Trade Used Homeschool Curriculum and Books

PaperBack Swap Offers Free Homeschooling Resources

Aug 20, 2009 Linda Hayase

Home educators find free books and curriculum for their home and school needs at PaperBack Swap, the fast-growing, online book club.

Homeschoolers looking to cut curriculum expenses would be wise to become a member of PaperBack Swap, the fast-growing online community of book lovers. The popular book club allows frugal bookworms to list books they no longer want and are willing to trade for other titles. PaperBack Swap currently boasts over 2,000 members and 18 million listed books, making it a rich resource for homeschool families.

Trade Online for Free Homeschooling Books and Curriculum

To get started on PaperBack Swap, register for a free membership. The only requirements to sign up are a valid email address, a mailing address, and books to trade. The books do not necessarily have to be paperbacks; many members also list hardcover books and audiobooks.

The next step is to list books to trade. The PaperBack Swap website offers a convenient upload tool which makes it easy to post books by entering the ISBN number on the back of the book. Each book equals one credit, which can be used to request books from other members’ listings. Books must be in good condition or better to be listed.

As an incentive, new members receive two free credits for listing their first 10 books. These two credits can be used immediately to request free books. The member sending the requested book pays for the postage, which is reciprocated when he or she requests a book from another member. Postage costs $2.38 for a one pound package via USPS media mail.

PaperBack Swap simplifies the mailing process. When a member accepts a request to send a book, a mailing wrapper is automatically generated with the addresses of both parties. The member prints the wrapper, wraps the book with it, attaches postage, and sends it out. Once the book is received on the other end, the requestor logs on and reports the swap’s completion. The sender receives a credit in return, which can then be used to request a book from the available titles list.

If a desired book is not available, members are able to create a wish list. An email is sent to notify members when titles on their wish list are added to the system. In addition, requestors may list special conditions for the books they receive from PaperBack Swap members, such as, “I am not willing to accept books from a smoking home,” or "I will not accept books with writing in them."

Homeschool Books for Kindergarten Through High School

Homeschoolers have access to a wide variety of book genres on PaperBack Swap. For the preschool crowd, request books by favorite authors Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, and Margaret Wise Brown. Kindergarten children who are learning to read will enjoy phonics readers from the Step Into Reading or All Aboard Reading series. Use the keyword “phonics” to search the website for additional easy reader titles.

Young bookworms will enjoy classic children’s books like Henry Huggins, Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, Treasure Island, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The club makes it affordable to collect books in a popular series like the Chronicles of Narnia, Little House on the Prairie, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Trailblazer series.

Members also trade math supplements at PaperBack Swap. Look for MathStart books, math puzzles, workbooks, and math games. Science fans will appreciate titles on astronomy, sea creatures, volcanoes, gardening, electricity, and science experiments. Usborne science books are perennial favorites for homeschool libraries. Fiction and non-fiction books for history studies are also plentiful.

Classic literature titles by Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Charlotte Bronte are good finds on the book club. Homeschoolers may wish to request Progeny Press study guides or SparkNotes for help with literature studies.

Save Money on Free Home Education Resources

Books by favorite homeschool authors Ruth Beechick and Michael Farris are often listed on the website. In addition, those in need of reference books for the home library such as a dictionary, thesaurus, or grammar handbook can find what they need at Paperback Swap.

PaperBack Swap is an affordable option for homeschooling families looking for used books. Trading motivates members to declutter bookshelves and recycle books which are no longer needed. It helps keep the environment green and the homeschool budget lean.

Where to Buy Used Homeschool Curriculum

How to Buy Used Homeschool Curriculum

The copyright of the article Trade Used Homeschool Curriculum and Books in Homeschooling is owned by Linda Hayase. Permission to republish Trade Used Homeschool Curriculum and Books in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.