Recently in education Category

I first heard about Roma Downey's (did you know she was Catholic?) new DVD Little Angels at CatholicMom.com. The site has background info and is also running a contest to win an autographed copy of the DVD. (I entered!)

Here is the introduction from LittleAngels.com.

Discover the joy of learning and friendship with a heavenly new collection! From Executive Producer Roma Downey ("Touched by an Angel") and Writer Phil Lollar ("Adventures in Odyssey") comes the much-anticipated faith-based educational series, LITTLE ANGELS, soaring onto DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

LITTLE ANGELS is an animated DVD series created exclusively for preschool-aged children to teach not only practical learning skills, like ABCs and 1,2,3s, but also to introduce them to the spiritual, moral and ethical principles of the Bible. Of course, we think it's terrific! (We might be biased...) But don't just take our word for it - for the first time in their organization's history, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) has awarded a Seal-of-Approval to LITTLE ANGELS.

And here is a sneak peek. :-) It looks cute and educational!

This morning I was looking through the Days of Faith Student Planner that Bella's teacher gave her and I love it! It is brightly colored and inviting and there is a lot of great general Catholic info - about the bible, the rosary, saints, the Church. There is also the daily saint, Gospel summary for that week and a weekly personal goal to work on. This would be great for a Catholic student or homeschooler. The 2011 Primary grade planner is sold out but the intermediate grades (that's what Bella has) and junior/senior high are still available.

Now that August is here I've been reading on the blogs about many homeschooling moms starting school or getting ready to start. A couple people have been asking about the Little Saints Catholic Preschool Program.

Although we aren't homeschooling (at least not at the moment) I have used the Little Saints program for the kids while they were younger. The lesson plan can be used for a classroom setting or for homeschooling.

Personally, I loved it. I also liked that it had everything written out - including all the materials I'd need for the projects and lessons. Since I was using it informally, there were sections I skipped and others that I implemented. I thought the program was worth having just for all the project ideas, book suggestions and learning material that I adapted to my own schedule.

Last year, some of the local homeschooling moms did a once a week co-op for their homeschooling children. One mom tutored the older kids in English. Another mom taught the preschoolers, including Andrew, while I watched the babies. Although it wasn't a formal preschool setting she used a number of the ideas and projects from the program.

Here is a partial sample chapter so you can see how it is organized. (This is for reference only. The pages have a copyright.) You can learn more and purchase the Little Saint's Catholic Program at CatholicPreschool.com.

Table of Contents - Page 1 View image

Table of Contents - Page 2 View image

Sample Chapter - Page 1 (Prep) View image Page 2 (Prep) View image Page 3 (Lesson) View image Page 4 (Lesson) View image

I've long been a supporter and reader of Carmen Marcoux's Catholic novels Arms of Love and Surrender. Now she and her husband have written a book for the younger set and we've started selling them at RoL. See below for more details.

Carmen Marcouz, Catholic wife, mother of nine and author of Arms of Love and Surrender, has undertaken a new writing venture with her husband James. Together they have authored the first of a series of books aimed at the younger reader. Book One of the New Illustrated Catholic Children's Series in titled The Parish Picnic, a heartwarming story about friendship, self-sacrifice and the love of Christ. Beautifully illustrated by their daughter Rebekah, The Parish Picnic is a celebration of our Catholic heritage and the life we share as the family of God.

RoL is having an introductory spring sale of The Parish Picnic. Normally $16.95, you can purchase the book for $13.95. (Shipping is $3 for one book. Free shipping for 2 or more books. Shipping can be combined with Carmen's other titles.) For more details, a book preview or to order click here: http://revolutionoflove.com/marketplace/picnic.html. Check it out!

UPDATE: Spring 2012 - We are once again having our Spring/Lent/Easter sale. The sale price of $13.95 is available through Spring of 2012.

Carmen Marcoux, the amazing wife, mother and author of Arms of Love and Surrender has co-written a children's book with her husband James. The outstanding illustrations were hand-painted by their talented daughter Rebekah. This was truly a family project created with a lot of love and hard work! But it all paid off because the end result is a beautiful and heartwarming story of love and self-sacrifice through the eyes of a child.

You can read it online before you purchase it. I am hoping to start selling them here at RoL but in the meantime, you can order them directly from Carmen at One Way Publishing. Here are more details.

The Parish Picnic (Also Available in Spanish!)
By James and Carmen Marcoux and Family
Illustrated by Rebekah Marcoux
Book One of our New Illustrated Catholic Children's Series! A delightful little story about self-sacrifice that fosters a love for our Catholic heritage. Beautiful hand-painted illustrations.
Click to preview.

I was just putting together the new pages of my planner when I came across this Catholic version. I use the Franklin Covey system simply because I like the "pocket size" versions that fit easily in my purse/diaper bag. But if I were to go to a larger size, I'd definitely enjoy this Catholic Woman's Planner by Family-Centered Press. and I have a feeling when I show Brian the Catholic Men's Planner, he is going to want me to order one for him!

Also be sure to check out the "Freebies" column on the left if the page. There are printable pages of Family Budget Forms, Fitness Logs, Menu Plans, Liturgical Calendars and Homeschooling Resources. Very cool.

A friend told me about this book and it looks great.

Fifth grader Olivia Thomas has moved to a new school in a new state, and is eager to make friends! Her best friend quickly becomes someone she has never seen -- St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Follow Olivia's trials as she tries to fit in at St. Michael's School. With the help of her grandmother, she learns about the "Little Way" of serving God and how it can change everything!

Nancy Carabio Belanger's touching book, targeted toward girls and boys age 8-13, is beautifully illustrated by Sandra Casali LewAllen.

It was recommended by Rachel Watkins (of the Little Flowers Girls" Club) and it is worth checking out. It is avaiable at Amazon or directly from LittleFlowerBook.com.

This morning I came upon a new book called Catholic, Reluctant. It is the first book of the new Catholic teen fiction series John Paul 2 High. The author "Christian M.Frank" is actually a team of young Catholics writing the books together. How cool is that? Check out the website johnpaul2high.com and then order your copy at amazon!

A friend was telling me about a Catholic CD of the Month Club and it sounds great! Each month you receive a CD from one of a number of Catholic speakers. Some of the CD's sent out these past months include: The Face of God by Mother Teresa with bonus talk by Dr. Scott Hahn - Understanding the Eucharist (Jun 2008), The Seven Levels of Intimacy by Matthew Kelly (May 2008), and A Guide to Raising (almost) Perfect Kids by Dr. Gregory Popcak & Lisa Popcak with bonus talk - Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime by Dr. Ray Guarendi (Apr 2008). That's some good stuff! In fact, in the time it took to type this, I decided to join.

The cost is $5 a month for one copy and or you can get discounted bulk prices to pass along to friends. Check it out at Lighthouse Catholic Media.

A friend forwarded this link for the Catholic Summer Reading Program. There is a program for adults and kids. The kid's page has a reading sheet they can color and write the names of 12 books they've read. They mail it in and receive a prize. There is a list of recommended books for grades kindergarten to 6th. So even your young ones can participate.

For the adults, they took a list of 64 possible books, then chose a top 10 for summer reading. Of the original 64 books, I must admit that Brian has many of them (and I mean many of them!) He is a total book lover! (Note to Brian: We're out of bookshelf space, Sweetie!)

Here are some books I see sitting on his desk right now:
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Meg Meeker
God Alone: A Spiritual Biography of Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron by Gonzalo Maria Fernandez
Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life: A Practical Guide to Prayer for Active People by Robert J. Spitzer
Treatise on the Love of God by St. Francis de Sales
A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World by Carl Anderson
A Life with Karol: My Forty-Year Friendship with the Man Who Became Pope by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz

I enjoy reading but I tend to read only one or two at a time - one “educational” and one fiction or biography. My current reads (plus those next in line):

Passport by Christopher Blunt. (A new Catholic novel)
Spiritual Progress: Becoming the Christian You Want to Be by Thomas D. Williams
How to Raise Good Catholic Children by Mary Reed Newland
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza

(Andrew loves books as much as his dad, although he prefers eating them to reading them!)

A friend emailed this link to place where you can purchase a Miniature Mass Kits and child sized vestments .

I also noticed at Amazon that you can also purchase the Wee Believers My Mass Kit for the toddler sized altar servers and priests in training.

I remember when my little brothers used to "play" Mass. They would have loved to have this set back then!

In his latest e-letter, Karl Keating of Catholic Answers featured the site CatechismClass.com. It is based on the Catechism and is listed as "authentic, orthodox Catholic." There are lessons for K-12 including sample lessons for you to review before signing on. Take a look.

Many of us remember the American Girl Dolls when we were growing up and some of us have now bought them for our own daughters. However I received an email from a friend/ home schooling mom that surprised me. You can read it for yourself.

"My daughter's b-day is coming up and she's wild about American Girls. She's read just about all of the books. They have a new series for older girls called Dolls of Many Lands. One of them is an Irish doll that comes with a book called Kathleen: The Celtic Knot. I "preread" it before wrapping it and giving it to her and boy am I glad I did!

This book is positively horrible! Within just the first few pages it starts up with the old stereotypes of the mean Catholic nuns teaching school. It then goes on to develop the hero of the story - Kathleen's 20 year old aunt "Polly" who likes to wear bright red lipstick, smoke, and hates anything to do with Christianity or the Church. The truth is that "Polly's" real name is "Mary", but she cannot bear the idea of that name so she demands that everyone call her "Polly" instead.

In one scene Polly lectures her brother-in-law, Kathleen's father, on the dangers of going to mass, praying, and devotions. This book isn't good enough for bird cage paper, as one of my dearest friends would say. I wrote American Girl and told them exactly how offended I am - as a Catholic Christian and as an Irish citizen - by their negative portrayal of the Irish of the 1930's and of Christianity in general. Hopefully this heads up will save some of you the same experience. God Bless, K."