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Homeschooling Moms

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Members: 63
Latest Activity: Nov 29, 2011

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Curricula? 9 Replies

I just realized this was here ... I was posting on the comment wall. I'm curious what curricula everyone uses, what do you love, what do you dislike? We currently do a mish mosh of whatever I like…Continue

Started by Shaunda Penny. Last reply by Amber Snipes Feb 6, 2011.

Maps 1 Reply

I'm looking for a complete Atlas, or book that has maps in it. I want to show my son the rivers of the world, the oceans, the countries, the capitals, the mountains. Can anyone give me any…Continue

Started by Elisa. Last reply by Shaunda Penny Jul 29, 2010.

Homeschool Conferences 1 Reply

I will be attending the upcoming Immaculate Heart of Mary conference in July in Tampa (http://www.ihmconference.org/tampa/). Anyone else going to be…Continue

Started by Jen. Last reply by Bethany Roth Jul 14, 2010.

Online Homeschool Theology Classes - JP Catholic University 1 Reply

If anyone is interested, John Paul the Great Catholic University ifoffering Online Theology classes for homeschooled upperclassmen inhighschool. These are college-level courses, so students can…Continue

Started by Colleen Monroe. Last reply by Elena LaVictoire Jul 7, 2010.

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Comment by Amylisa C on March 26, 2011 at 12:49pm: Hello, I am so glad to find this group here!

I am wondering if any of you here have had experience with High School Of Your Dreams from CHC. I am looking into it for my daughter for her junior and senior year. I am using CHC's 7th grade for my younger daughter soon and am looking forward to it very much. I am especially thankful for their course on The Virtue Tree.

Looking forward to meeting other hs-ing catholic moms here!

Comment by Jennifer O'Gorman Flippen on May 1, 2010 at 3:28pm: I pick and choose the curriculum that I use. There is so much out there now. Mother of Divine Grace is good. I, myself, would not use Seton Home School for the younger grades. I actually used the Seton Program in my senior year of high school and it was very good prep for college. It is a good program if your children can be self-directed. For a mother with young children who need her attention it seems to me that signing up for the whole curriculum with grading can be setting yourself up for failure. I have found it to be way too involved. Young children are like sponges. They absorb so much we don't even realize. Exposure to things can be just as instructive or more so than doing workbook pages and book reports. These things are good in moderation. I just find Seton can go a bit overboard on them. This is just my opinion. If others want to give their ideas on the Seton lower grades feel free.

Comment by Jennifer R. on May 1, 2010 at 2:05pm: Hi Shaundra,

Seton has been such a blessing for my daughter, and entire family. I have called the counselors quite a bit the last few months with questions and they are always so helpful, polite and exemplary in their knowledge and dedication to the Magistrate. Coming out of very bad public schools, Seton has been a breath of fresh air for my dd. It's the way schools should be. Their standards are very high, and my prayers are that my student will have an excellent education and strong foundation for her Faith. I have also noticed in working with a total homeschooling novice like myself, they are very willing to adapt their curriculum to meet the students needs. Seton is a blessing from God! :)

Comment by Michelle Alger on May 1, 2010 at 11:32am: Shaunda, I guess it is a personal decision. I'm a person who crosses her t's and dots her i's. I like having someone else do all the grading and lesson planning for me. Plus they keep all records and I am confident my kids are doing all that is required.

When I first started with Seton I was really good about doing EVERYTHING they said. Now we have found a great rhythm and do what is necessary. If your oldest is 7 the work load isn't bad. And actually my oldest is 15 and it only takes him about 12-15 hours a week to do everything. Until test time or paper writing time then it takes a bit more effort, but still doable. Our youngest is in kindergarten and I only spend 20-30 minutes 4 days a week with her!!

If there are any other questions about Seton let me know.
God Bless

Comment by Shaunda Penny on May 1, 2010 at 11:23am: Reading these comments about Seton makes me wonder what else people use for curriculum. All of my kids are still young (my oldest is 7). We currently do a little of this and a little of that, mostly following a Mother of Divine Grace/Laura Berquist framework, but I find myself drawn to CHC every once in a while too ... I just don't think I'd be happy following someone else's plan. Our days can be very crazy with 6 little ones, so I like being able to adapt as much as I need.

Comment by Michelle Alger on May 1, 2010 at 8:55am: Hang in there Jennifer!! I'm a cradle Catholic and I have learned a TON with this program LOL! You are doing the right thing! Prayers are with you!

Comment by Jennifer R. on April 30, 2010 at 7:37pm: Hi Michelle,

This is our first year with Seton. My daughter is in 10th grade, coming out of public schools. Seton has been a huge adjustment for her. It's definitely an excellent college prep curriculum, and solidly Catholic. I too love the fact that Seton is strict on writing. Apparently, something wasn't working in her answers. She studied the book more than the lesson plans. I am a convert, so I haven't been that good at helping her. It seems like there is so much dry memorization of dogma. This course will be a learning curve for both of us. Thanks for your great tips! I haven't actually seen the test and the grader's comments, but I am sure they will be helpful for her to do better on the next exam.

Comment by Michelle Alger on April 30, 2010 at 6:15pm: Jennifer, We also use Seton and are in our 7th year with them. We believe they are tough in all subjects when it comes to writing assignments, but I like that about them.

Your daughter must be in high school? I believe that is when the essays become the largest part of the religion test and it takes my son a LONG time to work on them. I've allowed him to work on the test for as long as he is able and then close it walk away and go back to it later or even another day. Breaking it up has seemed to really help him. Also, he has found a lot of the answers they are looking for are mostly in the lesson plans vs. the book itself.

The other thing I've allowed is for him to refer back to the book or lesson plans in order to better formulate a good essay. It isn't like he is looking up answers when the answer it in essay format. I would suspect that Seton would frown upon this. I want my kids to LOVE their religion and have a good idea of what it is not just memorize it to point of being numb and hating it! Does that make sense?

Comment by Jennifer R. on April 30, 2010 at 5:57pm: I just received my dd's quarter religion grade from Seton Homeschool and I am really disappointed and surprised it is so low! A 71, which is a D-. She studied and worked so hard...Does anyone have any experience with Seton's religion courses? Are the graders really tough on this? I looked it over before she sent the exam ( which is mostly essay, short answer questions on the sacraments) and it looked fine to me. DD has done well in the rest of her classes, so I am puzzled. Any tips on the religion course from past or present Seton homeschoolers would be appreciated. Thanks!

Comment by Jennifer O'Gorman Flippen on April 29, 2010 at 1:26am: Hi Colleen! Small world! LOL! I am the mother of four and only really homeschooling one child officially which will change next year. Elizabeth Foss's book - Real Learning - has given me hope. But any more advice would be welcome!!