Q:  How do you include Catholic faith into your homeschool? Any good Catholic bible studies or amazing resources you’ve found? I’ve got a 2nd grader, kindergartner, 3 yr old, and baby. We read saints stories, the children’s bible we have, have our church’s religious education book to use as requested by our pastor for the sacraments, and mostly just discuss the hundreds of questions my 2nd grade son comes up with but don’t really have anything formal in place. Just wondering if I’m missing something obvious 🙂 Thanks!

This is one of the questions I helped answer. Thankfully, some “expert” homeschool moms helped me with the answers. Do you have a question you’d like help with? Let me know!

A: I really like MagnifiKid. It’s excellent and guides us with daily readings through the liturgical calendar.

Thanks, Kristi B!

A: St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism

Thanks, Susan D!

A: (Thanks, Stacey D. for the multiple ideas below!)

1. http://www.catholicicing.com for fun ways to celebrate the liturgical year

2.     NEST bible story videos from the library

3.     CCC saint videos, Brother Francis dvds

4.     Holy Heroes Saint Stories and Rosary CDs are great for car rides 

A: http://www.holyheroes.com They do have a lot of things that they sell, but the online programs are free. As I recall, you sign up, and they email the link.

Thanks, Grace J!

A: (Thanks, Kayla P for both of the suggestions below!)

1. http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/p/homeschooling.html

2.  http://catholicmom.com are some good free/ cheap resources.

Jenn’s suggestions:

I LOVE LOVE the games and activities on Catholic Toolbox. They have activities for such a wide variety of ages! http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/

For encouragement for you and another way to look at home education from a Catholic mom, I love Elizabeth Foss’ perspective in her book Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home

BUT my BEST ADVICE is to ‘Live the Liturgical Year’.

Just take one or two (but usually one) thing per “season” to put into our daily life.

Benefits:

#1 – It’s doable with our daily lives.

#2 – We’re more likely to be successful if we don’t try to bite off too much.

#3 – If we’ve been successful in implementing an item in daily life in the past, it’s easier to do that same thing again when the “season” rolls around, and possibly implementing another item.

ADVENT –

*piece of straw in baby Jesus’ crib for every good act

*hide baby Jesus (so the crib is empty) until Christmas

*Advent afternoon tea

*Jesse Tree

*O Antiphons

CHRISTMAS –

*3 kings from the nativity set “traveling” through the room closer to the nativity each day from Christmas to Epiphany

*piece of chocolate (or little surprise) to “celebrate” the full season of Christmas

LENT –

*poster of crown of thorn and every sacrifice puts a tissue paper flower over each thorn

*journey through Lent calendar

*act of kindness directed secretly to a different family member each day by each family member

ORDINARY TIME –

*praying as you pass each cemetery

*praying when you hear a siren

*kissing a crucifix when you pass by

*blessing each child with Holy Water before bed

SPECIAL SAINT & FEAST DAYS – we have particular feast days that especially appeal to each person that we celebrate (with food or a craft, etc.).

*saint name days – that child chooses dinner

*writing notes of prayers for extended family members for St. Valentine’s day (Feb. 14)

*family party on St. Patrick’s day (Mar. 17)

*pancakes on Fat Tuesday (day before Ash Wednesday)

*white food for Ascension (40th day of Easter)

*any day in May since the whole month is hers

*cake & white/blue fo   od for Mary’s B-day (Sept. 8)

*St. Nick leaves candy in their shoes (Dec. 6)

*Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe we have tacos & her statue on the table or a coloring page) (Dec. 12th)

Two important things to keep in mind:

1. Make a conscious decision so you’re prepared ahead. It’s important to implement in a way that is very little stress to you and doesn’t set you up to fail.

2. Don’t choose too many ideas to begin in any one season. This is IMPORTANT. Keep in mind I’ve had 15 years to work on these. CHOOSE ONE.

And you can always contact me! Highland Dove Homeschool Helper would love to schedule an individual consultation and we can work through your specific situation together!  We can even schedule distance consultations in person, by phone or skype!

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