Catholic Homeschool Support

Thanks to Homeschool Connections (your source for great online classes taught by excellent, faithful Catholics), you can look forward to a

FREE Midwinter Virtual Conference

Webinars begin on January 17th – I can’t wait to hear Nancy Brown bring Chesterton into a discussion finding levity in homeschooling.

We are facing our burnout seasons – make plans to head off the winter doldrums and ruts we are in.

Did I catch your attention? Well I have known Maria Rioux for many years online. She has a beautiful online presence; her writing is well thought out and charitable. Several Catholic homeschool conferences have invited her to speak. For over 23 years, she has been homeschooling her family and has several children in college. Her husband, Dr. Jean Rioux, is a professor and chair of the philosophy department at Benedictine College in Kansas.

She has created a k – 12 curriculum for her family and has shared it with the homeschooling community. The syllabi are bare bones – very few teaching notes or explanations. But she does include all the books used for literature and history, and her grammar and math suggestions. If you are developing your own curriculum, it might be helpful to take a peek.

St. Thomas School Free Curriculum

And a big thanks goes out to Homeschool Connections for helping Maria get these back on the interent.

For more information on the tradition of the O Antiphon – Catholic Encyclopedia

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly.  Come, and teach us the way of prudence.

Margot Davidson and her team of terrific writers have put together an edition just in time for Advent. Features include:

• The Heart of a Mother Nurtured in Prayer – a beautiful reflection on how prayer supports our lives as mothers along with a list of resources to help us deepen our prayer life and that of our children.
• The Family as a School of Charity – a reminder of the value of family life and how it prepares our children to enter the world
• Observing Ember Days  – this is a tradition we are going to bring back to our family
• O Come Emmanuel: Praying the O Antiphons – another tradition we have brought back to our family. The article does not just explain the tradition, but gives ideas of how to celebrate them.

The magazine needs your support – consider buying the electronic version of this edition to see what a great resource mater et magistra is:

Fall 2011 Edition

And, if you have a subscription, consider gifting another homeschooling family with a subscription.

Purchase Subscription – Print Edition

Purchase Subscription – Digital Edition

This is a great family read for Advent – beginning on December 1st, there are 24 chapters to bring you through Christmas Eve. Now on Kindle for $2.99!

For those that prefer the paperback version:

special offer for “A Picture Perfect Childhood” ebook. They can find it here at this link for only $1.99 through the rest of November in celebration of Picture Book Month.

http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/a-picture-perfect-childhood/17543995

To read reviews, visit the following link:
http://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/picture_perfect_reviews/

I am just compiling a list of Advent ideas. We are going to have the entire month off so I have big plans Please plan on visiting this link again as I add more ideas.

• St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins
• Recipes for December
• O antiphons prayer companion
• December 16th and 17th – Ember Days
• St. Lucy Paper Dolls
• Clothespin Angel Craft

Thanks to CatholicIcing’s Blog – this printable booklet is perfect for my little ones to take to church. It is not a complete missal, but does have the changes in bold print.

http://catholicicing.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-mass-responses-booklet-for-kids.html

I am so excited to share this resource. Every year, I am on the look out for some new resource for Advent. I have been homeschooling for 12 years (my oldest are in 11th grade), so I have seen just about everything. Surprisingly, Two Hearts Catholic Bookstore in Atlanta, GA came to our parish several weeks ago and brought this book.

Each week, there is a story to read (perfect for a Sunday evening as we light a new candle), and then there are short readings for each day of that particular week. Following this, there are several craft suggestions with templates included. Crafts include “Helping Hands Ornaments (easy)”, “Stained Glass Window”, “HOly Family Keepsake” and “A Tree Full of Love Banner”. After this section is Gifts. In the Gifts section, there are instructions for making things like “Rocking Angels”, “Gift Card of Encouragement”, “Gift Bags”, and “Wreath Treats”. These sections seem a bit interchangeable, but I did really like the idea of bringing comfort and joy to those outside your family.

Following the Crafts and Gifts sections is the Kitchen Fun section. There are several ideas for making non-edible ornaments, sugar cookies and peppermint bark. Family Customs and Traditions is the next section with ideas for starting family traditions like setting up a creche, and making and giving ornaments. This section does not have templates, but just gives suggestions. Finally, there is the Family Take-Home section that gives ideas for deepening our journey through Lent. Bible passages, and a “Putting It into Practice” sections are highlights of this area.

In the back of the book are more black-line masters including word hunts, various kinds of code breaking / hidden messages, and mazes – 22 pages are included.

This book will work well for my family because it parcels out the ideas. I am not so overwhelmed for too many ideas presented at one time. I think this would also lend itself to a homeschool group or religious education program.

http://thankevann.com/homeschoolgoodies/?tag=coloring-pages

I am sure for all you nifty, crafty moms, you already know of this site, but I just stumbled upon it again.