by Olivia Spears
Level Three Booklist
Are you enjoying Level 3 book with your family? If you want to extend the catechesis by reading living picture books and chapter books that touch on the story or theme from particular lessons, these are for you!
by Olivia Spears
Self-Discipline in the Home + Homeschool
Self-discipline is key to success in our endeavors and for our sanity. Particularly in the long haul of motherhood, self-discipline protects priority and peace.Self-discipline is a habit. In fact, it is the foundation of habit formation. Whole books can and have been written on self-discipline. Here, I would like to look at self-discipline in the life of the homemaker in three areas: the heart the will the life The Heart We can stay stuck in our emotions when it comes to self-discipline. Sometimes there’s a lot of shame around the idea. The Holy Spirit can use our emotions to convict us. He pricks our conscience. But there is a big difference between:"I notice that when I scroll on my phone right after I wake up instead of praying, I’m much less patient with the kids’ needs." and "I’m always cranky with the kids in the morning, the worst mother, and I’m probably just screwing them up."One thought is the conviction that spurs us to the right action; the other is condemnation that leads us to despair and low-level comfort-seeking.When we spiral like this, we tend to focus more on the circumstances rather than our interior lives.But the heart is precisely where we must begin.Whatever your external circumstances, the Lord sees the heart. This is paramount in the life of the mother because our seasons shift often and dramatically. Self-discipline in one season will look different from self-discipline in another.We must be more attached to Jesus than our schedules.We must listen to His voice over self-condemnation.We must ask Him to cast the vision for self-discipline in this season rather than the latest Reel promising to enhance our morning routine. Resources can help, but not more than the Holy Spirit.If our goals for self-discipline are not a fruit of prayer we will likely end up defeated or self-reliant.So before we address any other areas, we should ask the Lord for His wisdom and vision for this season of our lives.And if we want to grow in self-discipline, let’s ask Him for help! The Will As we allow the Lord to transform our hearts and clarify our vision, He is going to give us opportunities to practice! After all, we grow in virtue by doing things consistently and intentionally.Once the Holy Spirit has shown you how to grow in self-discipline this particular season, focus your energy there. We all-or-nothing types often hear the Holy Spirit’s marching order for one step forward, then go blazing into the full battlefield.The exercise of the will is an interesting point of reflection for the stay-at-home or homeschooling mom. We have a lot of freedom. We set the schedule. We make the appointments. We discern levels of involvement. We are the CEO, the manager, the cook, and the janitor.This freedom is so good. It is partly why homemakers have a particular duty to preserve leisure in our culture (but that’s another email for another time). This freedom also presents unique considerations. After all, if we make the schedule and the rules, then we can say there is no schedule and there are no rules, right?A piece of our self-discipline as homemakers is identifying the priorities of this season and being sure we steward our time and energy well.How do we do that? Let’s look at some practical ideas. The Life Planning I mentioned it above, but a significant step in self-discipline is getting very clear about your priorities. The Lord has been teaching me about this a lot this summer. He has given me my assignment in this season. When I cease hemming and hawing about it, looking to my right and left, I have much more peace.It is worth taking this to deep, extensive prayer. It is worth sitting down with our spouses and reviewing the priorities of the season. And it is worth structuring our lives around the assignment. Boundaries Boundaries look different for different people, personality types, needs, seasons, and vocations. But they are important!Once we have identified our priorities, it might be necessary to put some boundaries in place to ensure those priorities are nurtured as needed.For example, one boundary I have set this year is protecting our school time in ways I have not done in the past. Unless otherwise impossible, I am not scheduling kids’ appointments during our blocked school times. I’m not taking meetings. I place my phone on “Do Not Disturb" and put it away.Notice that this is a boundary I’ve set for myself. No one is demanding that I have a dentist appointment at 9 a.m. or that I answer their text message immediately. But I know myself well enough to recognize this is a necessary boundary to protect the priority. Flexibility + Fortitude It requires self-discipline to make a plan and set boundaries, and it requires self-discipline when it all goes to pot.As mothers, we must be flexible because there will be hiccups. Things will regularly not go according to plan. Ideals are often massacred by toddlers and teenagers.These are further opportunities to exercise self-discipline. We get to discipline our minds. How will we respond? Will we throw up our hands in resentful surrender (I have no idea what that’s about. Never done that before.)? Or will we face pivots with fortitude, doing the best we can and giving the rest to God? Longevity The last point I’ll make on the topic of self-discipline for mothers is that we must accept the Lord’s grace and realize that we are in a marathon.Sometimes self-discipline looks like true self-care. Maybe it’s going to bed earlier instead of watching one more episode so you’re better rested. Maybe it’s taking a walk outside or reading a book instead of checking Facebook. Maybe it’s making time for dedicated prayer. Maybe it’s eating an actual breakfast so you’re fueled for the day.Remember, the motive of self-discipline must not be self-hatred. We can honor God by stewarding well the bodies, souls, and minds He gave us.We want to be able to serve Him well for as long as He has us in this field. The Font + Fruit In our desire and effort to grow in self-discipline, our aim is to give glory to God and to allow Him to make us saints. This is simply not possible apart from grace and the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives.So once again, I entreat us all to pray. It is the font and fruit of self-discipline. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. We are all always students at the feet of the Teacher! Comment below!
by Olivia Spears
What is a Mother's Morning Basket?
A mother's morning basket is meant to fill her soul and mind with truth, beauty, and goodness. So what should we include in our mother's morning baskets?! This is the fun part! I'm happy to offer some suggestions based on what has been particularly helpful to me over the years.
by Olivia Spears
Our 2023-2024 School Lineup | Booklists + Resources
August is upon us, which means it is nearly time to begin another school year in our home. I have been in planning prep for a couple of months (I take it slow!) and I'm happy to share our booklists with you here! How I Plan a New Homeschool Year My planning process typically follows three movements: Pray (you can learn more about that here) Make booklists (jot down all my ideas and resources, then heavily edit) Put it all together in a rhythm First, I'll share our booklists. Then, I'll share a loose idea of our rhythm! The Groundwork... My oldest kids are entering the 4th and 1st grades, and my youngest two are 3 years and ten months old. While each child does their own level of phonics, math, copywork, and logic, most of our subjects are done family style in a loop rotation (more on that later). This fits our family best in this season and we all really enjoy this setup. My three-year-old will not do any formal preschool work; however, he likes feeling "big" and has asked for his own school work this year. I've picked up A is for Art to go through with him as interest dictates. My main priority each morning is to snuggle him and read picture books to fill his cup before our school day begins. Our Homeschool "Curriculum" | The Booklists ***Unless otherwise linked, all books can be found on this Amazon list!*** Like I mentioned, we have family subjects and individual subjects. Only the older two have individual work. These children have different learning styles, so we use different resources for each. Family Subjects Morning Basket Our Morning Time will consist of The Daily Feast + any memory work (like poetry, Mass parts, and longer dictations for my oldest).P.S. already using my Daily Feast notepad and it's a game changer for organization!We will also do our fun read alouds during this time. I don't have a final list yet, but I've shared some definites in the Amazon shop! Catechesis We will be using Into the Deep Level Two this year, taking pauses to do the picture studies on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary during Advent, the Luminous + Sorrowful during Lent, and the Glorious during Easter. History We used The Story of the World last year and it was a family favorite all around! We are moving to Volume 2 this year. I use the student guide for extra reading, map work, and projects.Additionally, I'll be reading one story each week from American Tall Tales so they have a touch point with their national history. Geography We use the geography prompts in the SOTW above.I'll also pepper in Charlotte Mason's Elementary Geography. Nature Study/Science It's a water year for us! I'll be using Among the Pond People in the fall semester and Ocean Anatomy and Watercolor with Me in the spring. I picked up The Good and the Beautiful's Wind + Waves. We used their Little Hearts and Hands last year and it was a great resource to have on hand for days when I needed extra support (like when a kid was sick or the baby didn't sleep). Excited to have that in my back pocket again this year. Literature My fave! Well, alongside catechesis and history. We will ease into the first semester by revisiting A.A. Milne's When We Were Very Young. Aligned with our history studies, we will also read some Norse Myths!In the second semester, we will read a couple of Shakespeare plays (the kids have loved these—not yet sure if we will revisit old favorites, read new, or a combination of both).Our main focus this spring semester will be fairy tales. I've snagged some fairy tale picture books from Will Moses, and I have a couple of collections here at home I will pull from. (A note on finding books on fairy tales: be sure they are the original text, not adaptations!) Character Building I have some perfectionistic students (no idea where they got that 😬), so we are working on growth mindset with Mistakes that Worked.We will also be reading through A Book of Golden Deeds.In the spring semester, we will revisit Connoisseur Kids. We used it this year and it was a roaring success, so the kids want to go through it again! Artist Each year, we study two artists. In the fall we will study Van Eyck and use the picture studies from Simply Charlotte Mason. In the spring, we will deep dive Michelangelo. I'm pumped. We will use SCM's picture studies, along with The Stone Giant, Michelangelo for Kids, Mike Venezia's Michelangelo, and a giant coffee table book of his complete works. Composer As with the artists, I select two composers to study each year. In the fall, we will study Handel and, in the spring, Paganini.I'm an Opal Wheeler fan girl, so I just use her books. Mike Venezia has a book on Handel, too, so we will use that as well. Language I don't stress about this much yet. My energy is focused more on reading fluency at this stage and, with a toddler and baby, I don't have much overflow to devote to foreign language. I have Prima Latina and we will use those DVDs each week in "car school" when we drive a small distance to pick up our farm food and dairy. On Rhythms... Our family functions best with a rhythm rather than a strict schedule. But we typically begin around 9 a.m. (this gives us time for personal prayer, breakfast, morning chores, and getting ready).Typically, we school Monday-Thursday, as Fridays are set aside for errands, Mass, and cleaning. Weekly Loops With that, here are the family subjects we will loop throughout the week: Mondays || catechesis, character building, history, nature study, and composer Wednesdays || catechesis, character building, history, literature, and nature study Thursdays || catechesis, history, literature, and artist/drawing Like I mentioned, all of this will be tested by actually living it, and we will adjust as needed! I always enjoy reading other people's homeschool plans, so I hope this has brought you some entertainment and solidarity! God bless your new school year!
by Olivia Spears
What about Memorization in Catechesis?
Memorization in catechesis is meant to lead to transformation. What we commit to memory about the Faith should compel us to commit our lives to it. Memorization is key and, when done with depth and intention, waters the blooms of devotion.
by Olivia Spears
Building Their Lives on the Liturgical Year
“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.” - Charlotte Mason Order is something we all strive to have in our lives. It makes the world go ‘round and helps create a sense of security throughout childhood and adulthood. Maintaining a smooth, rhythmic schedule aids your child in more ways than you can count. Having a rhythmic home life is good for the body, but having a rhythmic liturgical life is good for the soul. The Faith isn't simply meant to be learned; it's meant to be lived. Things such as reading about the lives of Saints and understanding the seasons of the Church can be done during any time of day, not only during religion class. Leaning on the liturgical year provides a structure in your children's lives that can accompany them into adulthood. How Living the Liturgical Year Now Impacts their Future as Catholics An impactful way to help children as the next generation of Catholics is having structure built within their spiritual life. Helping your child increase attentiveness to their faith will aid them in growing long-lasting habits in their love for the Church and the Lord. Reading the Bible as a family, attending Mass every Sunday, and praying the rosary are great ways to have a lasting impact. A good liturgical option is to keep up with Saints’ feast days. There is a feast every day and there are multiple ways to celebrate. Reading a summary and then praying to the Saints daily is a fun and mindful way to keep up with the liturgical year. Another great option is considering a liturgical planner for your child. A planner is used to organize the day to day events. Your child can not only keep track of the upcoming week, but also see different religious feast days and holidays, such as Christmas and Easter. A Structure for Worship The Catholic liturgical year organizes the Church's celebrations and events, providing a structure for worship and reflection. Having a religious structure encourages orderliness in the soul. Order is physical as well as mental. Following the ebb and flow of fasting and feasting within the liturgical year is a physical reminder of the liturgical year. For example, let's say that, at the beginning of the week, you fill out your planner. You include things like events, birthdays, work schedule, weekend plans, etc. A liturgical planner works the same way as a normal planner, but it has Catholicism filtered into its pages. What a fun way to help your child grow in their faith! Continuous Contemplation Living the liturgical year allows us to remember the life and teachings of Jesus and to deepen faith through various liturgical seasons and feasts. Remembering the Saints that have lived out the faith serves as an inspiration for Catholics. Contemplating the faith daily helps with spiritual growth. Catholic Connection The liturgical year helps to create a sense of unity and community among Catholics worldwide. Community is something we as humans need. We usually look for people that we can relate to, sympathize with, similar beliefs, etc. Connecting with other Catholics over your love of the Faith is amazing! Check Out our Student Planner! What’s a fun, immersive way to help your child grow in the faith? Consider purchasing our newest product, the Student Liturgical Planner! This is a great option to encourage orderliness and structure in your child's school and home life. Keeping track of events such as sports practices, play-dates, to-do list on chore day can all be done in this planner. Throw in the liturgical year filtered into the calendar and you have the perfectly-curated Catholic Student Planner. What are some of your favorite ways to build your child's life on the liturgical year? Give us some ideas in the comments below!
by Olivia Spears
Cultivating the Virtue of Order in Our Homes
Order is a virtue that we can practice as a family at Home, both for the benefit of our children and for their benefit as adults. But how can we start? Here are some tips!
by Olivia Spears
Catholic Books about the Sacraments for Kids
Being initiated into the life of Christ through the sacraments is the great gift we can give our children. It is our charge to model a sacramental life for them, witnessing to the grace, peace, and joy found in this kind of union with Christ and His Church. Wonderfully, we also have a building treasure trove of Catholic picture and chapter books to help form their understanding and love of the Seven Sacraments! Books about the Sacraments for Kids Sacraments in General Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan Light of the Sacraments by Cory Heimann Baptism Jesus Speaks to Me about My Baptism by Angela Burrin Chosen by Jenna Guizar Confirmation The Soldier of Christ by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Home for Good by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Eucharist Jesus Speaks to Me on My First Holy Communion by Angela M. Burrin Jesus Speaks to Me about the Mass by Angela M. Burrin The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman Jesus and the Miracle of the Mass by Gracie Jagla The Weight of a Mass by Josephine Nobisso Receiving Jesus for Little Ones by Kimberly Fries The Treasure of Saint Tarcisius: Hero of the Eucharist by Caroline McDonald First Communion by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) The King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids by Kathryn Griffin Swegart (chapter book) Confession Jesus Speaks to Me about Confession by Angela M. Burrin Peter and Jesus by a Charcoal Fire by Maura Roan McKeegan First Confession by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Matrimony One Holy Marriage by Katie Warner Holy Orders Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass by Katie Warner Jack Giorgio: Future Priest by Katie Warner What books would you add to the list?! Ready to dive deeper? Here are 4 ways to fill your nets... 1. Memorize Bible verses with your children easily with our FREE guide: Stocking the Storehouses 2. Make your dreams of family prayer a reality with The Daily Feast framework, making it possible in just a few minutes a day. This free guide shows you how. 3. Want to steward your own prayer life? Check out this Scripture prayer journal we made just for you. 4. Looking to level-up in your family faith formation? Join over 10,000 families that use our resources. We make open-and-go, family-style resources to make your role as primary catechist easy AND delightful. Click here to browse!