would like, email me. I'd love to send you more links I have. I have them saved on my laptop, not on my Mac which I'm using right now...

Many Blessings!

***I just found this site, I have no experience with it but it may help you for now http://www.k12.com/dg/dg_K12_1.html?se=Google&campaign=National_K12_Brand_Job_926&adgroup=K12_Nat_Brand&kw=k12%20homeschooling

Answer 10

http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-resource.shtml
http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-resource.shtml
http://www.usedhomeschoolbooks.com/used-abeka-curriculum.asp
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=slv8-msgr&p=used+homeschool+curriculum&rs=1&fr2=rs-top
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=slv8-msgr&p=free+homeschool+resources+homeschoolers&rs=1&fr2=rs-top
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu9OlRrZGpMsA9k1XNyoA?p=+homeschool+support+groups&y=Search&fr=slv8-msgr