I am a DRE and I have some families who “home-school” for religious education.  They usually purchase the text from us and use it at home with their children.  Another suggestion would be to visit the website of the publisher.  They usually include activities, games, and prayers to use at home.  I know our publisher’s website (http://www.faithfirst.com) actually includes something for each chapter for each grade level.  Hope this helps!

i just saw a program on EWTN with Father Mitch and Archbishop, gosh, I’m totally drawing a blank, but they were talking a lot about Father John Hardon’s work in catechesis and that a lot of people relied on his catechism books during a very confusing and deficient time in the more formal catechesis.  I want badly to find it for you and link to it, but my computer freezes and shuts down if i try to open another window…maybe someone knows the name of it on here?  I’d like to check it out myself plus Catholics United for the Faith (http://www.cuf.org) (might be .com) has the Faith and Life series which I would love to get for my own family…hope this helps!  God bless!

We have the 3 book series of Once Upon a Time Saints & our children also enjoy them very much!  We provide our childrens religious education & sacramental preparation at home & use a variety of materials that we have been very pleased with.

We use a combination of the Faith & Life series from Ignatius Press:
http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/FaithAndLife/

Religious education materials from Seton Educational Media:
http://www.setonbooks.com/search.php?subject=Religion&grade;=&userSearchString;=&x=10&y=6

And the elementary level catechetical materials of God With Us Publications from Theological Book Service (from an Eastern Catholic perspective):
http://www.theobooks.org/department/the-parish-catechetical-program-10019.cfm?killnav=1

Thank you ladies! What a great start for my research, I will look in to all these suggestions. The older two will still do our Parish RE program, but I am going to add to it with more formal daily lessons, and I think whatbyou have all suggested will be a great resource for me. God Bless you!
Oh, and I didn’t know there was a third book in the series, can’t wait to get it!

The Diocese of Fort Wayne South BEnd has curriculum standards for each grade online, including vocabulary words.  I don’t have the link, but if you google “fort wayne south bend homeschooling” you should be able to find it.

I am beginning my first year of homeschooling this year with my 2nd grade son.  We talked to the DRE and are allowed to homeschool for Religious Ed and he doesn’t care what curriculum we use as long as my son can pass the end of the year exam.  While I can’t say whether or not it is the best thing out there, I am planning on using mostly Seton with a smattering of a few other religion programs and books mixed in.  (I have heard WONDERFUL things about the above mentioned Faith and Life series, but it’s a bit too pricey for this year’s budget.) After reading the comments of a few other members I may also look into the Once Upon a Time Saints series.
As I said, I don’t have a lot of experience in this, but I did want to comment and tell you that once you choose your books you may want to look at All Catholic Books (http://www.acbooks.net) for price comparisons.  They even offer a 2% discount if you pay by check and promise to use the books for education of yourself or others.  What a great resource!

Danielle M:
You can find the 3rd in the series, “Around the Year—Once Upon A Time Saints”, from Bethlehem Books (we picked it up from them at the IHM Catholic Homecschool Conference):
http://www.bethlehembooks.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=795&category=Golden Key Books
It is a larger book covering the lives of 29 different Saints.

We homeschool and use Faith and Life series which is available from St. Ignatius Press.

The Church of St. Paul in MN has a wonderful family based program called Family Formation (http://www.familyformation.net).

I do standardized tests yearly beginning at the end of 2nd grade.  During the school year, I test math, science, spelling, and Latin (depending on grade).  Definitely do math tests beginning in 1st grade.  Spelling beginning in 2nd grade (or later if the 2nd grader struggles with reading).  Science in 3rd grade.  Latin - mainly vocabulary - beginning in 4th grade.  Any problems they miss they have to fix.  I also let them do science as an open book.

Okay, super-dumb, or super-ignorant question: where do you buy the yearly standardized tests?  I’m thinking you mean the comprehensive ones like PSATs or whatever (drawing a blank right now), right?  This was very helpful, Michelle. Thank you. I think even writing down the question made me realize that it’s good to test them at the very least, in math and spelling.

Seton and Kolbe both offer standardized testing. IMO, the Seton one is worthless for any real assessment as it is far, far too short but it satisifies certain states requirements and makes some parents (and extended family) feel better about homeschooling. Seton’s is $20, Kolbe is $50 (for the CAT-5)
There are multiple websites that offer standardized testing also. I don’t have the sites off hand.MODG lists them in their handbook and I can look them up later if you’d like.

The PSAT, SAT and ACT will be through the organizations that give those tests, the Collegeboard for example administers the PSAT (call the local high school) and SAT-you register online and pick where you go to take the test.

for me and mine, I give standardized tests every other year or so from 2nd-9th, PSAT in 10th, and 11th, SAT in 11th and 12th.
We often do non-traditional testing for subjects during the year like a family spelling bee instead of spelling tests, translating fun phrases like “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.” for Latin…..
paper and pencil tests aren’t the only way to ensure competency

Karen, thanks so much for the response.  No need to look up anything more for me—I can take it from here.  I really appreciate the direction and you sharing what works for y’all.  (Y’all is such a handy word, don’t y’all think?)  Have a great weekend!

Catholic Heritage Curricula sounds like it would fit your needs.  It is a little “lighter” academically but builds in more creative stuff and leaves you more time for whatever else you want to do.

We also felt the need to make some changes in curriculum this year, our 5th. My approach was to only change the things that I and my kids felt the most disillusioned with. For us that was history and religion. We’ve switched to Story of the World, even though my kids are a little older, and I got the supplemental activity book, so we have lots of choices of extra reading and activities every week. I use Faith & Life for religion. We’re continuing with text, but I didn’t get the activity book this year. Now I feel some time has been freed up to talk more about the saints, feast days, devotional reading and such because I’m not trying to fit in the worksheets for the text (and my kids aren’t procrastinating doing them).

It wasn’t so overwhelming to just look at my options for 1 or 2 subjects. Even though some other subjects aren’t working as well as I would like, it’s good enough for now and I will re-evaluate those for next year.

As for fitting in those fine arts and other things, my kids are involved in a local theatre group and take classes all year.  They get a lot of fine arts through that. And I try to fit in art in the work they are already doing, not so much as a separate subject. I’m not so good with music, although I’ve tried many times. We bought recorders this year and a song book, so I’m hoping that will be fun. We’re also thinking about putting the older boys into guitar. So for the most part, my kids get those extras through their extracurriculars, not as part of the formal school day.

I found that the simplest way to add art and music to our home was to work at ensuring that my children have a reasonable amount of free time, provide materials as appropriate and spend time myself with art and music.  [btw waterbrushes with watercolors are one of the greatest ways to reduce painting messes and there are some really fun kits out there]

Our parish has also been a great source of music (children’s choir) and community involvement.

You’ll need to be flexible, it’s not reasonable to expect a 3 yo, 2 yo and newborn to cooperate with your schedule.  I am a structured person too and home schooled with exactly the same ages.  Eventually I stopped homeschooling because of my temperament and the ages of our young family.  But, for what its worth. . . .  Here’s what I did:  after breakfast, when all the little guys were pretty content to play on their own, I’d immediately teach math and reading to my 1st grader - that way, if nothing else got done, I’d have the “important stuff” accomplished.  The rest of the stuff I worked in as I could between naps & diapers. It gets easier when your student can read, but when they can’t read you really have to be involved.  Based on what you wrote I think homeschooling will be difficult for you, unless you relax your expectations and either incorporate your younger children into your lessons, do it when everyone naps, or teach at night when you DH is home. God bless.

I homeschooled 2 older children last year with a 2 year old. I found it hard to do much 1-on-1 while the toddler was awake in the mornings, so they did independent work at that time. I saved the one-on-one lessons for nap time. I understand you won’t be able to have independent work for Kindergarten, I"m not suggesting that. This year the youngest is 3. I have about 30-45 min of “school” with him every morning. So I’m able to tell him that I will help his brothers get started while he plays quietly, then when I am done I’ll bring in his school work. His work consists of basic letter and number worksheets, connect the dots, shapes and other such things I can print from the internet. When he’s done, I three-hole punch them and put them in his school notebook so he can show daddy when he gets home. We also read books, preschool magazines and do simple crafts about twice a week. He’s really proud of his work and it has worked amazingly well so far. But it wouldn’t have worked last year when he was 2. He still naps, so I still do 1-on-1 during nap time.

I will also have a newborn in Sept. Not sure how the schedule will work then, but I do know I’m taking 6-8 weeks off with no school at all after I deliver. I learned quickly after my last child, that working around a 2 or 3 month olds schedule is much easier than a true newborns, plus I was physically recovered and not nearly as sleep deprived.

This is my 5th year homeschooling. I tend to be a very scheduled person too. Lots of lists, ideas of when things should be done and how long it should take. But kids don’t usually work that way. I’ve had to learn to be flexible. If someone is up sick all night or wakes up with a fever or any other thing that has to be dealt with immediately comes up, then you have to adjust. If you’re patient with yourself (and your kids, but mostly yourself) you can learn to let go a little. Just an example, we started school a few weeks ago to get some in before the baby comes. Our first week it turned out it was well over 100 degrees here and very humid. I was exhausted just taking care of myself and the kids, but I really wanted to start school. So we had sandwiches 3 times for dinner that week and although I got the laundry washed, it never got folded or put away so we lived out of laundry baskets. Who knows what else I let slide. But it was ok for that week. 5 years ago, it wouldn’t have been ok. I would have made myself crazy getting it all done. Now, 3 weeks later, all the major chores are done, I’ve made dinner every night and we’ve done a couple of hours of school every day. And I didn’t go crazy.

I guess what I’m trying to say, is that if flexibility is going to be a struggle for you, then as Kate suggested, homeschooling with so many young children may become overwhelming for you. Her suggestion of schooling while you DH is home is a good one too. We did this some early on as well. Or maybe school 2 or 3 times during the week and the rest on the weekend when you have more help.

Good luck and I hope you find a routine that works for your family. You’ll be in my prayers as this school year starts.

Danielle,
I have 6 kids and am homeschooling our 4th Kindergartener this year, while chasing a 3 yr old and 18 mo old.  Am now pregnant with #7.  Using Catholic Heritage Curricula materials for all my children, it usually takes no more than 30-45 min to do her “bookwork.”  This does not include any crafts or reading in the time.  Can you set aside some special toys, blocks, play-doh, etc for the 2 little ones to play with nearby while you school?  Although I have a gate on my school room, it’s more to keep littles out when school is NOT going on.  They want to/need to be nearby.  It’s all part of the “HOME"schooling.  It is not always easy, but you and your schooler need to be patient.  Good luck and God bless.

It takes me less than 45 minutes to do school with my kindergartener.  When my oldest was that grade, he knew that nap time was school time.  I would warn him that the baby was nursing and would fall asleep (and my 2 other tots were already napping), so he would be ready.  I agree that flexibility when homeschooling with little ones is necessary and that they may not cooperate as you intend.  Some moms put them in another room with a baby gate to keep them there.  I also suggest *special* toys to be played with only during the kindergartener’s school time.  But honestly, one-on-one time with no interruptions is something that I deal with daily with my brood of 5 school aged kids and one tot.

See first question above.

Every homeschooling family I know does religion at home as well.  Many homeschoolers I know ALSO have their children enrolled in CCD.  I taught CCD using Sadlier (5th and 6th grade).  I didn’t find anything wrong with the material, it’s just weak (my opinion).  The teacher makes a huge difference as well.  They can teach good stuff that’s not in the book…or they can take a fabulous book and fail to teach it well…or add bad stuff that’s not in there.

Why did you enroll her?  Do you feel you have to?  Are you not comfortable teaching religion (were you poorly catechized yourself)?  Do you want her to have a “school” experience?  There are many good reasons to enroll a child in CCD.  If you were happy with your decision, stick with it.  I promise you, one year in CCD will not turn her into an atheist!  You can choose to not enroll her next year if you don’t like the program.

I do both religion for homeschool and send my kids to RE. The RE program is weak compared to what we are able to do 5 days a week at home, but that kind of seems like it would be a given. I choose to go ahead and send my kids though so that they are comfortable talking about their faith outside of the family. I also agree that a lot of it depends on the teacher each year.
My kids are pretty young still, but I also hope they will choose to become a part of the Jr High and Sr High youth program when the time comes, something that will be easier if they have good friends through the church.
However, we do not have a strong catholic homeschooling presence in my area, so we are not a part of any specifically catholic groups or co-ops. I might feel differently if that were another outlet for us.

I will definetly pray for you here in Texas, Ann! It can be a circus getting ready for school. : )

Mississippi’s got your back, too. Prayers that you’re kept from needless anxiety. Congratulations on your second son!