Join us as we journey along in training up our children (and ourselves!) to live fully, love deeply and learn passionately, with faith that promises (and delivers!) truly happy hearts.
Happy Feast of St. Andrew. For years now, our St. Andrew Christmas Novena bookmarks have helped my children and I try to stay on track with praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena from November 30 through Christmas. Thus, we will be breaking our bookmarks out again this year.
To help my children keep their writing neat with a model and lines, I thought I might find a pre-made copywork printable online, but I had no luck doing so, Thus, I made my own and am sharing the FREE printable with you!
The set includes ones cursive model...
... one print model...
and several blank lined sheets...
That way, my children and yours can choose to practice printing, cursive, or both, plus have room for overflow copywork in case they write with especially large or spaced out words.
I pray our children benefit from this copywork and from the prayer they will be praying with it throughout Advent.
For your child's ease, be sure to fill in his or her special intentions on the blank portion of the model before copywork commences.
Happy Solemnity of Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and last Sunday of the liturgical year. I pray it was a year of spiritual growth for you and that you are readying for a beautiful new liturgical year as we begin the Advent season next week.
As usual, I cannot believe how quickly the past 12 months have sped by and how much I had hoped to be, do, and grow as compared to what I actually was, did, and grew...
Thankfully, I know our Lord offers amazing grace and mercy and so, although I am very much a work in progress, there is hope!
I pray that if you, like me, feel less than prepared for Advent, you can rest in hope and simply work to prepare yourself and your home for the coming of our Lord.
I also pray that even though this is a time when each of us, of course, looks interiorally to take stock of how we grew spiritually over the past year and how we might enter into the new liturgical year seeking further sanctification, that we each might also look outwardly to see how we might serve others, modeling ourselves after our Lord, the servant king.
There are so many ways to serve and gift others... May we each make a choice to do so in tiny and tremendous ways.
The first page of the printable is what I am actually putting in my binder.
The next is one with more blank lines for you to customize if you'd like to print the page for your own binder.
The final page is a prayer for the day.
My desire is to create free printable binder pages like this for the entire liturgical year eventually, and as I complete them, to share them as a help and inspiration for you to live the liturgical year in your own domestic church.
If doing so would be a blessing to you, please let me know. Also, let me know what you like and don't like about the design, so I might tweak them accordingly.
May your day be rich in hope and service!
Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ, King
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ, King. Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart.
Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever. Amen.
Prayer Source: Enchiridion of Indulgences, June 29, 1968
It can also be time to connect with your kids by playing another drama game that can tie into Liturgical Year. Today let me share with you a twist on the competitive improv game.
How to Play Big Fish, Small Fish, Be Fishers of Men
The game Big, Fish, Small Fish, Be Fishers of Men requires no props or preparation. You simply need a group of people in a circle.
To play:
1. Sit or stand in a circle.
2. Tell everyone you are going to teach three cues needed for the game. For the first, hold your hands very close together with palms facing each other as if you are going to clap and say, "big fish". Ask everyone to repeat your action. Then, turn to the right and pass the phrase and action to the next person who will do the same to the next, until the phrase comes back to you. (Note how your words and action do not match. That is part of the fun of the game. The game requires you to wake your brain up because of the incongruency between saying"big fish" but having your hands close together as if demonstrating the size of a small fish.)
3. For the second cue hold your hands, palms in as if you are going to clap, about chest width apart, and say, "small fish". Have everyone repeat your action. Then, turn to your left and pass the phrase and action along until it circles back to you.
4. For the third cue, act as if you are throwing a net across the circle towards someone and say, "Be a fisher of men." Ask everyone to reply, "Amen." To practice this cue, have the person who you "threw" the net to throw it to someone else saying, "Be a fisher of men," and having everyone else respond, "Amen".
5. Explain that to play, you will pass the "big fish" phrase and action to the right, and the next player has three choices: (1) keep on passing to the right, (2) turn to the left to pass the "small fish" phrase and action, or (3) toss play to someone on the other side of the circle by looking straight at them and throwing a net while saying "Be a fisher of men." If the player chooses to keep passing right, play continues as such until someone says the opposite fish to change the direction of play or until someone casts the net across the circle.
6. At any point, if someone delays too long before passing a cue, gives the wrong action with a phrase, or passes to the wrong direction, that person is out.
To get a visual of the straight up Big Fish, Small Fish drama game that this simple liturgical year adaptation comes from, take a look at this video.
Then, just remember, that, instead of casting play with the word, "tadpole", in the St. Andrew feast day version, you cast with "be a fisher of men" and everyone responds "Amen". (You may wish to explain that the word we use to end prayers - Amen - means "so be it" and that the word is derived from foreign words that mean to agree with, affirm, emphasize, or approve of what has been said. Thus, in our game, we are thinking about how Jesus called on St. Andrew to be a fisher of men, and how He calls us to follow him and work to save soul, and we are affirming that call.)
What Concepts and Skills Does This Liturgical Year Drama Game Reinforce?
Because your hands and your words don't match up when you play Big Fish, Small Fish, Be a Fisher of Men, the game makes a fantastic wake-up-the-brain game.
Some skills this game develops are:
listening & reacting
concentration
timing
following the cues of others.
Of course, it also ties in with the whole concept of St. Andrew being a fisherman that God called to be a fisher of men, which, in turn, lends itself nicely to further discussion and study about how we might become fishers of men.
If you'd like food for thought before chatting with children about being fishers of men, look here:
Also remember that November 30, the feast of St. Andrew, is the traditional day to begin praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena.
After playing Big Fish, Small Fish, Be a Fisher of Men, consider what your intention might be for this year's Christmas Novena and begin praying it.
The St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment inn which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires,[here mention your request] through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother. Amen.
We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord, that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew was for your Church a preacher and pastor, so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
I know my children have "holes" in their math learning and at least one of my children is "behind" same-age peers with math skills, so the idea of an automated program for children ages 2-16 that guarantees that children will learn at least one year of math in 30 minutes a week over three months appealed to me.
That said, I knew from past experience that such speedy results may not happen in our home. For my kiddoes and our lifestyle rarely rectify with typical program use and outcomes. Still, I was hopeful that at least some forward movement would occur as we used Elephant Math (as we came to call the program in our home) - and it did.
Children Advance in Skills
Two of my children used Elephant Math during our review period - one with greater consistency than the other.
The one who was less consistent advanced .6 years in "Math Age" while the other advanced nearly a full year.
I was happily surprised by this, and, thus, can say that, by whatever rubrics Elephant Math uses to measure "Math Age", children can and do advance an entire year's worth in just three months when using the program.
What I cannot say is how the "Math Age" is determined. I may have missed where the "Math Age" rubrics are explained on the website or within the program, but I have yet to figure out how the "Math Age" is determined. That aside, I am happy that my children are practicing math and advancing in skills.
Helpful Features for Parents and Students
Elephant Math has a number of characteristics that I think make it helpful to parents and children. The program is:
Economic: The program is $35 a month for up to three children and scholarships are available.
Family-Friendly: There are family plans for families of up to seven children.
Guaranteed: Your children are guaranteed to learn up to one year of math in three months when using the program for 30 minutes a week.
Convenient: The program is an online one with an easy-to-sue interface. There is also an option to print simple worksheets for those who like some offscreen practice, too.
Quick: Students only need to spend 10 minutes a day, three times a week to reap results.
Easy to Check In On: There are a number of real-time reports related to time use, skills practiced, passing/failing of skills, etc.
A Hit or Miss? Even with all it's proven claims and helpful features, in our family Elephant Math sadly did not prove a "hit" for both of my children that tested the online math app. Thus, now that we are finished reviewing the program, only one of my children will continue with it.
The one who will not be continuing dutifully used the program when told to so, but truly did not care for it and, when I asked for commentary for this review, that child said succinctly:
It is easy to use. You log in, hit "continue coursework" and pick a game.
I usually pick "Baseballs". Then, the coursework tells you in a weird voice what to do. You do it. It's easy, but boring. It does not teach me much. It reviews things. I don't want to continue it.
Despite this child's relatively inconsistent use of the program and lack of enthusiasm for it, I would say the child still progressed.
My other child did as well, will continue with Elephant Math, and had a mixed bag of things to say about the program:
I wanted to do Elephant Math because it looked like it was mostly games and it promised to teach a year of math in three months. When I first started using it, I was kind of disappointed, because it wasn't all games. As a matter of fact, I have not found a single game on it. What I thought would be all different games is just the same math questions with different characters or themes. This might appeal to children who don't use computers or computer games a lot, but it didn't appeal to me.
I do like that you only have to use the program 10 minutes each day, because with a lot of other programs, you have to do at least 15 minutes and sometimes a lot more. So, this one can fit in easily on days when I am busy.
I find that the problems are different, too.
When I started, I was doing multiplication and division, but not like normal multiplication and division with a problem like 2 x 2 = 4.
Instead, it was presented in a different way, which I liked, using pictures, problem solving, etc. For example, "I have 24 watermelons. If I out them in groups of 4, how many groups will I get?" I like this because it is not boring number problems that aggravate me.
Also, the program does not have lessons that teach you how to do things. No one explains anything or does a video lesson. You learn by trial and error and doing the problems, which I kind of like.
I also like how you can see your progress immediately when you sign in and how you can see when you are almost finishing stuff.
The program also has a selection of voices that read the problems so kids who cannot read well can still use the program. What I really like about the program is that with all the voices, you can turn certain ones on and off, so you are not stuck with voices that sound like robots or have heavy accents. You can choose the ones you like. They have them from all around the world.
You can also test out of things, I hear, but I have not figured out how to it yet. When I just told me mom I want to, she said she would help me.
I know my brother does not want to keep using the program, because it is a little bit dry and repetitive, but I want to use it sometimes, because you only have to use it for 10 minutes a day and I am making progress.
The program says it is good for ages 2-16. I think two would be a little bit young and 16 might be a tad bit too old. The program, I think, is good for preschool, elementary and middle school age children who have a tight schedule, don't mind themes instead of games, and like to learn by trial and error.
With both of my children's experience and comments in mind, I would say that Elephant Math is worth a look if you seek an online math program that works in short sessions, assessing, where children are at and bringing them to the next level.
The program, though not favored by both of my children, helped both of them to practice and improve their math skills and it also provided us all with easy reports to check in to see how they are doing.
Twenty Homeschool Review Crew families have been testing out Elephant Math. Please click through to find all the reviews if you'd like to learn how the program suited children of different ages and styles.
Both of my younger children enjoy historical fiction and thought it was clever how the four stories -Appaloosy, Dusty’s Trail, Golden Sunrise, and Day and Night - were told from the perspective of horses instead of humans. They also thought it was cool that the first of the books was written by Mattie Richardson when she was just 13 years old.
A Young Author Meets Success!
The author of the Horses in History series, Mattie Richardson, inspires my children, because of her young success.
Now in her twenties, Mattie used to be known as, “North Dakota’s Teen Author,” because she wrote Appaloosy, the first book in Horses in History series, when she was just thirteen years old and published it at sixteen.Now, as an author, speaker, and musician, she has six books to her name with more to come!
My oldest child, although too busy with other things right now to read the Horses in History series was excited to hear about Mattie's young success as he has been writing his own novels and hopes, like Mattie, to be published one day.
My youngest, just nine, used inspiration from Mattie to pen his own short story for a recent writing contest. Having read Horses in History, he chose to use an animal to narrate his own story - a dog. I loved seeing how the Horses in History series inspired his own historical fiction short story!
The Horses in History Series Is Growing
As I mentioned before, the Horses in History series currently includes four books- Appaloosy, Dusty’s Trail, Golden Sunrise, and Day and Night. These paperbacks range from about 60 pages to about 150 pages long and each one contains a table of contents... key vocabulary...
a few pages of "Blast from the Past" historical information...
information about the author...
and, if you are lucky like us, an autograph from the author!
Because each story is based on a different period in U.S. history, you need not read one book in order to understand another. They each stand alone in content and characters - but come together in that they tell engaging historical fiction through the perspective of horses. Basically, in each book, the main character is a horse that lives and works in the time period of the novel, so readers get to view history from a different perspective while learning about some important historical themes and details. So far in the series, you can explore the Pony Express (with Dusty's Trail), the trouble between the US Government and the Nez Perce Tribe (with Appaloosy), the Civil War (with Day and Night), and the Alamo (with Golden Sunrise). Both history and horse lovers will be excited to hear that more books in the series are in the works and will be coming soon.
Enrichment Guides Are Coming
Some homeschoolers (and others) love to dive deeper when reading historical fiction and Author Mattie Richardson/Appaloosy Booksknows that. So, to make things easy, enrichment guides for each book in the Horses in History series are being released.
We received the first of these - the guide for Day And Night- and, although we have not had the time to focus on using it yet, I can say it looks good and will be a boon for those who wish to do more than simply read and chat about the story together as my kiddoes and I have been doing. The guide is 100 pages long and divided into eight sections:
Reading Comprehension - daily comprehension questions that can make good review of prior reading or jumping off points for discussion
Vocabulary - words that apply to each chapter
History - in depth information about the events, places, and people in the time period of the book
Geography - info about geographical locations, features, and landscapes
Horses - equine information for horse lovers
Biography & Research - suggestions to research a historic figure from the era
Creating Writing - eight small sections to learn writing techniques in order craft short stories
Living History - crafts or games related to the story
Soldier's Life - info on daily life for Civil War soldiers
As other guides are released, I can see the Horses in History series becoming an easy way for parents of children ages 8-14 or so to flesh out full semester or year of U.S. History.
Thumbs Up from My Kiddoes
As I said, I have been reading the Horses in History books to my younger two children during read together times. . The first one we read was Dusty's Trail and both my kiddoes enjoyed it thoroughly. My nine-year-old reports:
In Dusty's Trail, a teenage boy named Levi Anderson wants more money for his family, so he sneaks off with his horse named Dusty to join the Pony Express. He joins it and Dusty, Levi, and other Pony Express riders and horses face many problems.
One problem is when Levi ends up having to travel several to several stations in a row and cannot change horses, so Dusty runs the whole way and becomes a well-known horse.
Everybody loves Dusty, until he is a coward and gets scared of indians and bucks, and Levi gets captured by the indians. Then, Dusty runs back to the station and another horse ends up helping him break free to go rescue Levi. While they are on the mission, some men from a wagon try to catch them and flour falls all over Dusty. Then, Dusty runs into the indian camp to save Levi and the indians think he is a spirit horse.
When Dusty rescues Levi, everybody loves him again. After that, the Pony Express starts to have trouble, because the telegraph is coming through. Riders are not getting paid, so Levi quits and goes home. On his way home, he buys Dusty a surprise.
I like this book. It is good. It teaches about the Pony Express. I could read it on my own, but I like it read to me. I think it is good for ages 7-12. People who like the Pony Express, history, and horses will like it.
My 12-year-old daughter had this to say:
I think this series is engaging. I like how the author writes from the animal's perspective because most people write form a person's perspective. I also like how they are shorter novels and teach about American history.
The only think I don't care for is some of the illustrations. They don't seem professional. I know both the author and the illustrator were younger people though and I like that.
One of the stories I liked was Appaloosy.
It is about a horse that was originally an Indian horse, but got captured by white men, tired to escape, got captured, escaped again... The horse was high-spirited and did not like anything on his back - people, saddles, blankets.
Then, the horse got sold to a really, really mean owner who beat him trying to make him work because he is high-spirited and has not been broken in yet.
In this time, Appaloosy meets a girl names Faith who is able to ride him because he has trust in her. She is one of the only people who could ever ride him. Faith ends up buying Appaloosy after h'es injured and brings him home.
After Appaloosy has lived with Faith for a while he's captured by horse thieves along with some other horses from his farm.
Appaloosy and the other horses escape from the thieves ad have to decide if they should go home or go free - and going free has always been Appaloosy's dream.
You'll have to read the book to find out what chose they make.
I would recommend this series to people who are trying to learn about American history and want an engaging, imaginative and want to learn. I also recommend it to people who like horses and people like me who just want to read a story that is not boring.
I have read parts of the books myself and read most of them with my mom and brother. They are not complicated. So, I recommend them to ages 6-13 to read together or alone.
As you can see, both of my children like the Horses in History series. I have enjoyed our read together times with these books, too.
If you are curious about the books my children did not narrate about:
In Golden Sunrise, a Golden Palomino named Cheyenne lives during the famous defense of the Alamo. His owner Jared becomes a volunteer soldier during the emerging fight for independence and travels to San Antonio, TX, where Jared receives orders to defend Fort Alamo against Mexican forces. People like Davy Crocket and James Bowie appear and, luckily, Cheyenne makes it through.
In Day and Night, mirroring the tearing apart of families that happened during the Civil War, two sibling horses - Tucker and Shiloh -find themselves on either side of the battle. After one fights with the US Army and one with a young Confederate soldier, they see each other again, having learned quite a bit.
All four books engage children in fiction while giving a window into different periods of US History. We have enjoyed them and I'd recommend them to others who like history, horses, and being inspired by the writings of a young author.
This feast day is an ideal time to refocus children on Jesus as a servant-king. While doing so, it can be a fun to add a bit of drama to the day by adding a Liturgical Year twist to the popular theater game Greetings, Your Majesty called How May I Serve, Your Majesty.
How to Play How May I Serve, Your Majesty
Playing How May I Serve, Your Majesty is easy and requires no preparation, props, or supplies, unless you wish to give "Your Majesty" a throne (chair) to sit on, a servant symbol to hold (a towel) or a crown to wear (which can made with paper). It can even be played in a minivan if you're on the road (although it is a bit easier to play when everyone knows where everyone else is seated.)
1. Ask one person - "Your Majesty" - to stand or sit facing away from the rest of the family or class.Have another person secretly stand behind "Your Majesty" and say, "How may I serve, Your Majesty?" in a strange or different voice.
2. Ask "Your Majesty" to guess the name of the person who spoke, by replying with an idea for serving others followed by the person's name. For example, "You may secretly do an extra chore today, Luke," or, "You could make a meal or snack for someone, Jack."
3. Continue play: If "Your Majesty" guessed incorrectly, "Your Majesty" becomes a player and whoever spoke becomes "Your Majesty".
If "Your Majesty" guessed correctly who spoke, "Your Majesty" stays in the chair and another person secretly comes up and speaks. (Depending on the size of your family or class, predetermine how many turns "Your Majesty" can guess before offering someone else a turn as "Your Majesty". With a small group, I suggest three consecutive turns as a limit. With a larger group, I suggest five.)
What Concepts and Skills Does This Liturgical Year Drama Game Reinforce?
In playing How May I Serve, Your Majesty, children will continually get reinforcement of the idea that we are meant to follow Jesus' example of serving others and will, hopefully, come away with a wide variety of simple ways we can serve others in everyday life (which can make a great tie-in with making an Advent Chain!)
Children will also focus on listening skills, and, of course, play with a variety of vocal elements, which may include:
Pitch – speaking in a high or low voice.
Pace – speaking quickly or slowly
Pause – using purposeful dramatic pauses
Tone/Expression – coloring the voice with a mood and intention towards the listener, e.g. happy, sad, worried, etc.
Volume/Projection – speaking loudly or softly, but always audibly with appropriate projection
Accent – using a distinctive mode of pronunciation to call to mind a particular nation, locality, or social class
Emphasis – putting pressure on individual syllables or words to makes them stand out or to change the meaning or feeling behind a word phrase, or sentence.
Intonation – the rise and fall of the voice
Articulation– the clear and precise pronunciation of words using lips, teeth, and tongue.
You may wish to chat with children about how, sometimes, just listening intently to another is a great gift of service, while, at other times, listening with a careful ear may help you discern how best to help another.
Likewise, you might also touch upon how developing speaking skills puts you in a position to better engage others as you speak clearly to them about faith.
Pray an Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ
King
Speech, of course, is also used for prayer.
It is a wonderful idea to pair the fun of the How Can I Serve, Your Majesty game with the beauty of traditional prayer.
Before or after playing, then, you may wish to consider praying this prayer:
Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ, King
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart.
Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever. Amen.
~Prayer Source: Enchiridion of Indulgences, June 29, 1968
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ, King.
Find Other Christ the King Idea
If you would like other ideas for the Christ the King feast day, click on through:
O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations. We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things. Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth. Guard us we pray Most Faithful One. Protect us from our enemies and from Your Just Judgment.Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against you.Jesus, You are a King of Mercy.We have deserved Your Just Judgment Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us. We trust in Your Great Mercy. O most awe-inspiring King, we bow before You and pray; May Your Reign, Your Kingdom, be recognized on earth. Amen.
