Category Archives: curriculum

Our 2015 Curriculum Selection using Catholic Schoolhouse

I am finally back on the blog!  I have been so busy the past two years working hard to build content over at Catholic Sistas’s Homeschooling Series that I had abandoned this blog.  Sorry about that.  I did try to keep in touch through the Facebook page and Pinterest pins but I know it is not the same.  After much thought, I have decided to continue blogging about our new found love for Catholic Schoolhouse, a Catholic Classical approach to education.  It is lovely, think of the one room school house but in your home and Catholic!  I blogged about our decision to use Catholic Schoolhouse at Home last month over at Catholic Sistas under Raising Saints. 
This year we will be using Year 2 which involves Creation until the 1500’s.  I am very excited to share my book selection for this year to come. 
This is the Year 2: Creation to 1500s Tour Guide.  This guide is a 24 week detailed guide to teaching History, Geography, Religion, Latin, Math, Language Arts, Fine Arts, The Orchestra and Art.
Here are the additional materials I am using to help me teach all four children

ages 5, 7, 9, and 10 together.:

The CSH History Cards are fantastic.  On one side there is a picture of a historical event, on the back is the title and a gist of the event.  While you can just teach from this I like to add activities and resource books for further investigation.  
My textbook spine for History this year will be Founders of Freedom from the Land of Our Lady series.  I am using Kolbe Academy’s Answer key as well.
I use the History Pockets on our notebooking composition books.  🙂  There is clearly much more in these books than what we will actually use.
This book has activities for the children to make and do.  I am using Classical Kids as a resource for lesson planning.  
Ancient Egyptians and their Neighbors: An Activity Guide


Additional Resources:

The Real Vikings
Barbarians!
Celts (Usborne)
Nordic Gods and Heroes
Aztecs (Usborne)

The Kingfisher Book of Ancient Worldfrom the Ice Age to the Fall of Rome

Pyramid
Tutankhamun
The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Egypt
Jason and the Golden Fleece
The Pharaoh and Ancient Egypt
Tut’s Mummy: Lost…and Found
Discovering Ancient Treasures

See Inside Ancient Rome (Usborne)
Ancient Rome
Roman People

Ancient Greece: Facts, Stories and Activities
Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths & Legends (Usborne)
Ancient Greeks (Usborne)
The Greeks: Crafts from the Past 

The Medieval WorldWorld History: Medieval World (Usborne)
Castle: How It Works

Oxford Children’s History of the World
A Child’s History of the World
(warning: this book is from a Protestant perspective, I use it as a form of apologetics with my children)

Oxford Children’s History of the World: The Ancient World

This is the Science (HANDS ON) Guide for year 2.  I love this guide because I do not really love Science BUT my children do and it helps me pretend like I do – hahaha!  Well I should say I do like to read about Science (as a Reading Specialist I better like that huh?) but the hands on part I am normally horrible on.  Since we started using CSH, we do hands on science!  YAY!  
Here are some of the resources I will be using for this coming year:

The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Physics
The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Chemistry

Hidden Stories of Plants
The Visual Dictionary of Plants
DK Plants
DK Tress
Handbook of Nature Study
The Reason for a Flower
Plants that Never Ever Bloom
Peterson First Guides: Trees

The Usborne Internet-Linked Library of Light, Sound & Electricity

Wonder Why: Stars Twinkle
Reader’s Digest Pathfinders: Space
The Visual Dictionary of the Universe
The Usborn Internet Linked Library of Science Earth and Space
DK Visual Encyclopedia of Space

Another amazing product by CSH, Their Art Guide for Year 2, which follows what we will be learning in History!  Perfection!
Here are some additional resources for Art:

The Usborne Introduction to Art

Draw and Write through History: Greece and Rome
Draw and Write through History: The Vikings, Middle Ages and Renaissance 
Draw and Write through History: Creation through Jonah

The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Meet the Orchestra

Meet the Orchestra: A guide to the instruments of the orchestra through star constellations and Greek Myths

The Story of the Orchestra

Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs
Mine, All Mine: A Book About Pronouns
Fantastic! Wow! and Unreal!: A Book About Interjections & Conjunctions
Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns
Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives
I and You and Don’t Forget We: What is a Pronoun?
Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What is an Adverb?

To Root, To Toot, Parachute: What is a Verb?
Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective?
A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What is a Noun?

Grammar Tales: Teaching Guide
Grammar Tales Readers Box Set

In addition to the individual Religion lessons, we will be using these books to compliment the Memory Verses/Songs that go with the CSH program:

Great Moments in Catholic History
Treasure and Tradition: The Ultimate Guide to the Latin Mass
Sermons
The King of the Golden City
The Incredible Discovery of Noah’s Ark
Great Bible Stories
Read Aloud Book of Bible Stories
Bible History
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

St. Benedict: Hero of the Hills
Saint Dominic and the Rosary
Saint Paul the Apostle
Saint Joan of Arc
Saint Louis and the Last Crusade (not pictured)

Aside from using Catholic Schoolhouse at home, we are adding a Math, Writing, Reading, Religion, Grammar, and Spanish text to our schooling.  I will present them to you one by one by grade:
My fifth grader will be working closely with my fourth grader with some exceptions. He is using Living through God’s Gifts for religion, American Cardinal Reader Book Five for Reading, all the other books are the same as his sister, except that in Math he will be further ahead than her in this book….as well as the Intermediate Language lessons because he stated these last year. They do share books so they have to coordinate using them at different times of the school day.

My fourth grader’s books, she is using Intermediate Language Lessons for Grammar, Ray’s New Intellectual Arithmetic for Math, American Cardinal Reader Book Four for reading, Living for God for a religion and Learn Spanish with Grace for Spanish. She also uses All about Spelling (not pictured)

Lingua Mater: Intermediate Language Lessons
Living for God
Learn Spanish with Grace
American Cardinal Readers Book Four
Ray’s New Intellectual Arithmetic
All About Spelling 4 (not pictured)

Writing & Rhetoric: Book 1, Fables
Writing & Rhetoric: Narrative I
Writing & Rhetoric: Narrative II

This is the set my second grader is using. For Grammar he is doing Primary Language lessons, for reading he is using American Cardinal Readers Book Two, for Math he is using Ray’s New Primary Arithmetic with the Classical Curriculum workbooks which there are four but I bought only the first two and come mid year I will buy the next two. For Spanish he and my first grader are using the Coquito Classico books found on Amazon. For religion he uses Living by God’s Law in preparation for FHC.

Ok this is my first grader’s books. For Spanish he will work with my second grader using the Coquito book, for Math he too is using Ray’s primary Arithmetic but using the Series One work books. For Grammar he is using Voyages in English 1 and 2, for Reading I use American Cardinal Readers Book One to read to him, and for Phonics he is using Little Angel Readers A-D, for a Religion he is using Living in God’s Love. He is using All About Spelling 1 for spelling.

Little Angel Reader A & Workbook A
Little Angel Reader B & Workbook B
Little Angel Reader C & Workbook C
Little Angel Reader D & Workbook D
Living by God’s Love
Coquito Classico Spanish
American Cardinal Readers Book One
Ray’s Primary Arithmetic text
Classical Curriculum Arithmetic Workbook Series 1, Book 1
Classical Curriculum Arithmetic Workbook Series 1, Book 2
Classical Curriculum Arithmetic Workbook Series 1, Book 3
Classical Curriculum Arithmetic Workbook Series 1, Book 4
All About Spelling 1 (not pictured)

Using Catechism in Rhyme, I have written a 100 page handwriting, copy work, and dictation book for my children to use.  I also have it available for sale, if you are interested, contact me through Facebook or via email: RaisingLittleSaints (at) gmail.com.  Here are the details:

As an Associate to Amazon, all links about when purchased, give me a commission.  It does not affect the price you pay for the product.  Thank you for your patronage. 
 
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10 Steps to Selecting a {Catholic} Homeschool Curriculum

Selecting a curriculum can be a truly overwhelming task each year for homeschooling mothers.  So many times I have said to myself, “if I could see that book, I’d know if I want it!”  Right?  Then you hop online look through blogs of perfect homes, with perfect mom teachers, that have the perfect school rooms, and then there is Pinterest…then you are headed to Confession, jealousy is a lousy sin.  No seriously, is it not just frustrating?  😀  How do these women just *KNOW* that’s the right Math book?  Why did it not work for *MY* child?  🙂  Well, here’s why:  There IS NOT one set curriculum that is perfect for everyone.  There I said it.  So here’s another secret that lady that introduced you to homeschool forgot to mention, the beauty of homeschooling is that you are able to create a custom curriculum that is beneficial to *YOUR* family.  What works for another family may not be the best fit for another, or *gasp* what works for one of your children may not work for another.    Okay, so now lets take a deep breath and investigate how these ladies on their blogs look so with it.  I confess many times I have said, “when I grow up I want to be just like Jessica from Shower of Roses.”  Don’t laugh, I have said it..even to her.:D
Over the years our family has tried a variety of things – ranging from being an eclectic homeschooler, to using a complete curriculum package to creating things to use, and it has morphed into a combination of pieces that we now use together as a family and components that we use individually to round out the various subject areas.  So how do you decide what is the right fit for your family/homeschool?
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Our Homeschool Curriculum for 2012-2013 for Cor Iesu Academy

After much testing, trying, and searching for the right curriculum, we believe Todd and  I, have found the right one for us.  I am so excited!  We have selected the curriculum for next school year!  We first began by looking for something just for our rising high schooler but decided that all the kids needed to be on the same page.  We are going to follow the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy Classical Liberal Arts Curriculum.

Why Classical Liberal Arts Education?  We really would love a program that would allow for at least some of our children to work together, in addition to allow a natural approach to learning (read not so much seat work).  From our experience thus far, with our children, they strive best when they are challenged and engaged in learning (maybe all children are like this?  I’m not sure.)  In addition, our homeschool has a strong devotion to the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and this program not only is named after the patron of our school but his works served as excellent model for the classical liberal arts approach!  The Classical Approach has an emphasis on what is known as the “trivium” – teaching in the sequence of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The classical method is decidedly better at training the mind to think, reason, and even to contend and argue one’s case against contrary ideas.  The way things are going in our world, we believe this is one of the best ways we can better prepare our children through home education.

This statement, from their website, is what finally SOLD us on using this curriculum for our family:

Our program gently prepares the child to learn from the great books and understand the great ideas essential to that same work of integrating faith with reason. A classical presentation of English and Latin grammar and the arts and sciences equips the student with the tools of learning; a cyclical study of the grand eras of western civilization–Greek, Roman, Old World and New–guides the student (and the teaching parent!) through the historical and literary masterpieces that for centuries have inspired students to such noble academic effort.”

There are Cycles to choose from, and after a thirty minute conversation with a representative of their’s I believe this is what we are going to set our goals towards (before you say it’s too expensive, please see my suggestions at the bottom of this post on ideas of saving on books):
Our 2012-2013 Curriculum



Grade 9: Greek Cycle:  Greek History & Astronomy
1.  RELIGION:  Old Testament I & II:
  • Introduction to the Bible
  • Ignatius Bible

2.  SOCIAL STUDIES / WORLD HISTORY:  Greek History I & II:

  • Christ the King: Lord of History
  • Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures: A Concise History: Volume I to 1740, 3rd Edition
  • Old World and America
  • Herodotus’ The Histories
  • Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War
  • Xenophon: The Expedition of Cyrus (Anabasis)
  • Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures: A Concise History: Volume I to 1740, 3rd Edition
  • Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 1 (Modern Library Classics)
  • Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 2 (Modern Library Classics)
  • Great Dialogues of Plato
  • Alexander the Great: Man of Action, Man of Spirit
  • Alexander of Macedon: Journey to World’s End

3.  LITERATURE:  Greek Literature I & II:

  • Bulfinch’s Mythology: The Age of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, and Legends of Charlemagne
  • Homer : The Iliad
  • Iliad, The (Cliffs Notes)
  • Herodotus’ The Histories
  • Homer: The Odyssey
  • Odyssey, The (Cliffs Notes)

4.  FINE ARTS:  

A)  Art Appreciation &; Analysis: 
  • Art And: Critical Thinking and Art Analysis
B)  Greek Playrights:
  • Aeschylus : The Complete Greek Tragedies: Aeschylus II
  • Aeschylus : The Oresteia : Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides
  • Sophocles : Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Electra (Oxford World’s Classics)
  • Euripides: Medea, Hippolytus, Heracles, Bacchae (Focus Classical Library)
  • Great Dialogues of Plato
  • Aristophanes: Four Plays by Aristophanes: The Clouds, The Birds, Lysistrata, The Frogs
    5.  SCIENCE:  Astronomy I & II:
    • Creator and Creation, 3rd Edition
    • Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist
    • Essential Cosmic Perspective, The (5th Edition)
    6.  LANGUAGE ARTS
    A)  Formal Composition II:
    • Format Writing
    • Great Writing: A Reader For Writers

    B)  Formal Grammar I:

    • Jensen’s Grammar 

    C)  Formal Logic:

    • Traditional Logic 1 : Intro. to Formal Logic 
    D)  Pennmanship:
    • Handwriting 5 for Young Catholics (to review the basics)
    E)  Punctuation:

    • Jensen’s Punctuation
    7.  FOREIGN LANGUAGES:  Classical Latin I
    • Wheelock’s Latin : 6th Edition, Revised
    • Wheelock’s Latin : Workbook for Wheelock’s Latin, 3rd Edition, Revised
    • Wheelock’s Latin : A Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock’s Latin: Newly Revised for Wheelock’s 6th Edition

    8.  MATHEMATICS:  Algebra II

    • Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 Kit
    NOTE: I wish my kids would be ready for Cycle E:  Greek History & Astronomy so that they would be able to discuss things with our older son but that Cycle is labeled as appropriate for Grades 4 – 8, my two would be too little for their book selection.
    1.  RELIGION:  Religion 4
    • Faith and Life 4: Jesus Our Guide
    • Baltimore Catechism
    2.  SOCIAL STUDIES / WORLD HISTORY: Classical History
    • Story of the World : Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition
    • Story of the World Vol. 1 : Ancient Times, Activity Book
    3.  LITERATURE:  Literature
    • Landscape With Dragons, A : The Battle for Your Child’s Mind
    • Paideia Program
    • Let the Authors Speak : Guide to Worthy Books
    4.  FINE ARTS:  
         A)  Art Appreciation:
    • Faith and Life 1: Our Heavenly Father (Student Book)
    • Faith and Life 4: Jesus Our Guide (Student Book)
    • Art-with-an-Active-Eye Notebook
         B) Art Practice:
    • Art With a Purpose : Artpac 3
    • Art With a Purpose : Artpac 4
         C) Music Appreciation:
    • Classical Kids
    • Mozart’s Magic Fantasy: A Journey Through ’The Magic Flute’
    • Hallelujah Handel!
    • Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Audio CD)
    5.  SCIENCE:  Anatomy & Health
    • Body Book, The
    • Blood and Guts: A Working Guide to Your Own Insides
    6.  LANGUAGE ARTS:
         A)  Grammar/Composition 2:  
    • Voyages in English 2006 Grade 2, Student Edition
         B)  Pennmanship:
    • Handwriting 2 for Young Catholics
        C)  Reading Skills:
    • Catholic National Reader Volume 2
         D)  Spelling/Reading Skills:
    • Explode the Code Book 5
    • Explode the Code Book 6
    7.  FOREIGN LANGUAGES: Latin Chant
    • Minimum Repertoire of Plain Chant
    8.  MATHEMATICS:  Mathematics G
    • Math U See Gamma : Student Kit
    • Math U See Gamma : Teacher Pack
    • Starter Set 1 (Manipulatives)
    • Skip Count and Addition Facts CD and Book
    • Math in a Flash Multiplication flashcards

    1.  RELIGION:  Religion 1

    • Faith and Life 1: Our Heavenly Father

    2.  LANGUAGE ARTS:
         A)    Grammar/Composition 1

    • Voyages in English 2006 Grade 1, Student Edition

         B)  Pennmanship:

    • Handwriting Without Tears 2 : Printing Power
    • Handwriting Without Tears : 2nd Grade Printing Teacher Guide
    • Handwriting Without Tears : Slate Chalkboard

         C) Reading/Spelling Skills

    • Little Angel Readers Set A-D : Readers, Workbooks, and Teacher’s Manual
    3.  MATHEMATICS:  Mathematics B
    • Math U See Beta : Student Kit
    • Math U See Beta : Teacher Pack
    • Starter Set 1 (Manipulatives)
    • Skip Count and Addition Facts CD and Book
    • Math in a Flash Addition flashcards

    LITTLE ONES

    For the little ones ages two (2) and four (4), we are going to use a new curriculum (which I will also be reviewing):

    Preschool
    by Sarah V. Park (Hillside Education)

    In this creative curriculum, you’ll find easy-to-use activities to introduce your preschooler to the alphabet. For each letter, Sarah has provided:

    1) Saint of the Week suggestions
    2) Virtue and Scripture verse,
    3) Crafts & Activities,
    4) Collage ideas,
    5) Picture Book lists, and
    6) Recipes.
    Tot School

    For our two year old we will also use a little of the Preschool curriculum above but mostly Montessori Activities: Puzzles, board books, hands on activities!

    Three Simple Strategies on Funding this Approach:
    The Classical Liberal Arts approach *can* be pricey and when I posted our curriculum selection, that was one of my friends pointed out.  I will be taking advice from veteran homeschool moms whom have been using this approach in the past.  
    1)  Use your local public library:  You *can* buy all the books and build your library but if you don’t have the money to do that, you can always use your local library system and supplement your curriculum (this just requires more planning on your part ahead of time).  

    2)  Buy your curriculum by Semester:  Plan your lessons ahead of time by semesters and months.  Look up what you need and budget yourself so that you purchase it in two parts.  Semester One would be ordered in the Summer and Semester Two books would be ordered in the Winter (December)

    3)  When possible, buy used:  There are so many ways (when allowed by the publisher) to buy books and textbooks used.  You can do this by either asking locals in your area if anyone happens to either be selling a book or have one sitting on their shelf without being use (who knows maybe they might even loan it to you, if they know you and would like to do it?).  Another method is to look online.  Here are three places I search for used curriculum:
         A)  CathSwap (on Yahoo Groups)
         B)  Catholic Swap/Chat (on Facebook)


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    Strategies for Teaching Children at Home

    My friend Allison over at Totus Tuus Family & Catholic Homeschool shared the news today on Facebook, that Laura Berquist author of Desinging a Classical Curriculum and director of Mother of Divine Grace School (MODG) now has a YouTube Channel!

    Laura’s book Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum is one that every Catholic homeschool family should own. When I first decided to home educate my children, it was one of the first books I picked up and have used time and time again.  At MODG, their Catholic, Classical approach is designed to help others create the following (from their website):

    • Teaches the Child How to Think
    • Follows the Child’s Natural Stages of Learning
    • Tailors the Curriculum to the Child
    • Supports the Spiritual Formation of the Child
    • Allows the Parents to Play an Integral Role in Their Child’s Education
    • Provides Counseling and Tutorial Support

    I grabbed one of her videos to share with you today, here she discusses different teaching strategies parents can use at home.  Enjoy!
    Blessings,
    Erika

    Books by Laura Berquist:

    The Harp and Laurel Wreath: Poetry and Dictation for the Classical Curriculum

    Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum: A Guide to Catholic Home Education



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    If You Want to Fail at Home Schooling . . .

    If You Want to Fail at Home Schooling . . .
    Kimberly Hahn
    From the Sep/Oct 2011 Issue of Lay Witness Magazine

    (1) . . . don’t make time for God. You can’t take time for prayer or Mass if you want to do a good job home schooling.
    When we focus on the Lord first, we have greater peace and more energy to do everything else. When we spend time in prayer and Mass, we regain perspective: We become heavenly minded enough that we are earthly good. We submit our schedule, goals, and commitments to the Lord, believing that we will receive all the grace we need to do His will that day.

    Everyone in our family needs this grace. The years are few that we can make the decision for our children to participate in devotions or attend daily Mass with us. Let’s not miss the opportunity to strengthen the whole family!

    (2) . . . disregard your spouse’s thoughts and feelings on the subject. Just plough ahead; he or she will catch up.
    As parents, we are the primary educators of our children and together we are responsible for our children’s formal education. We discern the best plan through prayer and information about home schooling. It’s a team effort, needing full support of both parents.

    (3) . . . make your children a priority ahead of your spouse. There’ll be years to spend with your spouse later.
    Marriage is our vocation. Though teaching and caring for children may take the lion’s share of our time right now, we can’t neglect the primary relationship in our family: our spouse. Our children thrive when they see how much we love our spouse. And if we don’t nurture our marriage, we won’t be prepared to enjoy our time together when our children are no longer at home.

    (4) . . . remember: It’s Harvard or bust! Academics, not well-rounded Catholics, is the goal.
    Actually, statistics prove the academic superiority of home schooling—tutoring is always the most efficient form of education. But what is our goal for our child?

    St. Paul says, “‘Knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Cor. 8:1). There are brilliant atheists who don’t give glory to God. Our first priority is children who have a heart for God. Secondarily, we will provide the best academic formation we can. We don’t excuse poor quality education under the guise that training in the faith is much more important than book learning. However, we’re in the unique position to train their hearts as well as their minds.

    (5) . . . reproduce a typical classroom in your home.
    Educating our children at home is so much more than a replicating a schoolroom. Whatever strengths a typical classroom may have—order, color, good light, child-height desks and table—copy. Schedules are important for staying on task and curricula add structure, but keep the focus on the children. More than academics, the goal of home schooling is to assist our child to be a good steward of his heart, mind, and strength in service of the Lord. We offer integrated education in four main areas: spiritual growth, character development, life skill training, and academic excellence.

    Spiritual growth involves prayer (individually and as a family), the Scriptures, regular use of the sacraments, and living the liturgical year at home. Character development is a daily process of helping our children form good habits, develop virtues, and refine manners. Life skill training refers to learning practical skills for life as they become good stewards of our home and possessions, thus contributing to the family’s well-being. Academic excellence involves training their minds in intellectual work with due consideration for their readiness and physiological development.

    (6) . . . lead with criticism. You see the children’s faults better than any other teacher would.
    We are mothers and fathers first, teachers second. Our instruction flows from our unique relationship with each child. Our intimate knowledge of each child reveals his shortcomings, but we must use great care to direct the child toward maturity with compassion, respect, and charity, rather than submit him to constant criticism. St. Paul says, “Make love your aim” (1 Cor. 14:1).

    (7) . . . never vary your curriculum or method. Children learn the same things at the same rate. It’s too much work to allow for individuality.
    Some curricula or methods that work well for one child will work well for others. Your focus, however, is teaching each child effectively rather than using the same materials over and over. Flexibility—one of the greatest qualities we learn as parents—is key!

    We assess the effectiveness of our method by how well the child learns. Since our children vary in physical development, learning styles, and temperament, we may need to select other materials or adjust our teaching method, rather than blame our child for not understanding. Since the goal is understanding—mastery of the subject—we adjust for individuality.

    (8) . . . don’t ask for help or attend support group meetings. If God’s called you to home school, He can equip you to do it alone.
    We do need inner strength and determination to home school, but we don’t want to foster an independent spirit in ourselves or our children that hinders a proper understanding of the Body of Christ.

    A support group is made up of other parents who are daily discovering how to nurture their families through home schooling. There is collective wisdom—suggestions for improvement—that lighten our spirits, give us fresh ideas, encourage us in our struggles, and provide a forum for prayer and practical advice.

    (9) . . . isolate your family. Socialization is not that important.
    If our child has become overly dependent on peers, limiting their interaction may be helpful. However, we aren’t called to isolation to keep them pure.

    Socialization is the process of learning how to function as a mature brother or sister in the Body of Christ. Some principles include responding to authority without a critical spirit, leading others into godly behavior, bearing one another’s burdens, and caring for widows, orphans, and the poor.

    Home is the natural environment for learning how to be a brother or sister before applying principles of social interaction outside the home. Peer segregation is not a natural environment for socialization; rather, age integration is the norm for families, neighborhoods, work environments, and the Church.

    (10). . . remember: Use whatever curriculum your friends use. If it works for them, then it will work for you.
    A friend’s ideas, suggestions, and schoolroom set-up can help us, but we must resist peer pressure. Others’ suggestions are just that—we don’t have to justify teaching our children in a way different from someone else.
    We must consider our child’s needs, talents, abilities, and education thus far, our financial situation, our discretionary time for organizing materials, our own gaps in education, and what other resources we have available. Once we discuss these decisions with our spouse, and pray, we will discern how to handle advice from others wisely.

    (11) . . . don’t be flexible. Once you have set a plan in notion, don’t change.
    We need a plan, but then we evaluate it. We may shift the schedule because of a baby’s nap, availability of a tutor, the timing of music lessons, or another commitment. We model for our children the whole learning process, including learning how to home school.

    (12) . . . don’t plan your schedule. Education just happens, if you let it.
    Learning is ongoing, but without goals, we can’t evaluate the education. Scheduling is an opportunity for our own character development in the area of time management. Whether or not we were born organized, we can gain the skills needed to set and evaluate goals for each child in each subject.

    Schedules bring great peace as long as they aren’t followed slavishly. When goals are clear, home schooling doesn’t meander throughout the day. Children understand expectations and can work independently, depending on age. Conflicts are minimized since the children know what must be done before play resumes. Moms can cope better with morning sickness or fatigue when the schedule is set.

    (13) . . . exclude your babies and toddlers. Only the older children get individualized attention.
    Home schooling is a full-family venture, including babies and toddlers. When little ones feel excluded, they cause problems. We include them in activities or give them their own desk and materials. And they benefit from the one-room schoolhouse effect.

    (14) . . . be critical of yourself. After all, you are the one that is on trial—everyone is looking at you to see if home schooling is a good idea.
    None of us can take this kind of pressure. We begin this venture by the grace of God and the support of our spouse. Motivated by our unconditional love for each child and bolstered by the authority God has given us, we can craft a wonderful and challenging program for each child that addresses his or her specific needs, talents, abilities, interests, and learning styles. Unlike classroom teachers, we can select the curriculum we want, take the field trips we choose, instill our values, and tutor each child to mastery.

    We are teachers because we are parents. We have done the hard work of teaching them to walk, to talk, and to go to the bathroom. Teaching them to read and write is every bit as exciting as those first few steps. Through home schooling we have the opportunity to prepare our children for their life’s work. What a privilege to spend a quantity of quality time together.

    Home schooling is an amazing family adventure. I invite you to consider this educational option for your family.

    Kimberly Hahn is the co-author of Catholic Education: Homeward Bound: A Useful Guide to Catholic Homeschooling.

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    Curriculum: What to do?

    There are so many programs or texts to choose from out there: Secular, Christian, Catholic, which to choose? I read an article, when I first started homeschooling, that stated that if you are Catholic and homeschooling, you should NOT use Christian material as they sometimes have text that directly attacks the Catholic Church and it’s history.

    I’ve seen it first hand in a History book for 6th grade published by A Beka (a Christian publisher). The problem with secular books (of which MANY Catholic Parochial schools use these days) is that they bring in too many outside world views. Many times VERY contradictory to the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ as well as the Catholic Church (one in the same). The BEST route is to use a Catholic text. Unfortunately, it is my personally belief that there are slim pickings when it comes to this because of the decline in Catholic Publishers for children.

    The author of this article (of which I cannot remember where I read this, if I do and find the link, I’ll update this post) suggests that if you can’t find Catholic publishers/books to use, you should use Christian books and then supplement the Catholic perspective/component instead of using a secular ones.

    I’m not too convinced about this.  For example, we use secular books (for my 7th grader) in all subjects except Social Studies, Science, and Religion.  The only book we’ve had a little “trouble” with is our English Composition book (content…something about fashion and another one about dating-in middle school, really?).  But bumping into these subjects gave us a good opportunity to chat about these things and realities of life.  The only Christian (non-Catholic) text we use is Science.  It does not have anything contradictory to Catholic teaching so we haven’t had a problem with it at all.  But I guess bumping into something Protestant would also spark good converstaions.  With as much as I’d love to live in a bubble and not expose my kids to this world, it’s not realistic nor safe to do so. 

    What are your views on this? Do you think it is safe to use secular books? Do you think it is better to go secular than to go Christian or vice versa? Also, do you recommend a Catholic Publisher which you have had a good experience with (price, quality, etc.). Give us your two cents!

    In Christ,

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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