Can you do Abeka on a BUDGET?? My personal tips & tricks for Abeka homeschool curriculum on a budget

[@CallieBeth846]

When I first started homeschooling my oldest was in kindergarten. We were on a VERY tight budget but I wanted to do Abeka. The ONLY things I bought were the K5 Letters and Sounds student workbook and the K5 Number Skills workbook. I continued ONLY buying the student workbooks for LA and arithmetic until grade 4 then I started adding in teacher keys and lessons plans as the material got more challenging and I wanted to be sure I was on my game lol! I absolutely agree for at least grades kindergarten through 3rd you can absolutely get away with just the student workbooks. My oldest is now in 8th grade and it definitely didn’t hinder him in anyway lol I’ve done the same with my younger daughters. However I did add in history and science with Abeka with my middle child in 3rd grade as the Lord has blessed us over the years and we’ve been able to expand our homeschool budget. Thanks for this very informative video! Abeka definitely can be done on a tight budget!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Thanks for sharing that. Way to make it stretch! And so happy that you’ve been able to add more over the years ☺️❤️

[@homeschoolingthroughhighschool]

Well said.

[@dianeperez6816]

Thank you! Very helpful video. Love how you broke everything down, and gave some helpful tips that I wouldn’t think about otherwise.

[@velvetme22]

I have a strange budget decision to share and it relates to the economy of time and mental capacity. Get the full (used) grade 1 and use it as K-1. Between phonics grammar spelling handwriting and reading comprehension absolutely have enough material to spread over two full years starting with the kindergartners I’m just going slowly to mastery. If you feel like you have to have a K specific program, just get the workbooks and DIY all the other fun playful materials like cards and games

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Great idea! Thanks for that!!

[@homeschoolingthroughhighschool]

Good idea!

[@annetteg1174]

Yes! I did this when I started homeschooling. Do the higher grade and take your time with it. Books are repetative and you won't miss out on their grade.

[@sz8144]

Thank you so much! This was exactly what I was looking for!

[@peace-luv533]

This was so helpful... I have my note & I'm ready to save!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@HomeGurl54]

Thank you so much for all this information

[@MsPatECakes]

Thanks in the process of getting preschool and k5 items.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

☺️☺️☺️

[@lifewithginab]

This was such a great video on advice on Abeka! Great tips Lauren! I've always wondered about Abeka and you broke it down so well! Thanks for sharing!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

You’re so kind! Thanks so much ☺️❤️

[@ashleyvanley9114]

This was incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!

[@jennifer.palmer]

We’re doing grade 1 language and arithmetic. Only bought the workbooks:) we supplement with our own fun hands-on lessons/library books and donated stuff. I’ll grab a few extras for 2nd grade. It’s worked so well. I was worried we would have to buy the videos for next year.. I think we can swing it without again.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Absolutely! We’ve never done videos and have had great success (so have many others). Sounds like you’re doing a great job of adapting it and making it work for you!

[@mandygeorge4680]

This could not have came at a better time!! I researched Abeka so much yesterday!! Thank you for all of the information and tips!! 🥰

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

O nice 😄

[@mandygeorge4680]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler which did you use to teach your littles to read?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@mandygeorge4680 Abeka ☺️

[@mandygeorge4680]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler I was thinking of trying Abeka this year. But she will be in 2nd grade. She just didn’t click with TGTB language arts. But I don’t know what level to start her on.

[@boogsassy1]

I'm going ahead and invest in Abeka again. We did it for her 5th grade, then she wanted to go back to public school, and I allowed it because we're overseas and she wanted some friends, since then we are going back to the States, and she's ready for going back for the 7th grade.

[@GardenMinistry.]

100%!! Great advice about Abeka, that not many videos on KZbin mention. I hated the idea of our kids being glued to a screen all day using the videos (and let's face it, they are long and not many kids have the attention span), so we went straight to parent-led unaccredited, and we only purchased a few items, not the entire grade level like you said! We used the workbooks for LA & Math, and readers, and I made my own note cards for some of the phonics and sight words. We use other cheaper sources for other subjects!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Great example of how to make it fit your needs and still not spending a whole lot of money!

[@haley_me]

So I just learned that the videos you don’t get to keep with Abeka you have to send them back after 12 months. I’m kinda shocked cause I’m spending so much and I can’t even pass those down to when my younger daughter starts 1st grade unless I purchase the cds again which is $800!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Yea, unfortunately, the dvds and all that are definitely not budget friendly. They work for a lot of people but you do have to keep in mind the cost. I’ve never used them for multiple reasons, but cost being one of them. I suppose people save for it and view it like it’s still a more cost effective option than private school. Sorry you were in for a shock 🙁 definitely not fun to realize that!

[@kadieschaefer2874]

This is fantastic advice. A way we save money with Abeka is by using the comprehension checks as our "quizzes" and the chapter checkups at the end of the chapters as our "tests" in our Science, Health and History/Geography Books. All we use is notebook paper and can pass along to another sibling and ultimately sold!! We also do the Bible Flash-A-Card Series as a family subject, and it it everyone's favorite subject!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Love that idea! I totally forgot to mention you can combine history and science with multiple kids to do as a group subject.

[@jennakelly4446]

This video was so helpful. Thank you for the tips! Next year will be our first year using abeka and I have two kindergartens who will be learning to read. Its been overwhelming to plan but your videos have helped me decide on abeka. I do wish you would breakdown for us what you think is necessary though lol. I know you said personal preference but recommendations are so great when you're unfamiliar with the specific curriculum. Thanks for all the tips!!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

It can be overwhelming! If you check out my Abeka playlist in the description, you will see several different kindergarten/teaching my child to read videos and it shows exactly what I use ☺️

[@homeschoolingthroughhighschool]

We Love Abeka in our household. This video is well done.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@garrettcase4558]

Hello! I am new to your channel and are new to Homeschooling (2024-2025 school year). Thank you so much for sharing your experience...My question for you and others homeschooler parents. Do you buy every lesson planning for every subject? if you just use workbooks how do you go about it without instruction? so confuse and overwhelm. please help

[@tjalvarez24]

So you’re saying we don’t have to buy the Test key for Language and Letters and Numbers correct? Thanks! Don’t mind saving that extra money. 😁

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

No that’s not exactly what I said. I said you didn’t need the parent kit that includes ALL the extra things. If you do the tests, you can purchase the test key by itself used (since it’s a non-consumable). For the younger grades you will need the test keys because they have the directions for what you need to say for the answers (like 1st and 2nd grade). 3rd grade and up, you don’t NEED it but it’s helpful to have. Not sure what grade you are looking into

[@tjalvarez24]

I’m so sorry I’m more confused now. I’m not sure if I need the Letters and Sounds Teacher Key or Test Key or both. Would you recommend both? Or is one more important than the other? Thank you! 🙏

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@tjalvarez24 if you plan on doing tests then yes you need the teacher key. You don’t need the teacher key for the letters and sound and numbers unless you want to have them.

[@wearyourcrown88]

I don’t know if they have this every year but this past April they had a buy 2 get 1 free on student workbooks. You can only do it once per order but I did 2 separate orders and it allowed me to, plus they always have free shipping which is awesome. (I wish Masterbooks had free shipping! 😅)

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Aww man, I totally missed that one!! I’m keeping it in mind for next year!

[@daisycamarillo3890]

Do you have a video on how to go about unaccredited? We have been doing accredited for 5k & 1st grade. I can't understand how unaccredited would work like how not doing some test, I'm just confused. Could you explain that like how do you pass a grade without proof of testing I don't know I need help ! I'm thinking of doing unaccredited next I just want to make sure I'm doing things right.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Unaccredited would be like using any other homeschool curriculum out there. I’ve never done the videos so I can’t speak for that, but unaccredited parent led is just like other homeschool curriculum. You get the teachers guide (depending on the subject - I never used one for the elementary history or science). And it they are grasping the material you can move on. If not, continue working on whatever challenges they have.

[@dianaramos8742]

Do you have a video on how you teach k5 without the lesson plan or using it only sporadically?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

I don’t think so, but I did a do a lesson with us for kindergarten where I showed how we did a lesson. It’s under my Abeka playlist.

[@emilylong9887]

I seriously just asked this on one of your older videos about abeka haha. You read my mind.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Haha good!! 😊

[@jessicaagardi1077]

ok so I'm pulling my kindergartener from public online school, its a mess. My husband used Abeka when he was younger and he liked it a lot . I know times have changed but i love the fact that its Christian. I'm just soooo confused on how to even begin with homeschooling with Abeka. I was just about to buy the whole curriculum for k5 but I'm like wow , do i really need all this and I've seen cheaper sets on eBay and other places . So i was going with the unaccredited and don't really know where to go from there. I did try and join fb groups for Abeka but haven't been accepted yet . I could really use some ones help .. :-( I don't understand how i can prove that he is doing his work.. If its not too much to ask can you or anyone reading this help me ?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Hey there! Sorry you’re feeling overwhelmed and struggling….we’ve all been there, it’s totally normal 😌 I have a whole playlist on Abeka, with videos on K5. I would suggest checking those out as well as other KZbin videos on Abeka (if that’s the curriculum you want to go with). That will be the most helpful I think. Then if you still have questions, send me and email or DM on Instagram. Hang in there! You got this!

[@courtneydavis1810]

I buy the child kit unbound and then laminate everything. My children use ultra clean crayola markers to do their work, I scan it with my phone and then we rinse the marker off. We have to make a portfolio in our state and it makes making a digital portfolio A LOT easier. I save hundreds if not a thousand+ on curriculum every year.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Thanks for commenting that. Like I said, I know people do that but thanks for the detail of how it works for you! ❤️☺️

[@kaylamayer3148]

Extremely helpful, thank you! Would you recommend the readers that come with the curriculum or can we supplement any readers?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Yes I would! They go along with the curriculum nicely

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

But I also guess it depends on the grade. For kinder and 1st we did, but once they learned to read fluently, they didn’t love the readers so I let them read books they chose. We just used the readers for learning to read

[@lynnetteward5063]

We buy used. I usually look all year for the next yr. Not the best solution but it works. Also we have a Books by the Pound store. We find Abeka there all the time. Teacher keys seem to be so easy to find, I have gotten two then white out one for student to use

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

So lucky! I’d love to have a store like that close by😃

[@Tjels72311]

Do you use the Abeka readers?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

For kindergarten and 1st grade yes, because they’re still learning to read We’ve tried them for 2nd and 3rd but my girls didn’t really enjoy them so they just read books they preferred

[@carlajimenez7362]

I recommend bju is cheaper is the same as abeka I paid 800 includes bible

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Good to know!

[@logee527]

Yes definitely support the college of known rapists. Great idea.

[@snowps1]

What would you recommend I buy for 7th grade math and language arts for abeka?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Like I mentioned in the video, that really depends on what you are wanting for your homeschool. Do you want to do the tests/quizzes for all subjects or just one or none? For the LA, do you wish to do the spelling and literature in addition to the grammar or do you want a separate curriculum for that? Once you know what direction you want to go, then you can go from there. And you can purchase the answer keys used for a fraction of the cost of new.

[@RockSimmer-gal4God]

The videos seem not very homeschool friendly!!! I love the way of getting what is needed and not everything!!! We have a homeschool store!!! We don’t test!!!

[@itslightanddark]

Abeka brainwashing.