Happy Wedding Day!

Tomorrow one of my neice's is getting married and we are all very excited.  So congratulations to Danielle and Kyle as they make that commitment before God and man.  May you enjoy many happy years together!  God bless!

Singing the WRTR song....again...and liking it!

If you've seen it before, and said "ack! WRTR..." bah-humbug!....Take time to look at it again.  Seriously, I have discovered the ugliness of this program is really beauty in disguise!  The Writing Road to Reading covers a multitude of reading, writing and spelling sins!  After a lovely thorough consultation on this resource from my Mother of Divine Grace teacher reviewer, I have come away ready to tackle this course this year with my two younger students.  I have done WRTR in the past, in a scattered and unguided manner...aimlessly really...and should have stuck it out.  I'm just fortunate that my children so far have been excellent readers and average to above-average spellers and two of them have proven to be far above average writers.  When Modg has been criticized for not being "big on writing", I find this far from the truth.  Our oldest is a wonderful writer - his college professors greatly impressed with his written expression.  So, I feel confident Modg "knows what they are doing" in regard to college preparatory. 

Home study programs are wise in recommending the WRTR as it helps alleviate reading and spelling problems right for the get-go, especially for those with processing disabilities or dyslexics  -- but go to the Spalding site yourself and read about it.  It's as simple as having the WRTR book, flashcards, composition book w/pencil to start the program with your child(ren). 

So, I'm pulling this gem back off the shelf, and singing it's praises again.....won't you sing along with me? :)

(My personal use: I use the Fourth Edition of WRTR and the Wanda Sanseri "Teaching Reading at Home" guide, which could probably be found used at used book sources)

Just Sayin'!

We just started our high school-home school this last Monday...(the younger ones won't start until next Tuesday after Labor Day).  But, what have I learned so far, in this, our 14th year of home education?  Well, as my daughter has delved into her first 12th grade courses, I can not say enough or cheer enough over the 12th grade Mother of Divine Grace straight-up plan.  Even if I were sending a child of mine to college early for whatever reason, I would not neglect to cover the Modg Advanced American Government & Economics, the Health and the Catholic Doctrine course. Together, they are THE BOMB!  The best!  I find these three, the absolute essentials and so brilliantly integrated and so strongly Catholic that I could not ever omit this regimen as each of my children move up through the ranks.  I'm told the Advanced American Gov & Econ course is THE COURSE - the course plate that the Modg student has been prepared to receive all along, as they strive steadily in their studious formation. I feel I want my children to have these courses while still in high school, even if they plan on going to a good Catholic college.  It is our last opportunity to forge and form in the awesome Catholic faith and what a great way to end a home schooling career with your child, then to be able to leave them out the door with this wonderful further knowledge and formation in their Faith.  They will be that much stronger and wiser and equipped - in my opinion - to take on the rigors and peer mates of college no matter where God may lead them.

While I am not always pleased to be enrolled in "a program", as I feel I can suitably do much of this on my own, and I do not care for enormous paperwork accountability or cost, I still must admit I am well pleased in having followed this plan.  The consistency and continuous growth each year, (formation over information) is very agreeable to my liberal arts mind and students at home.  To say that my college student is thriving in liberal arts is an understatement - he is devouring and flourishing in every aspect of it.  So yes, for this I am well pleased.  

I didn't always start out following Modg to a tee, but as I saw the inconsistent and sometimes haphazard manner in which others home educated, and the gaps they were encountering in their children's educations, I couldn't help but default totally to utilizing a program that was solid in all ways. 

And so, I am gearing up for another 12 years ahead of me.....and taking inventory and standing back in awe and gratitude.  And that gratitude is extended to those who have been there for me.....through all of this....you know who you are!   God bless you abundantly!

 Mother of Divine Grace Home Study Program

Boy Wanted by Frank Crane....a real keeper!

We read this prose recently in The Book of Virtues and thought it was so cute and so good, we had to post it here!


Boy Wanted
by Frank Crane


A boy who stands straight, sits straight, acts straight, and talks straight.
A boy who listens carefully when spoken to, who asks questions when he does not understand, and does not ask questions about things that are none of his business.
A boy whose fingernails are not in mourning, whose ears are clean, whose shoes are polished, whose clothes are brushed, whose hair is combed, and whose teeth are well cared for.
A boy who moves quickly and makes as little noise about it as possible.
A boy who whistles in the street but not where he ought to keep still.
A boy who looks cheerful, has a ready smile for everybody, and never sulks.
A boy who is polite to every man and respectful to every woman and girl.
A boy who does not smoke and has no desire to learn how.
A boy who never bullies other boys or allows boys to bully him.
A boy who, when he does not know a thing, says, “I do not know”; and when he has made a mistake says, “I’m sorry”; and, when requested to do anything, immediately says, “I’ll try.”
A boy who looks you right in the eye and tells the truth every time.
A boy who would rather lose his job or be expelled from school than tell a lie or be a cad.
A boy who is more eager to know how to speak good English than to talk slang.
A boy who does not want to be “smart” nor in anywise attract attention.
A boy who is eager to read good, wholesome books.
A boy whom other boys like.
A boy who is perfectly at ease in the company of respectable girls.
A boy who is not a goody-goody, a prig, or a little Pharisee, but just healthy, happy, and full of life.
A boy who is not sorry for himself and not forever thinking and talking about himself.
A boy who is friendly with his mother and more intimate with her than with anyone else.
A boy who makes you feel good when he is around.


This boy is wanted everywhere. The family wants him, the school wants him, the office wants him, the boys and girls want him, and all creation wants him.