Any recommendations on a good biography on Georges Lemaitre that won't be over the heads of us not so strong in science people?

Quick Background: I've been homeschooling for 15+ years, and I've burned out. Actually, I've probably been burned out for several years, because we've gone from TOG, to unschooling to basically no schooling. *sigh* It doesn't help that I have a very strong willed 10yr that turns everything school related into a battle if it isn't "fun." I've been seriously considering putting DS in public school just so that he gets SOME kind of education and structure. So, he's 10yrs old and technically 5th grade. But although bright, he's behind where he could/should be (based on his abilities), because of our lack of regular schooling, esp in math. On top of that, we've recently converted to Catholicism, and I'd like to use homeschooling to help us continue to learn about our new faith. I need an open and go curriculum. I don't mind it teacher involvment, but I need to be able to just open up a schedule and do what it says. I'm usually a "tweaker" and have been mixing and matching curriculum forever. I've been using TOG since before there was a Classic version, so I'd say I'm sort of a eclectic CMer. :lol: I'm just so tired of trying to figure out a schedule for every little thing. I'm looking at Kolbe, CHC and MODG. Any suggestion about which one might be a good fit? I'll prolly stick with our Math and Science program. If possible, I'd like a curriculum where the different subjects tie in together... so that our Lit Books match the same time frame as History, which matches Geography, etc. KWIM? Do any of these three do that? I'm not looking for rigorous at this point, just something easy to implement, that will help him catch up and move forward, and help us get back on track. Thanks!!!

Ok. First class of Challenge 2 completed. They had/willl have a video of How Then Shall We Live each class as well as chapter readings. I have read the first few chapters and it is full of the author's unsubstantiated opinion and is very derogatory to Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics, as well as other Christians who do not follow Mr. Schaeffer's views. Many historical references are incorrect. We started doing a fallacy study of the text, but I wonder if she should even be there. She enjoys the people and taking a homeschool class where most of the people actually do the work and are begining some critical thinking. A few of her classmates were also noting the historical inaccuracies, and t's not as if she is being treated unkindly by them. Why aren't they just studying the art itself and styles rather than read some agenda driven synopsis about what someone else thinks? That part doesn't seem very classical to me. I can have her opt out of the reading, but feel it is probably better to read it together. Not sure how to pre watch the videos. What would you do?

I have been following WTM and 'Designing…Classical Curriculum. ' With three children - 7,5,3 - in the fall, I would like to use something with scripted lesson plans. Has anyone used Kolbe Academy, MODG or Seton? Trying to see if anyone has any insight. I purchased Shurley English for Grammar level 2, and will begin that when I finish FLL2. I use the Seton English as supplement. I will probably have to purchase a few grade levels, as my 2nd grader is ahead in certain topics, but behind (b/c of Mommy) in others, like art, music, science and history (SOTW). Thank you in advance for your time and help!!!!

I've been laying low for a while. Dd, 6th, would like to have a more structured (mommy-free) curriculum next year. She saw a couple of her best friend's Abeka classes, and loved them. As Catholics, Abeka is not quite the right fit for us. I'm looking at the free K12 (I bristle at the state requirements and controls, but it's free) and at Regina Coeli. I like Regina Coeli very much, but it's pricey. The progymnasmata is very attractive, compared to the straight online learning of K12. If you are using it, what do you think? Is there enough "classroom" time vs. independent work? My daughter is more artistic than academic, but likes to perform well.

I am working on restructuring our day next year, and have a question: Do you teach faith during your school day as a subject? Every day? And do you use a particular program/curriculum, or what resources do you use? Thank you! :)

I was Googling around the other day for something, and ran across this free seminar for teens and college students using YouCat. I know two of the three priests involved in putting it together and they are very orthodox and very good speakers and teachers. I can't wait to use it with my oldest in a couple of years and had to share. http://www.newmanconnection.com/institute/courses/exploring-youcat

Posted this on the High school board, but thought I'd throw it out over here too. I was Googling around the other day for something, and ran across this free seminar for teens and college students using YouCat. I know two of the three priests involved in putting it together and they are very orthodox and very good speakers and teachers. I can't wait to use it with my oldest in a couple of years and had to share. http://www.newmanconnection.com/institute/courses/exploring-youcat

I have a quick question: can Catholics eat meat on Fridays? I am currently in RCIA and will not go back until next Wed., and just thought of this as I was working on a menu-schedule for our household. I tried to Google it but got several conflicting answers. Some said "no" just during Lent, and others said "no" for every Friday. Could someone clear this up for me, and possibly link me to a credible source? I am still so new to this that I don't know where to look for answers. TY so much!

My co-teacher is thinking of homeschooling her ds. I think she'd be great at it, and her son would benefit from the enthusiasm and hard work she brings to life! I gave her my copy of WTM, but was wondering what specifically Catholic curricula she might want to know about.

A good book about CM style homeschooling by a Catholic author. I'm not Catholic, but enjoyed the book very much. I was encouraged as a mom and a teacher and and learned some excellent practical things from it. I can't remember in which thread or whose post I saw it recommended, but thank you for suggesting it!

I just switched search engines - and in the process managed to mess up all of my bookmarks :willy_nilly: I am working hard on cleaning everything up - and searching threads with "Catholic" in the title. 'Would love for you all to chime in with your favorite sites (and blogs!) as well. Links would be nice, but I am perfectly able to look 'em up!!! I am seriously considering converting from Protestantism and need all the info that I can get! I'll start: Conversion Diary - I just love this blog - someone here mentioned it months ago in a thread & I have been reading since (I actually went back to the start and am reading my way through to present). Scott Hahn.com - I haven't really perused this site, but did read his conversion story, which prompted me to read Rome Sweet Home (loved it).

You can read it here: Classical Liberal Arts Academy Common School opening in September 2011

I've read it some time ago and it is very helpful to come back to it again and again. For those who don't know, father John Bosco (don Bosco) was a Catholic priest who gave himself to educating poor and orphans. HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR STUDIES has the whole text, below I post only short points: 1. The first means for studying well is to have fear of God. 2. The second means for studying advantageously consists in not losing even a second of time. 3. The third means for success in studies consists in getting used to not going on in any subject, be it one grammar rule to another or one argument to another, without knowing the previous material well. 4. The fourth means for studying advantageously consists of eating in an orderly and timely fashion. 5. The fifth means for getting ahead in studies is to keep company with studious young men. 6. The sixth means is an orderly recreation. 7. The seventh means for studying profitably is this: attack and overcome all difficulties you encounter in your subjects of study. 8. The eighth means to study beneficially consists of dedicating yourself exclusively to studying the subjects of your course.

Classical Liberal Arts Academy Before you click off and say: it's religious (Catholic), just look around and read. For the beginning scroll and pick from here: http://www.classicalliberalarts.com/resources/index.htm If you have seen it or enrolled your kids in any classes, please let me know, what you think...

I am brand new to the this group. I have read many books on educating my son who is 4.5 yrs old. I am trying to Catholic homeschoool him. I am brand new to homeschooling and this is my only child. Here is where he and I are at and what I think we need to do but I would like some encouragement and direction as well please. My son is a busy little boy, rather hyper but very good little boy. My joy. I don't want to make him hate learning and I've read Raising Cain protecting the emotional lives of our boys and Better late than early and part of The Well-Trained Mind and part of Creating your own Curriculum by Laura Berquist and mary Prides Homeschooling book and quite a few books on discipline and general raising of children book. My favorite discipline book so far is Love andLogic for the early years. ANy one have a better one? I love it. I have the DVD too. Very good stuff! Well back to what I was talking about. I feel like I'm in a fish bowl and hope that what I am doing is right. I don't want to turn off my son from learning so read to him and let him play. I try to use good and great books from book lists and then when I discover a favorite author/topic I research that further and try to get more of the same, etc. I get books for his level for literature in history, math, literature for literature sake, art appreciation, music appreciation, science. My son loves science and then music the most. When we do music, art or history I add what food might have been eaten that period of time and what music might have been heard at that time or art or whatever it might have been and I am going to try to add to that the dance of that time too if convenient. Like I have a kiddie book on Christopher Columbus so I made a little bit of hard tack and after we feel how hard it is I will soak it in apple juice or water and then we'll see what is was like for them to eat it - yuck I imagine! For science I do science experiments with him and read to him like Magic School bus. Like we did the volcano and the pepper dispersion on top of water surface and the planets, etc. I love it and am learning/refreshing so much of my knowledge. But still I have no lesson plan. I don't know what others are doing. I feel like I might be missing something especially in religion but it is not my son's thing it seems yet at least. I see lots of curricula on the internet but I am bound and determined to NOT buy buy buy and then not use it. I want to spend my money with great wisdom and not throw it away. Any suggestions please? Thank you!

What do you think of the Vatican's official response to the U.N. -- particularly that Jews, Protestants, and public schools are worse? The summary newspaper article (one of many): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/6241861/Child-abuse-common-in-other-churches-says-Vatican.html The accusatory U.N. speech: Vatican's stiff-lipped response to the speech (text): http://www.iheu.org/files/Holy%20See%20Right%20of%20Reply.pdf Do you feel that the Vatican's "enough-is-enough-of-priest-bashing, get real, take a good look around" message was 1) warranted and if so, 2) well-delivered? A non-Catholic myself, I am not sure how stating that 5% of priests have been involved in molestation cases takes the sting out of anything.

Is anyone using anything like TOG but Catholic? I know about yahoo catholic group for TOG, but would like to know about other options. And, how do these two compare?