Get FREE Printable St. Anthony of Padua Copywork!

St. Anthony of Padua's feast day is on June 13, so today, I put together a simple FREE copywork printable for my children and yours!

It includes this brief quote for children still gaining confidence with copywork:

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. 

St. Anthony of Padua

Then, it has this longer quote for children who like to copy passages with a bit more length:

Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey. They must have the Passion of Christ deeply embedded in their minds and hearts, because only from it can they derive peace, grace, and truth.

St. Anthony of Padua

Finally, it contains St. Anthony's Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit:

O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen

All of these wonderful words, attributed to Saint Anthony of Padua, are offered in both cursive and printing.

I hope you and yours enjoy using this FREE St. Anthony of Padua Copywork printable!

You might also like:

St. Anthony's Nature Scavenger Hunt

8 Sensory-Smart Ways to Celebrate St. Anthony of Padua's Feast Day

St. Anthony of Padua, Pray for us!

Learn Formal Logic with the Well Lauded Traditional Logic by Memoria Press {A Review}

{Some links which follow may be affiliate ones.}

 For years now, I have read nothing but good things about Logic by Memoria Press, so I was delighted to be offered a chance to review the Traditional Logic I Complete Set this spring with my 12 year old.

What is Traditional Logic?

 

The Traditional Logic I Complete Set is comprised of a text, workbook, teacher key, quizzes and test book, and 2 DVD video course. The DVD's basically say the same thing as the book, we have found, and do so in a rather dry way with a somewhat dated quality.  However, they videos can still be useful for driving points home.

The text, workbook, and quizzes, we find, are very traditional and "schooly" in presentation, but also quite solid!  In them, students learn about:

• the Christian theory of knowledge
• four kinds of logical statements
• four ways propositions can be opposed
• three ways propositions an be equivalent
• seven rules of the validity of syllogisms

And, don't worry about all those words like "proposition" and "syllogism".  The material presents and defines each clearly!

Thus, the program is comprehensive, and, if it is used by an at-level student as intended, it is also easy-to-use for clear independent learning.

How We Used Traditional Logic and What We Thought

Since my son is not yet at the seventh grade level and Traditional Logic I is geared for students in grades 7-12, I knew the material might be a little beyond his solo capabilities.  So, I talked to my boy about whether he wanted to tackle the course and how best we might approach it.

Because my oldest son loves to argue and is interested in strengthening his ability to debate with and persuade others, he did want to try Traditional Logic I.  (He joked that when he'd finished the course, he would be able to make sound arguments a to why I should allow him endless screen time. LOL!)

Further, since our family is planning to join a local forensics club in the fall, both my son and I agreed that building a foundation in formal logic might help us succeed, bolstering my ability as one of the club coaches and my son's skills as a debate and speech team member.  (We just love when review opportunities and fall plans dovetail so nicely!)

Thus, the decision to use the course made, my son and I had one more choice to consider: Would my son use Traditional Logic I as designed - independently - or would we try a different approach?

After watching the following video sample lesson and viewing samples of the 99-page text, 92 page workbook, 114 Teacher Key, and 33 page Quizzes and Tests booklet on the Memoria Press website, we opted for the latter.

 

Traditional Logic Sample Lesson

We knew my oldest son would have a better chance of focusing and engaging with the excellent content of Traditional Logic if we made time to work on the curriculum together, inviting a friend who has an older version of the program to join us. (For having friends join in on learning always makes things more fun, right?)

Thus, we asked a friend whose family uses the Classical Education model to join us as a study buddy, and, since he is interested in logic and has an older version of Traditional Logic (which presents the same thing a the new edition text and workbook do, but all in one worktext), our friend said, "Yes!"

So began our Traditional Logic studies.

Basically, each week, our friend comes by our home and, the boys and I (re)read and discuss the lesson materials together.  Then, sometimes, I have the boys complete workbook pages together or take provided quizzes, while, at other times, I use the questions in the workbook to do game-show style quizzes with the boys.  Doing so, helps keep the tedium of typical text-and-workbook learning away for my son, while keeping the well lauded material accessible.

So far, we have completed between 1/4 and 1/5 of the course using this approach and are all learning as we go - even me!

While we increase our understanding of logic, we share a few laughs, and - okay - some screwed up brow looks, too.  For, as clearly and concisely as formal logic is explained in Traditional Logic, the learning curve of logic-specific vocabulary and concepts is still significant.

Our friend said, "It is hard, but I like it!"

My son said:

The book is a little confusing.  There are words like simple apprehension, syllogism, and material, living, sentient, rational substance on the Porphyrian Tree, which just means man.  The words are explained, but it hard to remember all the stuff.

I want to keep using this though.  It's hard, but I am learning stuff that might help me when I argue with people and when I join CIA (a public speaking and debate team).

I've been using Logic with my friend and my mom.  It's been going pretty well.  We usually read and talk and, then, do Quiz Time on paper or orally, which makes it fun.

To be honest, Logic is not the most exciting thing I have ever studied and I would not want to do it on my own, but I want to keep studying it with my friend.  I could not otherwise, because I would not focus well.

Oh, and there is one unsound argument in the book.  An example says, "All books are boring." That is not true at all. (wink) "

Obviously, my oldest son and his friend are learning and have more learning yet to do!  So, we have already decided that we will continue to have study buddy logic lessons using Traditional Logic so that the "more learning" will continue to happen.

We're all pleased with Traditional Logic and recommend it to others as a well-written program.

 

Learn More

 

Ninety Homeschool Review Crew families reviewed either:

• New American Cursive  1, 2 (Scripture),   2 (Famous Americans), or  3 (Famous Quotes)
• Traditional Logic I Complete Set
• Traditional Logic II Complete Set 
• Classical Composition I: Fable Set
  Classical Composition II: Narrative Set

You can find all the reviews by clicking through.

See other Memoria Press programs that we've reviewed.

American History

Traditional Logic

Greek Myths

Cursive

Music Appreciation

First Form Latin

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Straightforward Pre-Algebra Your Whole Family Can Use {A Review + Coupon Code}

When we were given the chance to review Understanding Pre-Algebra from The Critical Thinking Co.™, I was pleased, because we are always looking for a right-fit math resource for one of my children and are also seeking a pencil-and-paper one to balance online learning for another child. Understanding Pre-Algebra looked like it might fit the bill for both of them.

I was also excited, because The Critical Thinking Co.™ has a generous permission policy that allows the original owners of materials to copy them for use within one family or classroom.  I just LOVE this copyright policy as it allows me to use a single resource with all three of my children in tandem or succession - a perfect policy for homeschool families with more than one child or for homeschool parents that teach co-op classes.

What is Understanding Pre-Algebra?

Understanding Pre-Algebra, which is available in print or as an e-book, is a hefty 442 page softcover work text aimed at students in grades 6-8, which teaches the math concepts and critical thinking skills necessary for future success in Algebra 1.  It is standards-based and organizes concepts into a logical order that aims to solidify specific concepts as prerequisites to other ones, helping students grow in confidence and skill as they make their way through connected learning.

Word problems within the book are taught using charts and tables, so students learn strategies for solving them instead of being asked to just figure things out on their own.

The book takes students, concept by concept, through understanding of:

• number families (natural, whole, integers, prime, etc.)
• working with integers
• working with rational numbers 
• ration, proportion, and percent
• algebreic expression
• equations and solving word problams
• inequalities and applications
• understanding square roots and irrational numbers
• two dimensional geometry
• understanding volume and surface area
• graphing on the coordinate plane
• transformations and congruency
• understanding functions
• probability and statistics 

Of course, if you have not been doing a lot with math lately, some of these terms might not be so familiar anymore, and, that's okay!  The book has that covered through then inclusion of a handy glossary as well as highlighted boxes throughout the text.

It also includes a formula reference sheet and a table of square roots.  Plus, of course, there are pages with the answers to all of the problems presented in the book.  (These pages show JUST the answers, not the way the solutions were figured out.)

Pages are perforated, so students who need to see just a little at a time can easily remove the pages they are working on, or so parents can rip out the solution pages.

Each chapter has a review and there is an included final exam as well. 

All this adds up to a single-book, straight-forward, clear resource for learning Pre-Algebra as a full year course.  It also means that those who are using a different curriculum - online or in print - can easily use this book as a secondary source, quickly turning to pages that present ares students need more practice or a different explanation of.

The simple organization of the curriculum is definitely a plus.

How Did We Use It and What Did We Think?

My rising sixth grader was the child who wished to try Understanding Pre-Algebra as she had become enamored with an Algebra book her brother used before, but found it a little too difficult.  So, she thought this Pre-Algebra book might be just right.

Even though Understanding Pre-Algebra is written in such a way that a student could use it independently, since my daughter has dyslexia, we opted to use the book together.  So, we set a timer and dug in to Chapter One for 15 minutes with success.

By our third or fourth 15-minute session with the text, however, we both agreed that my daughter's foundational elementary learning of arithmetic had not fully prepared her for Understanding Pre-Algebra yet, so we decided to table our use of the book until a future time.

When I asked my daughter what she thought about the pages she did use, she said:

I like how much white space each page has.  I also like how the things they want you to focus on are highlighted.  The explanations were clear and there were not too few or too many problems.  I think I might want to use it in the future.

I also asked my oldest son, a rising seventh grader, to try Understanding Pre-Algebra, because both my husband and I agree that, although my son would rather simply do math online and in his head, he needs to do some with paper-and-pencil.  The main math curriculum he has been using online has become an "easy button" for us, but, we have noticed it is too easy in that it does not cause our son to think, strategize, process and remember math as well as we would like him to do so.

Thus, we asked my son to start using Understanding Pre-Algebra for 15 minutes at a time independently.  He complied, but not happily, since he does not like workbooks for math.

When I asked my son for his thoughts on this book, he said:

I don't care for it, because it is a workbook.  I prefer online learning, which is better for me.  This workbook seems pretty much the same as any other math workbook.  It teaches you, then you have to do problems, and there is writing. I don't like writing.  Typing is faster, so maybe I would like this if it was an online workbook that auto-corrected one problem before giving you another.


If I had to say three positive things about it, I would say:

1. I only have to do it for 15 minutes at a time.
2. You can copy it so your sister and brother can use it, too.
3. It made me aware of things I did not know.

I know Mom is going to make me use this sometimes still and that she is going to do it with me.

Yes, my boy is pretty blunt and, yes, he is correct.  We will continue to use this book in conjunction with other math resources and I will begin using it alongside him for a while.

The reason we will use the book despite my son's aversion to workbooks is that my husband and I are not seeing enough fruit from my son's past year of mostly online math learning and both like the clear, incremental way Understanding Pre-Algebra presents math. 

The reason I will use the workbook alongside my son as we move forward  instead of asking him to continue to work on it on his own is because it has become apparent to me that my son lacks the study skills and stamina necessary to work through more difficult math on paper, and, so would do better with me giving him some immediate feedback and reminders to focus until his math mind and ability to work independently develop further.

So, overall, I am happy we have had the opportunity to review
Understanding Pre-Algebra. 

Though it proved above my daughter's level, we both saw how it could work for her in the future when her foundational skills are stronger, and though my son did not favor it, my husband and I agree that the curriculum is sound. 

We plan to continue to use this resource as a supplementary resource for my son to work his math skills and his stamina with pencil work.  We also believe this book will be an ideal fit for my youngest child - who is only in second grade right now - but already shows signs of being more of a "workbook kid" that would appreciate the straightforward approach of Understanding Pre-Algebra.

The fact that The Critical Thinking Co.™ allows a family to copy the resource for every child's use, then, is great for us!

BONUS - A FREE OFFER!

Would you like FREE Critical Thinking Puzzles?  Sign up now at
https://www.criticalthinking.com/toscrew to get Critical Thinking Puzzles delivered weekly to your inbox weekly. Choose PreK – Grade 8.  (A $75 value.)

FREE SHIPPING AND COUPON!

Get FREE SHIPPING + 15% off any size order at The Critical Thinking Co.™  using the coupon code: TOSCREW18, which expires 12/31/2018.

 

Learn More

One-hundred Review Crew families checked out learning materials from the The Critical Thinking Co.™.  Click through to access all of our reviews about:

• Understanding Pre-Algebra
• Critical Thinking Detective Book 1
• Something Fishy at Lake Iwannafisha
• Critical Thinking Detective: Vocabulary
• Dare to Compare Level 1
• Vocabulary Riddles Book 1

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Solid Catechism through Lego? Yes! {A Catechism of the Seven Sacraments Review and Giveaway}

I am delighted to be sharing a review and giveaway of Catechism of the Seven Sacraments, a gem of a catechism tool with a fresh new approach. 

When I heard that Kevin and Mary O-Neill had created a catechism book using LEGO® scenes which they had built with their children, I thought, Brilliant!  My children love LEGO® and can always use another tool for learning about our faith.

Then, when I was blessed with a copy of Catechism of the Seven Sacraments for review and realized just how solid the presentation of our faith is in it, I thought, Awesome!  This book is even better than I imagined.  

I was 100% impressed with how Catechism of the Seven Sacraments presents solid Catholic teaching in a format that invites readers of many ages to enjoy and learn together.
Bright, detailed, LEGO® scene illustrations draw readers into the almost 300-page comic-book style story and then well-thought comic-book style text clearly teaches about the Sacraments instituted by Christ, parallels between the Old Testament and New Testament, and more.

In fact, as I read Catechism of the Seven Sacraments, I was happily surprised to find that the book includes more than just the usual basics about Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Order, and Anointing of the Sick.  It also touches upon:

• the Rosary
• the Fourth Cup of Passover
• Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy
• a prayer to St. Joseph
• and more!

I appreciate how seamlessly Catechism of the Seven Sacraments weaves together bits about Saints, prayer, morality and more as it tells the story of Salvation History in the context of two children - Fulton and Cynthia - talking about the Sacraments.  The O'Neill family truly did a fantastic job making tenets and traditions of our faith understandable.

Undoubtedly, the content of Catechism of the Seven Sacraments is much meatier than I expected to find in a graphic novel style book. 

The book begins with the New and Everlasting Covenant - the Holy Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our Catholic faith, and, then, continues on through each sacrament, which stem from and point to the Holy Eucharist.

It follows Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's teaching on Theology of Covenant and makes use of typology, a favorite tool of the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in which elements of the Old Testament are shown to prefigure those of the New Testament.

   

Happily, it does all this using memorable building brick illustrations which make understanding how the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New and the New testament revealed in the Old easy.

Further, the Catechism of the Seven Sacraments offers a detailed table of contents, color-coded sections on each Sacrament, and a helpful glossary, all of which make it even more use-friendly.  Plus, there are multiple Scripture and Catechism references sprinkled throughout page margins, so anyone who wants to dig even deeper in the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church can easily do so.

Truly, I cannot say enough about how inspired the O'Neill's were in designing Catechism of the Seven Sacraments!  The books truly is a gem among catechism books - so inviting in its presentation, so deep in its content, so delightful for children and adults to use to learn alongside one another!

Watch a video about the book!

Children Enjoy the Catechism of the Seven Sacraments!

My seven year old said:

"I got Catechism of the Seven Sacraments from my brother for my First Holy Communion*.  He gave it to me early, and we started reading it that night.  I enjoyed it.  

It is Lego!  It is also catechism.  It makes catechism fun. Since then, we've been reading more of it.  

The story has a girl who doesn't know anything about faith and a boy that knows everything.  He teaches her by telling her stories about Jesus, and about the Old and the New Testaments and how the Old Testament pre-represents the new one. 

I would recommend it to people who like Lego and people who want to learn catechism.  

I am glad I have it! 

This is my favorite picture so far, because Jesus dying on the cross.  He died for us so all our sins would be gone.  Then, He rose again to fulfill what He said.  Now, He is in Heaven, in our hearts, and in the tabernacle in the Eucharist."

*I received the book for review, but, since my oldest loves using LEGO® with his siblings gave it to him to gift his little brother.

My oldest said:

"I gave my brother Catechism of the Seven Sacraments as an early First Holy Communion gift.  I thought it was a good gift because it is a catechism and uses building blocks to teach about the faith. 

When we first opened it, I did not like that there are fake Legos in the pictures.  That drives me nuts, because I like real Legos only.  I also did not like the yellow and peach skin tones mixed up.** 

I did like some things though:

• It is Catholic - 100% Catholic.

• It talks about the Sacraments.

• It is written as a conversation.

• It has comparisons between the Old Testament and New Testament.

• The way they did the back in time thing was cool.

• It connects with other things I've done.  For example, our family has been taking an Unpacking the Mass class, and it connected with that.

• The photographs are funny sometimes.

• I like the Rosary part.

• They mention saints.

• They have Bible quotes.

I would recommend this book to people who don't like JUST Legos and who want to learn about the faith.  It teaches the faith solidly."

**Yes, my oldest is a quirky LEGO® purist, so he picked out every brick in the illustrations he thinks is not "a real LEGO®" and did comment a number of times about how he does not like when different-colored flesh tones were used in images.  However, he also thought some of the ways in which real LEGO® were used were quite creative and cool and also appreciated the content of the story and how it teaches about the faith.

My daughter said:

"I really like Catechism of the Seven Sacraments.  Almost everything in it is done with Legos or building blocks - plus faith statues and other stuff. It is fun! 

One of my favorite illustrations is the one of the church.  It has so such detail in it.  We also noticed some photos use Lego pants for water.  That's clever! 

I also like how some of the story takes the Old Testament and pairs it with the New Testament.  It helps me see the importance of both and how they interconnect. 

I also like how it's a conversation of a boy and a girl talking about the faith.  It teaches straight catechism, but does it in a fun way.  The boy explains faith using the Bible and catechism. 

I think this book would be good for:

• First Communicants

• people who like Legos

• people who need to learn the catechism

• Catholic families

• my Mom, because she laughs when she reads it to us.  She thinks the photos are funny.

• and our pastor, because he likes Legos.  

I am really glad we got this book! The author, his wife, and their seven kids must have taken a looooong time to make it.***"

***My daughter got a kick out of the "portrait" of the author' family on the back cover of the book. 

Highly Recommended!

I agree with my daughter.  Catechism of the Seven Sacraments makes a fantastic read for Catholic families.  I would especially recommend it for:

• First Holy Communicants
• Confirmation students
• RCIA candidates
• families with multiple age children
• individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, and ASD
• visual learners
• and LEGO® lovers, of course.

Most certainly, the book is light in its appearance - with its fun LEGO® comic book style.  Yet, it is also quite lever and substantial in its content, with an imprimatur from the Archbishop of Omaha.  Doctrinally sound and delightfully fresh, Catechism of the Seven Sacraments is a wonderful expression of St. John Paul II's New Evangelization!

Learn More

Learn more about the book at StoryTel Foundation. 

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Enter a Giveaway!

StoryTel Foundation has generously offered to share a copy of Catechism of the Seven Sacrament with two lucky Training Happy Hearts readers from the continental Unites States.  Enter below your chance to receive one of these copies!

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