Getting Free and Low Cost Homeschool Textbooks

Cheap or Free Textbooks Help Build a Homeschool Curriculum

Oct 26, 2009 John Wu

For many parents with homeschooled children, the high cost of textbooks can be prohibitive. However, there are many ways to avoid textbooks or get them cheap or free.

One of the disadvantages of homeschooling is that parents are responsible for the cost of textbooks and other learning material, which are provided for free in public schools. Nevertheless, there are many ways to decrease the cost of materials. Although it's not possible to get everything for free, it can be done on a budget without sacrificing quality. With the internet, it's possible to build the bulk of homeschooling curriculum for free while supplementing the gaps with cheap used textbooks.

Free Homeschool Curriculum

There are many ways to avoid spending money on textbooks altogether, which can be an expensive way to build a good curriculum. Parents can avoid buying an English grammar textbook by exposing children to good writing from books that can be checked out from the public library. Basic math can be taught by most parents using just a blank sheet of paper or a whiteboard. Children would much rather learn math visually from a parent than read from a math textbook.

The internet is full of free, high quality educational resources. Purdue's Online Writing Lab is a very good resource for writing. Universities such as MIT and UC Berkeley produce free online videos for some of their courses.

Free Homeschool Textbook

Free textbooks via PDF or e-book exist. Textbook Revolution contains links to several hundred textbooks where users can download for free. Most of them are designed for high school or college students although some parents may find them useful for advanced elementary and middle school aged students as well.

Lots of textbooks that go out-of-print end up at library donations. In some cases, multiple copies of a book show up. One way to borrow a textbook (or any book) long term is to check out from one library, then check out the same book from a different library branch after the final renewal. As long as there are two copies of the same book without a hold, this method works indefinitely. If books are borrowed from a library, make sure due dates are followed since fines can be very expensive if they're are not renewed or returned on time.

Used Homeschool Textbooks

If a textbook must be bought, do not buy it new. Children who go to public schools generally do not read new textbooks. At a minimum, several years worth of classes read each text. Homeschool students gain no advantage from buying new.

There are many websites on the internet that specialize in used homeschooling textbooks. Used texts cost 25% to 75% less than retail, depending on demand and whether it's an older edition. In most cases, there are no advantages to buying the current edition. Most school subjects have not changed for decades or even centuries.

Community college bookstores often have used textbooks suitable for those in high school or lower grades, because they teach basic skills classes such as arithmetic and ESL along with advanced college courses. These bookstores allow a parent to preview the text thoroughly before purchase. The best time to visit a college bookstore is around the beginning of the semester or quarter.

After the children are done with the textbook, it should be sold for cash or traded in. There are many places on the internet that sell or trade textbooks.

The prices of textbooks are very high, especially for those nearing college level. However, there are many resources available that can help parents create a good curriculum on a budget while minimizing the amount spent.

Those reading this article may also be interested in learning about homeschooling in California.

The copyright of the article Getting Free and Low Cost Homeschool Textbooks in Homeschooling is owned by John Wu. Permission to republish Getting Free and Low Cost Homeschool Textbooks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Page From a Textbook for Homeschool Curriculum

Student Reading From a Used Homeschool Textbook