You'll often hear homeschool parents say that they pass on their faith by "weaving it" into everything they teach. It seems that this becomes more natural with time. There are some wonderful resources for teaching about the faith and tips that I've picked up from others that I'll share on this page.
- When it comes to actually teaching the fundamentals of the Church we use the reprinted "Living My Religion Series" 1943 edition. These beautiful hard bound books cover the catechism through explanation, stories and discussion. Questions from the Baltimore Catechism are boxed. Reprinted by Christian Book Club of America in Palmdale CA, they are available through Saints & Scholars or Catholic Shopper.. Another popular series is Faith and Life. And for high school the series by Fr. Laux is often used. The reprinted high school series "Our Quest for Happiness" series (by Msgr. Clarence Elwell & others, Mentzer, Bush & Co., 1957)is our favorite as it places more emphasis on the spiritual side of the faith while Fr. Laux's books emphasis the intellectual. The newest arrival for older children is "Faith and Reason". Order information will be added when it is available.
- When we began hs we read the suggestion to have children spend the first 15 min of their school day in spiritual reading. This will develop a good habit of spending time with God and also eases them into their schoolwork. I read The Catholic Mother's Helper to the preschoolers and Leading the Little Ones to Mary to 5 and 6 year olds. Younger children also enjoy coloring bible pictures when they are listening to scripture being read. For 2nd grade we use the two volume "Saints for Young Readers" by Daughters of St. Paul, and in 3rd grade the light hearted"Sixty Saints for Boys/Girls" by Joan Windham along with Bible reading and other compiled saints books. In 4th grade children enjoy Angel Food for Boys & Girls and My Path to Heaven. After this children can continue reading compiled saints books, Catechism in Stories by Fr. Lovasik is suitable for 5th-6th(211 W. 7th Ave., Tarentum PA 15084), and I have been told that older children benefit from Stories From the Catechist by Fr. Howe and Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis DeSales.
- Several sites have been recommended by parents of older children as having "teen appeal" Nazreth Resource Journal (Catholic) Crossfire (Catholic with some Christian links), Envoy's Catholic online articles Stories from the Desert Fathers ,
Popes Through History-Listing & Biography
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