Because I gave up my career and am now working part-time from home, homeschooling has made it necessary for our family to begin cutting financial corners at the same time we are in need of more resources. All of those items that were once provided by our daughter’s school (manipulatives, art supplies, devices to perform science experiments, musical instruments, etc, etc, etc) now need to be provided by us, or do they?

One of our daughter’s favorite places to go when she was of preschool age was the Toy Lending Library at the Parent Center in Salinas. Let me tell you that this is a phenomenal resource that we can all boast about because many other communities do not have anything remotely close to this concept (not even the Bay Area).

So, I gave them a call to see what they may have available for older children. It turns out that they stock over 3,000 educational toys and resources appropriate for ages 0 to 8. The $30 yearly fee allows any Monterey County family to check out up to 7 toys at a time for a month. The most wonderful thing about the Toy Lending Library is the extremely helpful staff! Not only are they helpful when you are looking for that particular item, they are a resource in and of themselves—very knowledgeable.

Of course, I would feel tremendously guilty if I did not mention all of the wonderful resources that are offered by our public library systems. Monterey County Free Libraries for example, offers suggestions of the books children should be reading, homework assistance, research assistance, story times, access to computers & the internet, arts & craft ideas—the branch we frequent even has Hooked on Math and Hooked on Phonics available (quite expensive to purchase).

In fact, Monterey County Free Libraries specifically mentions on their website that they wish to assist Independent Study Students and Homeschoolers. The library does seem like such an obvious place to hail as a venue for materials, but I wanted to be certain that all homeschooling familes realize it is more than just an outing—it is an extremely valuable place to acquire resources.

An additional place to acquire low cost supplies for homeschoolers is the Teacher Resource Center located at the Monterey County Office of Education. It is packed with vivid, creative materials, sure to spark students’ imaginations. New materials are added frequently, and Resource Center staff is available to help you create educational and decorative items—you will be able to make eye catching bulletin boards, name plates, charts and graphs, lesson displays, huge posters, spiral bound books, holiday decorations and more.

Art and Craft Supplies such as brightly colored and textured papers, compressed sponge sheets, fuzzy fake fur squares, heat & shrink material, sheet magnet material, stickers for all subjects and occasions, bulletin board borders of all types, colored markers, paint and glitter pens are all available.

Available tools for use at the Teacher Resource Center include a library of project ideas, over 1,000 die cut designs for all occasions, large color poster & chart printer, copy machine, laminators, paper cutters, spiral binding machine and supplies, and more—you have to see it to believe it!

All Monterey County residents may use the Teacher Resource Center for a $2.50 daily use fee and the materials that you choose to take home are a fraction of the cost if purchased elsewhere.

So, no longer am I cringing when I look at my checkbook balance as compared to the long list of supplies that would be helpful to meet our homeschooling needs. Between the library, the Toy Lending Library and the Teacher Resource Center, cutting corners has actually become a pleasure!

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