Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism Workbook

I have put together a workbook to go along with the Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism Vol. 2.  My children are both using the same religion and don't like to hear the others discussion questions and answers from me.  So they read the lesson in the book, and then fill out the corresponding pages in the workbook. 

   I couldn't find anything online that was a workbook to go along with it, so I figured I would offer it here for those that were interested.  I'll be making one to go along with Vol 1, and 3 as well so stay tuned if you're interested in those.

Here Is Why I've Been MIA Lately!

Meet the newest member of our garden!  Baby Sunflower  

(Adam Raphael)

He was born on April 5th and is such a joy!  We call him Mr. Cranky though.  He has colic and reflux, as well as a milk protein allergy so he's not a very happy baby (yet).  After many prayers the Lord blessed us with another child to complete our family.  I had a very rough pregnancy this past time and was on bed rest often.  I'll be posting more now that the hardest part is over, so stay tuned.

So, here he is!

Story of the World Vol 3

Story of the World Vol 3: Early Modern Times are now available for download under the Vol 3 Resources tab.  Please enjoy and look out for volume 4!

God Bless,

Horror In The Streets....

Today let us pause and pray for all of those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing.  We live just an hour away and are saddened by the state of this world that we live in.

Homeschooling In Small Spaces

I know that I've been missing in action lately.  I think its been the winter funk.  Or writers block, or maybe just laziness.  There are a million reasons that I could come up with, but yay!  I'm back!

    So today I'd like to talk about schooling in small spaces.  I'm sure I've talked about how we live in a tiny apartment.  House prices are out of our range here in Rhode Island and rentals are much cheaper.  So we have to make do and adapt to our tiny apartment.  

   It certainly makes for a challenge for everyday living, but throw in homeschooling storage and setup, and now you've got yourself an even bigger job of tackling.  We used to be blessed to have an entire room devoted to schooling.  But now that our daughter is 4 years old and not rooming with us any longer, it was time to say goodbye to the school room and hello to a new challenge.

Where were we going to accomplish school?

We don't have the luxury of an "extra" room.  We are lucky to have a 3 bedroom apartment.  Well actually it's a 2 bedroom, but I'm going to share with you what I did.

   

This room is our main living area.  We have made it the Living Room / Dining Room / School Area combo.  This would actually be the room you would put your kitchen table and fridge, hutches..etc

In case you need a little taste of just how small our apartment is, this is my kitchen.  The WHOLE kitchen!

    Well, we really need that extra room which would be a living room, I guess, so we have re purposed this room for that function.  3 bedroom apartment; problem solved.  But that didn't solve the problem of space for school storage.  School is now done at the "Dining Room" table.  All seat work is done here.  

    My sweet husband was nice enough to mount my computer monitor on the wall using a small shelf.  We have a wireless keyboard and mouse that the children use when completing a Spanish lesson or other work on the computer.  I'm also able to make use of the computer for our lessons, to illustrate points that I want to make by the way of showing them things we are learning about.

    See that nice T.V. Ar-moire in the corner?  Yup...I've made use of that as well.

    I store my teaching hub inside.  The desk apprentice.  But since I have no desk I drag this out and use it everyday near my chair.

    This is our art caddy that gets used everyday.

    In the drawer below that is all of the extra art items I can't fit anywhere else.

    Above the table is the only wall space in the room.  I use this as my reference wall and hang all of the charts for my kids to use here.  

    Above the monitor is our nature shelf.  It holds our microscope, slides, nature treasures and nature guides.

    Now, the desk I don't get use of the conventional way holds the massive printer and my bread machine.  Spilling over from the kitchen.

    This is the nature finds basket that lives on our table.  Here all things interesting that are found outside can quickly be dropped off and investigated later.  This ensures they can keep playing and do the research later.

As far as books.  I have multiple bookshelves in my bedroom, there is one big bookshelf in this room, and some books that I'm not using yet are stored in storage totes.


I'm hoping that this post can help someone else living in extremely tight quarters.  It's not always easy, but it can be done.  

Wherever your family is....there too is your home.


God Bless,

An Interesting Thought....

Do you know that on the day that the Pope announced his resignation, a lightning bolt struck the dome of St. Peter's? 



 Do you think that this has any significant meaning? 

 I've been contemplating this.  

The world seems to be headed only one way, and we know what that way is. 

People have abandoned God.  
People have forgotten God.  
People have stopped praying, stopped attending Mass.  

They blame the church, the priest, or the congregation.  
I don't attend Mass for the parishioners, the priest or anything else of earth. 

I attend Mass for the sacrifice of Calgary.  
I attend Mass to show honor, love and respect to the Lord.
I attend Mass to show God that he is worth my time.  Worthy of my love.  

I can't help but wonder what lies ahead for us as humanity.  God the Almighty wiped out the earth for a lot less evil.  

What is the world setting itself up for?  

Tell me what you think of all of this.


God Bless,

A Simple, But Beautiful, Lesson Planner

I've created this simple, yet beautiful lesson planner that I'd like to share with you.  I really enjoy sharing with you all I make.  I find navigating the computer very easy and love sharing my talents with you all. 

Simple Homeschooling Planner


God Bless,

I'm not gone....I'm still here

Well, after some rough patches in life.  Like my brother going through the only divorce in our family, it's been a tough time.  Only the Lord knows what stands ahead of us.  I really hope that I'm still able to see my nieces and nephew again.  Well, enough about me.  It seems as though there's been one sickness after another around here though.  Cold after cold this year.  I promise I'll be back with some goodies though.

God Bless,
Mary

Story of the World Volume 2 Resources

Here is the link to Volume 2

Timeline cards



Notebooking Pages

God Bless,

Mary

The New Order of the Mass cards

I needed something for my children to use during Mass that was simple and straightforward for them to follow.  We do have the Mass cards in the pew, but it's very difficult for my children to know where to follow along and when.  So, I made up these kid friendly Mass cards by borrowing one from church.  I printed mine out onto white cardstock and laminated to make them durable.

Please Enjoy!

New Mass Cards

God Bless,

Mary