What does homeschooling cost?

Often over the years I see people say things like "I can't afford to homeschool" or "I'm using public school at home option, because it's the only way I can afford it."  I realize many of us spend more and may spend on things like homeschool co-op/groups, sports, dance, gymnastics, other activities that many, including myself, would consider the cost of homeschooling.

However, lets take a moment and just discuss the basics. What do you spend PER child, PER year on your primary curriculum? Mind you primary curriculum doesn't' have to be text books, after all there are many methods and many resources. I'm just interested in showing people what is "needed" for the very basics.

As you look at this keep in mind a couple of things:

1. This is the cost just for the primary curriculum/resources the family uses per child; per year. It's an average; an estimation.
2. This does not included the cost of sports, scouting, dance, or any other extra curricular the family may or may not use.
3. A family may not spend all of this at one time. Some families actually spread out the cost and buy things as needed. Like math materials this month and science next. Or they use an all-in-one program and make monthly payments.
4. If you are using one of the free programs (ambleside, old fashion, etc) please estimate what you spend on ink, paper, or whatever else you need to implement and use your curriculum.
5. All other basic supplies like pens, pencils, crayons, markets, writing paper is assumed to be on hand or the cost minimal and that does not need to be counted towards basic cost.

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Scouting Fun

Order of the Arrow.  It's hard to believe that my boy is growing up and has been involved in scouting long enough to participate in the Order of the Arrow.

That is what he currently doing right now. A weekend full of silence, physical labor, and minimal food. A night under the stars with nothing more then a sleeping bag and tarp.

I hope this weekend proves to be an good experience for him.  I will wait to here all about tomorrow.

Record Keeping! ACK!

Record keeping, lesson plans, and all that have never been my strong suite.  I have Homeschool Tracker Plus which is good and fine, but I have been wanting something online, something accessible on many device (ie. tablets/smartphones) and something easy to use.

Homeschool Tracker does have an online version, but I hate to pay monthly/yearly fees for something I already own outright.  So I have been looking at the freebies.  Many of the freebies I didn't like they weren't easy to use that's why several years ago I bought Homeschool Tracker Plus.  There are other freebies out there, now, but my head is still spinning. Recently I did find a nice review of just a few of the online record keeping options out there: What is the best online planner?

While it's helpful I'm still not sure! So tell me what do you use? Not only that but how do you stay consistent in your record keeping?  I'm telling you it's a chore!

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We are walking now!

"This must be like life was like for Laurawhen she walked 3 miles for school". That is what my daughter told me earlier this week when we had no choice, but to walk home from the store because our one and only running vehicle broke down.

What a week it has been. Need to go to the store: walk. Need to go to the library so my son can do his volunteer hours: walk. Need.... well be prepared to walk!

Thankfully, my kids even though we had to cancel chorus, cancel meeting ups with homeschool friends, cancel seeing A Midsummer Night's Dream, have been very helpful and understanding. They even willing and cheerfully walked to the store with me so we could carry more groceries home then I would have if I went alone.

My daughter, who is nearly 13 now, warmed my heart and helped me stay positive this whole week. She told me "We are lucky God blessed us with a good weather day for walking".   Yes, my dear, we were. We have been blessed that this whole week has been nice. Today, I was out and and about in just a heavy sweater.  Being in Northern Illinois the weather can be a hit or a miss.  The other plus I guess to the all the walking is I actually hit 10,000 steps per day! I have been using an iFitto track my walking, eating, etc.  So it was nice to see me actually hit that mark. Most days I get around 3,000 steps in and there have been some days where is a shameful 500!

Besides walking everywhere this week, often for at least 2 miles one way, we celebrated one of our puppy's first birthday.  Puggy, our fawn color puggle, turned 1 on Wednesday.  It won't be long until our black puggle, Onyx, will be one too.  Puggy and Onyx like to share there day to day activities on their facebook page: Unofficial Puggy.  --- the page was started when we only have Puggy.  Maybe we should change the name? Maybe not! Anyway you can check out their page.

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Egg Drop Challenge

Every once in a while we do some cool, fun, easy science experiments. Today's experiment was the egg drop challenge. We used this kit: Mad Science Egg Drop Challenge

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