I was the teacher in the early grades for Melissa so I wasn't worried - she's in 6th now so she catches things right away that aren't right and talks to me about them.

I requested the book a few weeks before CFF started and talked with the teacher to see where she was coming from. I was pretty impressed with the book they were using - moreso than the watered down mamby pamby "Blest are We" program our old parish used. I check for the most important part for me: an understanding that the liturgy/Mass is the Summit of worship, and that the Eucharist is explained in detail that when consecration happens, the bread and wine cease to exist and become the true body and blood soul and divinity of Christ. If that's not there, then the entire program is suspect to me.

Melissa's teacher last year had not even HEARD of the BC and the DRE told us that Vatican II made it obsolete and no one is allowed to teach from it. :confused1: :confused1: She got an earful from me, and church documents to prove she was wrong. It was funny because just before we had the run in, she told me Melissa knew her faith so well, and she loved Jesus so much and she wondered what I was doing. I told her she was home schooled with Seton Home Study, a traditional Catholic curriculum, and the BC. Her face hardened and said, "Why would you use THAT?? Kids don't learn from memorization!!" and went on to explain things to me. I said, "You just said she knew her faith so well and she loved Jesus - seems to be working just fine for us!!" :crying:

I'm not the OP, but I can answer this for us: Ya'll may laugh, but my daughter is in Faith Formation at the parish because I want her to have the social experience of meeting kids her own age, and a small classroom experience. I feel it will help her feel more involved with her parish. I use Seton Home Study and their religion courses are very challenging. She has not learned one thing in CFF that she hasn't already learned through Seton, but being in CFF has helped her to be more settled and feeling a part of the parish more. Also, our parish has a rule that if you are not in THEIR faith formation for a year before sacraments and through their sacraments program, they will not allow the child to receive the sacraments. I'm not thrilled with this part, and it is not Vatican rules but the Pastor's own rules. CHurch documents state that a parish is not to deny a child sacraments if they are properly prepared. It doesn't say it MUST BE in the parish CCD program. I may just fight this one.

Our curriculum at home uses the BC and the faith formation at the church uses a Jesuit based book, no tests because you "can't test a faith in Christ". <eye roll> My personal feelings below: This is what we do: We do the lessons from the Baltimore Catechism. We read it together and we read the memorization. I do not insist on letter for letter, punctuation and spelling correct exact memorization, but she has to tell me to the best of her ability. Then I ask her to explain what it means to her and to her relationship with Jesus and God, and we move on to the next one. I grade her on her understanding of what it means. I think it's extra important in this day and age to KNOW our faith. Many people do not even understand that Communion is the true body and blood of Christ- that the bread and wine turn into Jesus' body and blood. It's not just that he's "in" the bread and blood. This and so many other tenets of our faith are watered down to the point of "Jesus loves us all...." that we have an entire generation who doesn't really know what our faith truly teaches. Learning the BC will help our children have God deep in their heart AND their mind, so that if/when they are challenged, they have the correct answers. Memorization doesn't preclude or trump a relationship of the heart with Jesus. It can enhance it because of the awareness of what we believe about the God we so very much love.

I agree. This is not Minecraft.

I was having a heck of a time finding this because I forgot what you called it! LOL Here's mine: Week 4 ^^^ Hee hee - I know how to do that now!!

We use both. They work on different things.

My 11 year old still struggles with it. It's maddening. LOL

Thanks. This is the likely outcome. :)

Trying it out! Our Crazy, Fun Week Three Oh good Lord, that was SO easy!! Thank you!

Ok, I'm back. Here is mine! http://homegrownpumpkin.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/week-3-wrap-up-september-1-5-2014/ I still haven't figured out how to make my link not be just the URL link and have it say something fun! Sorry

I will come back and join up in a few hours. I haven't finished the weekly blog write up yet.

I wasn't very clear-- sorry. What I mean is should I notify Nevada I will be gone for 4 months of the year? I know I don't have to tell Texas a thing, but I don't know if being gone for that long will trigger me to have to notify Nevada again when I return.

Wow, that's amazing. One last question, and I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. If we go, it will only be for 4 months. Would I need to tell the state I'm leaving, or do I consider it just a really long vacation? We will be back to residing in Nevada after February if this works out.

I'd be interested to know how the academics get double spacing. If they are using a computer, the computer uses proportional fonts and simply eliminates the double space anyway. Do they use special programs, or do they have to use a physical typewriter?

I learned on a manual typewriter, and it was OMG YOU BETTER USE TWO SPACES!!!!!! However, with the advent of the computer and proportional fonts, it's unnecessary. Yes, there is debate about it, but really, just when will our children have to type a paper on a physical typewriter? The computer sees a period and leaves slightly more space between the period and the next capital so that it reads well, which was what the intent of the double space was anyway. Single space. There's no need for teaching double spaces because if one uses a computer all the time, the computer will correct it anyway. Even Facebook converts the two spaces to one. GASP!! Also, at least on my Word, when you have correction and grammar on, it will put a squiggelly line under two spaces. I realize the argument is far from over from some, but for me, there's no argument. There is no need for double spaces, and no need to teach it.

I will have to agree to disagree with you on this one. They all started out as satirical comedy editorialists and remain so to this day. They don't contain any more news content (without bias) than any other "editorialist" on either side of the coin, and yes, I've watched them ALL. To your last point, I totally agree. Follow the money. :)

Ok,cool. Just doing my checking instead of assuming that I understand the point you were making. :) I don't give equal weight to all opinions and sides, but I do think it's important to hear what other people are thinking, more from a psychology of the person kind of thing in my case. I am fascinated by human foibles as my degree is in psychology and sociology.

I dunno. I rarely come to a decision based on two polarized opinions. I don't think I said that in my post - I was saying that I use a variety of sources. Did I not explain that well?

Just because one is at the "extreme" to some people, does not mean that they are not correct. :) I think that's one of the big problems of our society. We dismiss the "extreme"on either side, and think the moderate is correct, which sometimes, and in some issues, a compromise is nothing but not making a decision. I listen to all the voices I can, and make a decision based on my own life experiences, belief systems, and logic. We are not ever going to all agree. However, we can do a LOT better in discussions and debates without denigrated a point of view. We have LOST this skill. I think a big detriment of social media is that it has emboldened us all to think that our voice MUST BE INSERTED into every discussion, and that what we say has infinite value and merit, when in reality, there are times when we all should just keep our mouths shut and move on...me included. ^^^^ Generic - not aimed at you or anyone else in this thread.

I agree. It's editorial. However, many times they wind up being right in the long run. ;) Oh, and also Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, and Bill Maher, all of whom many of my liberal friends say they get "all their news from" because they're funny and edgy. There is too much wrong with our country to blame the editorialists on either side. To the OP, I get what you are asking. You want to balance the other information that you hear with the other side so that you can make an informed decision. I applaud you. You are more politically aware and caring than most of the people in our country who only want to hear one side. I go to so many sources for news that I have a hard time remembering which ones are conservative, libertarian, progressive, or liberal. You have gotten some good advice if you ignore the side fight. :)

So it really is as easy as that? I am in Nevada currently and we had to file an Intent to Home School and an education plan. We moved from CA where I had to do nothing because I used Seton and they are seen as a private school in CA, and I didn't realize until we were here for MONTHS that I was supposed to fill anything out. I don't want to make that mistake again. LOL

We started up today - so here's a sum up of today! LOL http://homegrownpumpkin.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/1-down-180-to-go/

There is a VERY SLIGHT chance that I may be living in DFW area for 4 months this year, so I am trying really hard to understand the ramifications of this. If I move there, do I have to file any paperwork at all if my child has not been in the school system?