| Finding suitable curricular materials | | | | local college or university bookstore |
| can be frustrating as periodicals, in | | | | near the beginning of the semester and |
| general, do not review K-12 educational | | | | have a look around. |
| materials. Here are several suggestions | | | | Some cities have stores that sell |
| that I hope will help in your search to | | | | teacher supplies. You may be able to |
| find K-12 materials. Note that this page | | | | find useful materials at one of these. |
| is geared more toward finding individual | | | | When I was a child, I visited one of |
| materials. There are other pages that | | | | these stores in Boston and purchased a |
| contain information on the many complete | | | | book on Algebra II. I taught myself |
| programs, such as Calvert. | | | | Algebra II in a few weeks. You might |
| Many Schools of Education have | | | | also see if they have clearance sales. |
| Educational Resource Centers that | | | | To get an idea of the topics involved in |
| contain, among other things, curricular | | | | math and science subjects, I'd suggest |
| materials and teacher training | | | | looking through an Encyclopedia |
| materials. | | | | Brittanica under mathematics and science |
| Locate a School of Education at a nearby | | | | and their subtopics. |
| college or university and see if they | | | | Curricular materials on a budget In |
| are open to the public. If they are, | | | | general, buying materials individually |
| then pay them a visit and browse through | | | | costs less than buying complete |
| their materials to help in your purchase | | | | programs, typically sold by grade. You |
| decision. | | | | also have more flexibility in that a |
| There are a few retail stores that cater | | | | student can work on materials at his own |
| to homeschoolers. If you are lucky | | | | pace and ability level. Costs can go up |
| enough to have one of these nearby, then | | | | (more than double) if you have to buy |
| a visit might prove fruitful. | | | | the teachers guide though. Here are some |
| Abeka has roadshows in the Spring and | | | | suggestions for finding materials |
| Summer where they display their | | | | inexpensively. |
| materials. | | | | Libraries (public and private) are a |
| Your school district may have their own | | | | good place to look. They are typically |
| curriculum library. Contact your | | | | limited in that you can only have |
| superintendent to see if you could look | | | | materials for a fixed amount of time. In |
| though it. | | | | some cases, it might be useful to |
| Ask the members of your local support | | | | purchase a membership at a private |
| group if you could look through the | | | | library. |
| materials that they use. | | | | School districts dispose of materials |
| Many vendors now have home pages on the | | | | from time-to-time for various reasons. |
| world-wide-web. Some provide very little | | | | Contact your local school district to |
| information, such as a picture, the | | | | see when they do this, and, if you can |
| number of pages, and the price. A few | | | | have them or if you can buy them. |
| provide an overview along with the table | | | | Some school districts dispose of their |
| of contents. | | | | materials by selling to a reseller. If |
| You can ask about specific materials in | | | | this is the case in your district, then |
| one of the homeschooling newsgroups or | | | | contact the reseller to see if he sells |
| on one of the mailing lists. | | | | the materials inexpensively. |
| You can ask vendors for catalogs. These | | | | Your school distract may lend materials |
| will give you pictures and prices but | | | | to homeschoolers in the district. |
| not much else. | | | | Contact your superintendent to see if |
| Various homeschooling groups put on | | | | they do this. |
| curriculum fairs where you can view | | | | There are a few web pages where you can |
| materials. Contact your state | | | | buy and sell used materials. |
| associations to see if there are any in | | | | Libraries dispose of materials from time |
| your area. | | | | to time. Ask them when they do this and |
| You may be able to preview materials | | | | how they dispose of materials. |
| using interlibrary loan at your local | | | | Older materials may be quite suitable |
| library. This is useful if you have a | | | | for certain subjects and can frequently |
| particular textbook in mind. You | | | | be had inexpensively at used bookstores. |
| typically need to fill out a form at | | | | Your parents may have textbooks that |
| your local library and then wait until | | | | they used when they were younger that |
| your request is filled. | | | | may be available to you. |
| If your child is interested in | | | | You may find educational materials at |
| college-level materials, then visit your | | | | garage sales in your local area. |