Raising a Lifelong Reader

 

On Saturday July 26, 2014 I gave a talk at the IHM Homeschool Conference in Naperville, IL. The topic was Raising a Lifelong Reader.  As soon as I am able, I will be posting answers to the questions raised at the conference. Thanks for your patience and understanding. God Bless, Elizabeth

Latin Made Easy with Quizlet

Well, Latin is never easy, but quizlet definitely makes it easier.

How to study those Latin words, or any foreign language for that matter? Quizlet! You can review other flashcards, quizzes, etc. that others have created or make your own.

Why Do We Homeschool? Catholic Mom

"Why do we homeschool?” Often when we begin homeschooling there is something that prompted us to begin. It may have been a child struggling with school, a negative socializing experience, or any number of issues. Once the mom begins, she may feel conflicted that her children will miss out on some great academic experience. She may moan, “I wish I had a real science lab” or “I could never have an interesting literature discussion like I did in my British Literature class.” So why are we doing “that”? Why are we homeschooling? Because we want to educate the whole child; we want to educate the child for eternity.
 
On occasion my twin nephews, who are six years old, will burst into song, “Father, I adore you.” And I lay my life before you. How I love you.” In a public school setting, I guarantee the teacher would not appreciate or encourage such a song. But in the home, this is a beautiful testament of my nephews’ childlike faith.

Too often we focus on the academics and overlook the whole child, building the character of the child, considering all aspects of the person. In his Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente, Blessed John Paul II described Christ as one who “labored with human hands, thought with a human mind, acted with a human will, and loved with a human heart” (par. #4). We need to ask ourselves when we educate ourselves and our children, “Do we labor with Christ’s hands, think with Christ’s mind, act with Christ’s will, and love with Christ’s heart.” We sometimes become so consumed with educating our children’s mind, we overlook shaping their wills, teaching self-control of their drives and passions, training their hands, and nourishing their hearts and souls.

Because the child is a whole, integrated person, we cannot always compartmentalize when we will be educating their minds, their hearts, or their hands. While showing my daughters how to crochet, we might have a discussion on a topic that would form their character or is related to their academics. In practicing her violin or playing the piano, my daughter develops any number of virtues, such as perseverance, attention to detail, and listening to the soul.  When I ask a young child, “Please bring me a diaper or wash cloth” or another simple task; I am testing his will and encouraging his obedience. In the home, education is life.

What are we educating? The whole child.

The rest of the article was published on April 15, 2014 at Catholic Mom.com

Previously published on July 22, 2013 at Catholic Lane

You Don't Know You're Beautiful

While assembling Legos, my seven-year-old nephew has been known to break out singing, “You don’t know you’re beautiful,” the words to the popular song by One Direction.  Of course, he doesn’t fully understand the meaning of the words. But, more importantly, do we comprehend that this simple statement, “You don’t know you’re beautiful,” applies to us, also?  Do we recognize to the depths of our beings that we are truly beautiful?

If we are beautiful, what makes us so? Is it charm, attractive appearance, the latest fashions? One of the most beautiful people to have left her lasting imprint is Blessed Mother Teresa. Now to look at her, you might wonder, “How could this shriveled, bent over, unassuming, little woman be considered beautiful?” She certainly is not physically attractive. Yet if we look into her eyes, we see a luminous beauty that radiates outward.

What is that beauty she radiates? Is it something unique to her? Is it something we wish to possess? While we dimly reflect this beauty at times, it is a beauty we are all capable of possessing; a beauty that comes from our human nature that we are all created in the image and likeness of God (CCC 41, CCC 1700).  And in a very particular way, we possess this beauty when we are baptized, having Christ live within us (CCC 1, CCC 1997).

Naturally, this has many ramifications. It is personified in the picture of Pope Francis kissing the severely disfigured man. It is how we treat one another. And how do we treat one another? Do others know we are Christians by our words and actions (John 13:35)?

When I would really like to repartee unkind word for unkind word, do I pause to reconsider? Sure that person gets under my skin, irritates me to no end, drives me bonkers, doesn’t know what he is talking about. . .! (Ahh, you can feel the temperature rising!) I should say, “I allow that person to get under my skin.” Do I want to engage in the same low base name calling that too often people engage in in the comment section on some websites and blogs? It makes someone pause to wonder if people understand civility. Unfortunately, it is too easy to hide under a pseudonym and not take responsibility for one’s words. Unable to intelligently discuss or argue the issues and facts, they attack one another’s dignity.

Choosing my words carefully when responding to another’s comments is just one of many opportunities for me to practice the art of charity to others. There is that person who cut me off while driving. Without question, I have a few choice words I would like to use. What about disciplining the child who refuses to cooperate and sasses back? When I am running behind and feeling the pressure of getting to an appointment on time, he brazenly announces, “I don’t want to get my shoes on?” I could get angry and read him the riot act or stay cool and let him suffer the consequences of his choices.

Beauty creams, tummy tucks, and sparkling diamonds promise women a dazzling beauty, but for a true beauty that radiates from the inside out, we can heed the words of Blessed Mother Teresa, “Do something beautiful for God.” This may translate into thinking about how our words reflect our minds, hearts, and souls.

Read the rest on Catholic Exchange, Feb. 26, 2014

Are They All Yours!

To all those insensitive remarks people ask about your children, here are the clever remarks.

http://www.zephyrhillblog.com/2012/04/big-families-are-they-all-yours-some-snappy-comebacks/

Twas the Night Before Christmas illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith

Read the whole story with her original illus. at gutenberg.org

Reasons to Oppose Common Core

Updated Dec. 21, 2013

I put together another post of examples of Common Core Curriculum.
http://coolstuff4catholics.blogspot.com/2013/12/why-common-core.html


More links to reasons to oppose Common Core. Please check my archives under Common Core, also.

This YouTube Video give a good overview of the topic.

Common Core: Subversive Threat to Education--Tin Ship Productions

Cardinal Newman Society has several articles. Here are a few.
Common-Core-is-Curriculum-Contrary-to-Advocates' Claims
Cardinal Newman Society, November 19, 2013
Green-Bay's Bishop-Ricken-Says-No-to-Common-Core-in-Diocesan-Schools
Cardinal Newman Society, November 21, 2013
English-Professor-Provides-Review-of-Common-Core English Standards
Cardinal Newman Society, November 22, 2013

 

Ethan Young, a high school senior at Farragut High School in Knox County, Tenn. is speaking at a local school board in early November about the problems with Common Core standards.

Common Core Stanards Math Lesson. For those who want to see the Common Core Standards in action, here is a classroom. The teacher is a wonderful, engaging woman, the kids are delightful, but step back and make note. This IS a curriculum. How are they going to be tested? How does the teacher know if an individual understand the concept taught if the students work in a group? (Name one job in life in which a person is evaluated on group performance?--remember Common Core is supposed to for job readiness in the future?) How old are the children? What should these kids be learning in math at this age? The kids are expressing frustration. The lesson appears to be totally nonsensical.

Rotten to the Core: Obama's War on Academic Standards (Part 1)
Rotten to the Core (Part 2): Readin', Writin' and Deconstructionism
Rotten to the Core (Part 3): Lessons from Texas and the Growing Grassroots Revolt
Rotten to the Core: The Feds Invasive Student Tracking Database

The Heritage Foundation The Heritage Foundation also has numerous sources about the problems with Common Core.

CATO Institute has lots of info on Common Core.

Sandra Stotsky, Ed.D.

Janice Campbell Lots more links posted here.

Dr. Pesta Testifies Against Common Core in Wisconsin on youtube

Here is a specific example of why Common Core is not good.
 http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/righty-or-lefty-quiz-grills-7th-graders-about-political-social-preferences

Here is another example of why Common Core is not good.
http://www.newstalk1130.com/pages/mckenna_blog.html?article=11799542
Talk show host Viki Mckenna discussed Common Core on Tues. Nov. 5 on the 10:00 and 11:00 hours.

And another curriculum example from Common Core.
http://dcclothesline.com/2013/08/25/a-monstrous-story-for-a-monstrous-curriculum-the-ugly-heart-of-common-core/

Still another example of Common Core curriculum.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/06/common-core-lessons-blasted-for-sneaking-politics-into-elementary-classrooms/?intcmp=trending

Curriculum that is aligned with Common Core.
Educational Freedom Coalition

Read why teachers are opposed to Common Core.
http://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/tag/teachers-against-common-core/

Here is a short video by Karen Schroeder.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/16265-karen-schroeder-on-common-core-video

Karen Schroeder also writes here.
http://truthinamericaneducation.com/author/karen-schroeder/

Another article about her and Common Core.
http://watchdog.org/82726/americans-have-a-common-cause-in-battle-against-common-core-state-standards/

She is President of
Advocates for Academic Freedom

Andrew Pudewa of the Institute of Excellence in Writing provides testimony against Common Core in OK
Testimony of Andrew Pudewa to Common Core Interim OK

Anthony Esolen and Patrick Reilly on EWTN, "The World Over" with Raymond Arroyo, Nov. 7, 2013
PATRICK REILLY, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, and ANTHONY ESOLEN, professor of English Literature and Development of Western Culture at Providence College, on the recent letter by Catholic professors to the US Bishops urging them against the inclusion of the "Common Core" curriculum in Catholic schools.
http://www.ewtn.com/tv/live/worldover.asp

The article below states reasons why you should oppose Common Core.
 http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/meet-anti-common-core-movements-super-hero-shane-vander-hart

From the above article:

1. This is dataless reform. "Advocates say it's researched, but there is no evidence that centralizing standards will raise achievement," he said. "It's never been field-tested -- it's just a grand experiment in 46 states with nothing behind it."

2. The process of adoption is flawed. "State legislatures had nothing to do with adopting these standards, they came from special interest groups. Think about it," he said. "It's sinister -- adopting education policy by bypassing the legislature."

3. It's unconstitutional. It violates the Tenth Amendment, he claims. Education is not a power of Congress. Communities and states are the only ones that should be involved. "The federal government has no legitimate role in education." Three federal laws would be violated -- if not the letter of the law, certainly the spirit.

4. Content. Debate rages in every state over whether these are the best standards out there. "Look at my website. I have links on content to several outstanding sources on this subject."

5. Data mining, or data privacy. No matter how many reassurances you hear that the problems are being addressed, "there are websites out there that show a love affair with kids' data. My question is always, 'Aren't you curious what student-level data they will want you to provide?'"

6. Cost of implementation. "In Iowa the cost of test assessment now is $3.50 per student. Under Common Core, it will be $22.50 per student. But it doesn't stop there. School districts have to purchase new books, provide teacher training ... and some schools don't have broadband yet." 


A State Rep. expresses 5 Reasons to Oppose Common Core.
Five Reasons to Oppose the Common Core

Great article by Maureen Whitmann.

http://catholicmom.com/2013/10/31/what-homeschoolers-need-to-know-about-common-core/

When writing to your Archbishop or Catholic Superintendent of schools, this article supports your Catholic position against Common Core.

Catholic Scholars Blast Common Core in Letter to U. S. Bishops 

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave money to NCEA for Common Core
Cardinal Newman Society.org

National PTA received 1 Million dollar Grant from Bill and Melina Gates Foundation.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2009/12/National-PTA-to-Mobilize-Parents-for-Common-Core-Standards

National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers accepted money from the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation, AFT, American Enterprise Institute and many others
Huffington Post

Test Score Plummet after implementation of Common Core Standards
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/08/09/Test-Scores-Plummet-After-New-York-Adopts-Common-Core-Standards
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2013/10/8534385/what-new-york-learns-kentucky-about-common-core-education

More information here: Reasons why to oppose Common Core in Catholic schools. What is Common Core.
Pittsburgh Catholic Against Common Core


NAC Chair Recommends Episcopal Review of Common Core in Catholic Schools
Found at the Cardinal Newman Society. The NAC Chair is speaking to the Bishops at their annual USCCB meeting.

Stay informed and email, write or call your state representatives and senators, U. S. representatives and senators, Governors, local school boards, teachers, principals, your Catholic Superintendent and Archbishop if they have implemented Common Core or are considering it.