The Community for Catholic Moms

What I've Been Reading...

Hi everyone...
I am new to the group and just finding my way around.
Not sure if there is already a discussion post for this but I thought I would add one...

I have recently finished reading:

Haystack Full of Needles, A Catholic Home Educator's Guide to Socialization by Alice Gunther. This is a great book about homeschooling. Since the author lives closeby in New York - I found it to be really inspiring! Lots of activities are discussed. I especially enjoyed the way that this book expressed the "vibe" of the lifestyle of Catholic homeschooling. It outlines the opportunities that homeschooling provides as far as bringing up your kids in an authentic Catholic lifestyle...highly recommended. Quick read!

The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary by Karen
This book is also really great for getting some perspective about praying the Rosary.
It talks about what the Rosary is about and how it is useful. It was written to speak to those of us that struggle with our devotion to the rosary! It is very encouraging!

Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson.
I am only halfway through this book but so far - it is great. The author is an
English teacher in a public high school and he is homeschooling his 3 boys.
He writes about the history of homeschooling and how it differs from education in school. I'll have to update my review when I am done...

Also, I found a blog post with some book recommendations at the Well Rounded Mama
I am thinking about reading Shepherding a Child's Heart soon...Has anyone read it?

D

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Patricia Warren on March 8, 2010 at 12:52pm

Donna, I haven't read Shepherding a Child's Heart yet, but it gets rave reviews on the local conservative-Christian-forcefully-evangelical homeschool to which I belong here in the Triangle. I mostly monitor that group for activities and for outreach; whenever a newcomer posts that they are looking for a church and don't give a denomination or preference, I e-mail privately inviting them to ours! The Catholic homeschoolers in my particular area (Wake Forest) have our own 10 family homeschool group that's not affiliated with the Raleigh ARCH group for several reasons, so I don't have access to the ARCH list. I'll try to remember to ask at this week's get-together if anyone has suggestions or knows this particular book.

Permalink Reply by Donna Graziose on March 25, 2010 at 1:15pm

thanks Patricia. i am glad to hear it got good reviews elsewhere!

Permalink Reply by Patricia Warren on March 25, 2010 at 1:40pm

Ooo, I'm looking back at my original answer, and there should have been the phrase "yahoo group" at the end of "local conservative-Christian-forcefully-evangelical homeschool"! In NC one cannot 'group homeschool' (with a very limited exception for two-family homeschools) so I wanted to make myself clear. Plus I go around with the moderator every so often because 1) gross misrepresentation of the Church and magisterial teaching crops up; or 2) there's just plain Catholic-bashing of the "they're not really Christians" kind.

I had a chance to flip through this book at the local homeschool store a while ago, and while there is some good advice, there is one viewpoint considered "Christian" throughout, leading to a single application of discipline techniques without regard for the differing personalities and uniquenesses of each child. I think that "The 5 Love Languages of Children" (and its book about adults, "The Five Love Languages") is a really good place to start on how to express love to and affirm your child in the way that meshes with your child's heart and soul. I'm still looking for a good Catholic-teen-son-parenting book. My husband is not into what he calls 'psychobabble' so this is mostly my quest.

Permalink Reply by Donna Graziose on March 25, 2010 at 1:46pm

local homeschool store??? that sounds great! i wouldnt see that here ;(

gotcha about the psychobabble...my DH uses the same term.
i work in a University Library in NY so you can imagine what i am exposed to...

ill check out the 5 love languages of children, thanks.

i will keep an eye out for a good mother-son book if i see any reviews. i will need one eventually for my son ;)

no group homeschooling in NC??? what kind of limitation is that exactly?

keep up the good work trying to battle the catholic-bashing. it is rampant! and always disappointing!

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