Outsourcing Classes

As my children approached high school years I began to think about things like higher math, fine arts, and science. Could I continue to teach all subjects to all children? Just short of a nervous breakdown, my answer was loud and clear. "No, I could not."

So I began to look at what we could outsource (classes away from home). Not having a large budget, we needed to get creative.

Here are some of the things we discovered:

Math
1. Teach what you can at home using parents or other family members as the teacher.
2. Consider programs taught by video or online
3. If you cannot find someone within the family to teach, consider bartering (trade them weekly cookies or meals, cleaning, babysitting, etc.).
4. If free classes are not possible, search around your area for existing classes. This might be through a co-op, a homeschool store, or even another homeschooling family willing to teach classes for a reduced fee.

Science
1.  We personally did not do formal science classes until middle school (6th grade). Elementary years were spent in nature studies and science experiments. (Did you know that you can grow vegetables that you can eat? Did you know that cooking is a "food science" or that you can explode a zipper baggie with vinegar and baking soda? I wonder why...??? Science).
2. If you live in a well populated area, chances are that there are other homeschoolers looking for the same class. See if you can co-teach or trade classes. I have known people who traded teaching with other families to save them both some money. If you need science, what can you teach? Do you know a second language? Do you enjoy the messy craft projects that other moms might not want to do?
3. Search around to see if there is a co-op or class taught locally. Many co-ops offer classes with qualified teachers in higher math and science.

Fine Arts
1. You can do online learning with programs like Meet the Masters. http://www.meetthemasters.com/
2. Co-op with friends to do art and/or music classes together. It is always more fun with friends.
3. Check around for a local children's theater. My kids earn 1/2 credit in Fine Arts on their transcripts for each production they are in. 2 productions a year and they have a full credit. Whether actor/actress or working in the technical area of lights or sound, they get the full experience of what it takes to put on a live production.

Math Game Box

Floss box
120 wooden hearts (that fit inside sections)
2 wooden circles (that fit inside sections)
Digital timer (optional - check the Dollar store)
Printed instructions for games
Colored Sharpie pens

Label box sections 1-10 (or to whatever number you'd like)
Put 12 hearts in each section
Number the faces of each heart to skip count by the appropriate number in each section
    1s number: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    2s number: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
    ect.
On the (2) circle pieces, put + and - on either side of one token and < and = on the other (can use a 3rd
     circle and make multiplication and division pieces as well)
Color the edges of every heart in each section a different color (need 10 different colors of Sharpie)
   Coloring them each a different color is helpful when putting them away; the smallest number of each color
    tells student which section to put it back in. Then everything that color goes with it.

Print rules for a few different games on cards that will fit inside one of the sections. Examples:
1. Lay out each section from 1 to 10 in order with the 1's on the top row, 2s on the 2nd row... all the way to 10 (after this is done, show student how to use the grid to see what numbers are when multiplied together - find the 5 on the top and the 8 down the left side = where those 2 intersect is 40. 5x8 is 40)
2. Dump out the hearts from one section and turn them all over so you can't see the numbers. Set the timer for 30 seconds. When you push "start" turn over all the hearts and put them in order of smallest to largest. Then say all the numbers out loud from smallest to largest - you're skip counting!
3. Lay out 2 numbers and use the circle symbols with the < and = sign to show if one number is bigger than another or if they are equal.
4. Lay out equations and see which sign fits. Example: 2 (blank space) 3 = 5 (student puts in addition sign)