ExcitedMama Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I live in Monterey CA and to my knowledge there is no store with homeschool materials in my area. I'm near Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley too which might have something. I've seen posts mentioning teacher stores or homeschool stores can someone give me names to search for to find a place near me? Or a website that would have locations? Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arboreal TJ Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I have never been in a brick and mortar store that sells homeschool curricula. Online stores I love: Rainbow Resource Exodus Books Amazon when all else fails I order from the publisher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenieReighn Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 A homeschool conference is a good way to be able to hold the books before you buy them, but buying books online is what I usually do. I usually find the best deals at https://heartsathomestore.com/ for the books that I'm looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I live in Monterey CA and to my knowledge there is no store with homeschool materials in my area. I'm near Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley too which might have something. I've seen posts mentioning teacher stores or homeschool stores can someone give me names to search for to find a place near me? Or a website that would have locations? Thanks so much! The only way I think you'd find a physical store, is if a particular homeschool vendor lives/operates in your area, and then you might be able to set up a time to go and look at their products. Most curriculum publishers/creators have a website and put a few sample pages or a sample lesson online to help you see what the product is like. Even Amazon will sometimes have programs of interest and the "see inside" option. Another good online way to "see" a few pages of most curricula you are interested in is at these two websites, which carry a huge variety of materials and show the most pages: Christian Book, and Rainbow Resource. You can also ask for Rainbow Resource to mail you their fabulous phonebook-sized catalog; I learned SO much about homeschooling and how different programs work by reading through the many wonderful product reviews. Other great ways to hold and flip through actual curriculum: - homeschool group Ask if anyone has "XYZ" program, and if you could come look at it. Our homeschool group usually has 2 curriculum share days each semester, where people can bring their favorite programs and let others look at it -- or bring something that someone asks about. - used curriculum sale A lot of homeschool groups have a used curriculum sale, where you can not only look, but can buy cheaper! :) - vendor of specific curricula in your area Sometimes a homeschooler has a home business of selling specific products for a specific curriculum creator; locally, we have someone who works with Sonlight; another who sells IEW materials; and another lady who sells Bob Jones and some other products. - homeschool convention In addition to speakers on various topics, there is usually a big vendor hall, and you can "window shop" and flip through all kinds of programs. BEST of luck! And welcome to the WTM boards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Rainbow resource and Christian book distributors have good prices. I often buy directly from the publisher. Amazon also works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Oh, and there's a pretty good convention in Modesto (I know) in July. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 A few bookstores around here seem to be trying to stay in business by really expanding their education/school section. They don't sell the smaller homeschool curricular materials, obviously, but they have tons of books intended for teachers on all subjects, as well as manipulatives and posters and various school supplies. I don't know how you'd find such a store, but I think that if 2 bookstores near me have gone this way, there have to be more out there. Are there any local lists or websites you could ask a recommendation for a good teacher supply store? You could also see if there's a Lakeshore Learning B&M store near you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 We have a few stores in the Sacramento area that exclusive homeschool bookstores and carry tons of curriculum. Will you ever be in the Sacramento area? I don't know about San Jose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Barnes and Nobles San Jose stores have FLL, SOTW, WWS and WWE. Lakeshore Learning at San Jose has classroom materials ETA: Barnes and Nobles has at least a shelf dedicated to homeschooling and another shelf to teacher education. They have discount for homeschoolers also. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bn-at-school/faq.asp?pid=29387 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 RAFT is fun as well but for different kinds of things, I think there is one in San Jose http://www.raft.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Evan Moore and Critical Thinking Press are both in Monterey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Physical stores-google "Homeschool" in your area. You may be surprised. I've found two dedicated homeschool stores in various areas while traveling, but I've also found private schools that have bookstores that are open to the public, Christian bookstores that carry a homeschool section, Used bookstores that maintain a homeschool section, publishers' company stores, and teaching supply stores that carry a lot of homeschool materials. Usually if they consider it a market at all, they'll make sure it's listed high on their web crawler terms (and if you actually check a phonebook, are listed there, too). It's rare to have nothing in an area that I've found. You may still not find what you want there (I can think of at least four places in my area where I could buy Saxon Algebra 1/2, but none where I can buy Lof Pre-Algebra that aren't online) but it's worth checking. I try to buy as much of my homeschool materials from physical stores, especially when I know that they're owned/run by homeschoolers/former homeschoolers as I can. I want to encourage those businesses. My favorite (a dedicated homeschool store in GA) won major points with me when I heard the owner direct a woman away from an expensive, all-in one pack, explaining that all she really needed was a couple of books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtsmamtj Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Exodus Books is my go to home school store. I only visit there about once a year, everything else I do online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBS Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Use Google maps to do searches, like suggested. Try also "bookstore", "used bookstore", "teacher store". Call them and ask if they know of anywhere that sells used homeschool curric. Check with other homeschoolers. Call the homeschool group headquarters in your area. There are two big ones in my area, Richmond, Va. and both have state-wide listings of resources like this, the last time I checked. I have had really great luck with Craigslist. I am very cautious, of course, but after a few e-mails, or a phone call, I am able to decide whether to trust or not. I use Paypal, also, so feel like I have a layer of protection. www.homeschoolclassifieds.com is great, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.