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How to Choose Materials
Develop a basic familiarity with the market by attending curriculum fairs. Examine the wares, hear the spiels, attend the vendors' workshops. Take notes, business cards, catalogs. (See "Tip" at bottom of page, and also see FAQ 6.)
Determine your child's abilities, learning needs and interests and establish clear educational goals.
Obtain recommendations.
Read reviews by Mary Pride and/or Cathy Duffy (available at libraries and from most homeschool suppliers).
Read catalogs and internet review sites.
Get advice from persons who have actually used the books you are considering. These could include friends, people you meet at a support group meeting, at the YMCA or on the internet, and people who work in the homeschool market (e.g. The Home School Advisors (connected with Arlington's Home School store) at 1-800-788-1221, store salespeople, and representatives at hotel meetings or curriculum fairs).
Personally examine content and presentation. If possible, get your child's hands on the books so you can get his input, too. Places to see (and buy) textbooks include curriculum fairs, stores and hotel meetings. (Curriculum fairs are not the best place to take the children, due to the crowded environment and admission charges.)
Where to Buy Materials
Curriculum Retailers: Dightmans (S. 38th St.) carries a small inventory of more variety than the tiny space at the back of the store seems capable of holding; they have an impressive catalog and will order anything in the catalog for you to examine (and call you when it arrives.) Good News, on 6th Avenue, also has a selection. Both these stores regularly offer discount coupons, so get on their mailing lists. In Puyallup, try the Children's Bookshop on River Road; in Federal Way, try the Christian bookstore near REI.
For large selection, go to Christian Supply in Kent, Builder Books in Lynnwood, and The Home School store in Arlington.
For overwhelming selection, go to the curriculum fairs.
Books by A Beka Publications are displayed only at curriculum fairs and hotel meetings (or by special arrangement for support groups); the schedule of meetings (including Fife and Puyallup) is available on their web site. (For curriculum fairs, see FAQ 6.)
Publishers: Some publishers do not wholesale their wares. Visit A Beka's web site to get their schedule of "hotel meetings" (displays). Go to curriculum fairs to see A Beka, Rod and Staff, and other products not available at local stores.
Educational toy stores: for teaching aids, art supplies and supplemental materials, go to School Daze and Teaching Toys.
Arts and Crafts stores: Michaels, Artco and Import Outlet.
"School" supplies (including some art supplies): Target and Office Depot.
Great Catalogs
The mail order market for homeschoolers is huge.. Start with the Market and Textbook links in this web site. Here's one not found on the web.
Nature's Workshop 1-800-824-2329 science stuff, Christian nature magazine, & more
Books and Materials Tip: Conquering Curriculum Fairs
Purpose: Here's our chance to question veteran homeschoolers who represent the various vendors, and share knowledge with fellow explorers as we do the backpack dance around the shelves and racks together. We can finger through the pages of those books we've read about in catalogs… and realize that we almost made a big mistake, or get the reassurance we need to put down our cash. We pick up ideas to pursue in the future, and we meet a vendor whose existence had escaped us. We compare options from different publishers, and compare grade levels side-by-side to find the best fit for that hard-to-fit child. We might even find one of those perfect gifts. We leave with enough fresh information to… well, even veterans confess to being overwhelmed.
Planning: Make a list of things you want to see and/or buy. If you're new to the fair, be prepared for an information overload.
Preparation: Wear comfortable clothes, especially shoes. Wear a back pack. Consider packing a tote bag as well, in case you can't get a close parking space. If you can park nearby, take a break to empty your backpack into your vehicle. Carry a pen and notebook, and take your checkbook in case you want something from a vendor who can't take plastic. Consider wearing a fanny pack for quick access to your pen and wallet.
Procedure: Get the hall map when you arrive, and use it. As you tour the hall, mark off the exhibits that don't have value for you and take notes for exhibits
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