Religion as a Core Subject

Someone recently wrote to me:

If there is a drawback to this book, I could only suggest that a Religion section be added to the next edition. It is my personal belief that Religion is a core subject, and I would be very interested in finding good books for my children in that area of study.

I've been waiting for this question as it is a question I asked myself over and over again as I worked to complete For the Love of Literature. I do firmly believe religion is a core subject. In fact, as stated in A Catholic Homeschool Treasury, I believe it to be the 4th 'R (religion, reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic).


However, as I wrote in the How to Use This Book chapter, I wanted the books in the other core subjects (math, art, music, science, history) to reflect our Catholicism. Instead of pulling religion out as a seperate subject I chose to make sure the books in the other subjects raised our hearts to God.

For example, books on creation found their way into the history section. Books on the spiritual lives of Renaissance artists found their way into the art section. Biographies of Catholic scientists found their way into the science section. And so on. You will find many good books in the study of religion in For the Love of Literature, but they will be intertwined with the art, music, math, science, and history books rather pooled together into one separate section.


I believe our Catholicism should be reflected in everything we do, not just church on Sunday. And so, we should teach it that way. It should be meshed with all school subjects. I want religion, for my own children, to be a natural part of their lives. Not something that is pulled out separately and kept in a box.

The problem I had with this approach was that adorable books like The Princess and the Kiss didn't make it into For the Love of Literature. But then again, I have another book in my head that would cover "literature for enjoyment" rather than "books that teach core subjects" and it would include The Princess and the Kiss, The Squire and the Scroll, The Hobbit, LOTR, etc. I may share more about that book project with you soon, but perhaps I should mention it to my publisher first.

Seeing the Wholeness of the Body of Christ

Our little pro-life club, Homeschoolers4Life, is blessed to have a great spiritual advisor. One of our member's dad was recently ordained a deacon and, though his schedule is terribly full, he volunteered to help our club.

During our 2008 March for Life trip, Deacon Jerry lead us in the Liturgy of the Hours each morning and evening. He also began each leg of our trip with a prayer and a blessing. These things truly made our trip complete.

Deacon Jerry wrote two reflections on the 2008 March for Life and so I will post one here today and the other tomorrow. I think you will find them quite moving:

One of the images that always amazed me as a youth was how scientists were able to make a movie of blood pulsing through a vein. In the image I hold in my memory you can see the cells advance, then stop, then advance, then stop. With each pulse the vein swells, then narrows again.

When I usually think of the Body of Christ, I have had a very different image. Picture a paper torn on the ground and scattered by the wind. Though we see parts of a whole, the whole isn't visible. We know that the parts belong together and form something, but cannot see that something in this other form. With each baptized Christian I encounter, I know they are a part of the Body of Christ, but the wholeness of Christ remains invisible beyond the Eucharist.

The March For Life changed that view of the Body of Christ. There we were, hundreds of thousands of people, gently bumping into each other as the march started, stopped, then started again. At times the path would narrow and we would slow. At other times the crowd hastened its pace and pushed forward into wider lanes. In that densely packed and huge crowd I could see His body. Though I couldn't see the whole crowd, from the large part I could see it was clearly a visible, single corpus. Unlike scraps of paper in the wind, there was a spiritual wholeness in that crowd that was physically visible.

Thank you Lord for showing your body to us in the faithful who marched!

Mary, Blessed Child

Ever so wise at 10-years old, Mary was our youngest marcher. What she writes here is short and sweet -- proof that we don't need to waste words to get to the point. And what a point she makes:

When I read Angela's essay I knew my heart was saying the same exact thing! I think that every child should have a chance to be someone. God has a plan for each and every child he creates! Every child has a future and when a child is aborted, that future is ended. All those marchers are trying to say exactly what Angela is trying to say! All the marchers (including me) all have the same idea, to end abortion! I know my heart is set on ending abortion and that someday, it will be!

The Flu and the Gift of Daughters

I have the flu. Bad. It has been an interesting day. I've spent most of it in bed shrivering with fever and offering up body aches for a special intention. I'm not telling you this to seek sympathy, but to share something that has been on my mind today.

My girlfriends who have adult children often tell me how much they appreciate their daughters. They love their sons, but there is something about daughters. They are the ones who keep the family connections and who look after their parents in a special way.

For example, when a friend had to have emergency back surgery, her daughter dropped everthing, flew up from New Orleans, and spent several weeks nursing her mother back to health. Her son, just an hour's drive away sent a get well card.

I often laugh at such stories but today I found myself seeing the truth in them. Teen Daughter One is also down with the flu and so Teen Daughter Two stepped up to the plate and ran the household today.

She checked on me often, bringing medication, water, food, and good cheer. She did the laundry, fed the littles, tidied the house. And she nursed me as only a mother could. I guess there is a reason one of her nicknames is The Little Mother. Though she is getting too grownup for that name.

The boys on the other hand have not seemed to notice that I am under the weather. If I shared all of their exploits of the day, this post would go on far too long to keep your attention. So, I will just share one little incident from this morning.

I pulled up a big comfy chair in front of the TV. I put in a Teaching Company DVD thinking that it would distract me from my illness and maybe learn something at the same time. (Oh how wrong was I.) Well, Buster came flying around the corner and tripped over me and the chair. He exclaimed, "Ow, that hurt!" and ran off. I'm sure that what he meant to say was, "Oh, dear Mother, I am so sorry to cause you distress by falling over you. What can I do to ease your suffering." But then, one cannot be expected to think clearly after tripping over the body of one's half-dead mother.

I love my boys in a special way, but on days like today I sure do appreciate the gift of daughters.

Kevin's Turn

Today's March for Life reflection comes from Kevin, 14, a dedicated member of the Homeschoolers 4 Life:

The March for Life was an unforgettable event. The sheer enormity of the crowds is amazing. The amount of people who make time in their lives to come and support the innocent, defenseless, unborn children who are being mercilessly slaughtered throughout the United States is overwhelming. Seeing the signs with the pictures of mutilated babies is a vision that will haunt me until the day I die. Abortion is an enormous problem in our country and if the people who oppose it continue to pray and work towards an end, someday we will win the battle.

When taken into consideration, abortion serves only to effectively wipe out entire generations of children. From the time Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in 1973 millions and millions of children have been killed. I hope to continue attending the March for Life in years to come and I hope to see an end to abortion at some point in my lifetime.

Kevin

Save Five Dollars on LOL!

I recently offered a price break for those who would like to take group orders for my new Catholic homeschooling book, For the Love of Literature. If you order 10 or more books it's only $11.50 per copy of For the Love of Literature (all autographed) plus $1.00 per book for Priority Shipping.

The regular price is $12.95 plus $4.60 s/h, so that's a savings of $5.05 per book!

I recently had a Catholic homeschooling support group purchase 20 copies with the plan for a regular mom gathering to talk about teaching through literature. I think that's a very nice idea (we do something similar in our homeschool group to discuss A Thomas Jefferson Education) and so I'd like to continue this bulk offer to others in the Catholic homeschooling community.

I can take PayPal (including credit card) or checks. Please don't hesitate to email me for the fine details.

Ginny's Determination

Ginny is 17-years old and an inspiring young woman:

One-third of my generation is gone. Dead. Killed. Murdered. There were 40 teenagers in our group—that means that we were missing 20. Twenty teenagers who might have been pro-life if they had only been given the chance at life, themselves. This is one thing that I heard on the March that has stuck with me—that as we stood there on the Capitol Mall, there were spaces in-between us that should have been filled. Filled with young adults, teenagers, and little children who were thoughtlessly martyred in the name of “choice.”

And yet there is hope. Those 40 teenagers who were given a chance at life as well as the thousands of other teens and young adults who attended the March for Life have a passion for the cause of life. I heard one mother on the trip mention that maybe once the 60’s generation is out of power, my generation will be able to step up and finally abolish Roe v. Wade. I believe it. There were so many of us that day in Washington. We are not a tiny fringe group, we are a movement—and we are strong. The teens I spent time with during our trip are all willing and ready to fight, hard, to once and for all secure the freedom to life. We are chomping at the bit to get our hands on the reins of this country and steer it in the right direction.

I can’t wait for the day when, instead of the usual March against Roe v. Wade, we have a rally celebrating its overthrow. What rejoicing will there be on that day in houses of worship all across this nation! I am so ready for that day. But until then, I think the Rock for Life T-shirt says it best, “You will not silence my message. You will not mock my God. You will stop killing my generation.”

Picture Perfect Cake Walk

Make sure to visit Cay's Cake Walk this week.

Flashlight Press donated 4 of their wonderful picture books to the next Book Walk. The editor was fascinated with Cay's new book A Picture Perfect Childhood and was eager to offer some prizes. The names going into the cake bowl (i.e. drawing) will be those who purchase Picture Perfect during this introductory month.

I got my own copy of A Picture Perfect Childhood just before leaving for the March and started reading it last night. So far, it is quite lovely -- Cay is the Picture Book Queen! I promise a more detailed review once I finish savoring it.

LOL Authentically Catholic?

I received the following inquiry recently. In case any of you have the same question, I'm posting here.

I am interested in your new book For the Love of Literature, but have a question that I hope does not offend you in anyway. Is it authentically Catholic throughout? I know that not everything I use can have the Church's stamp of approval, but I need something that has sifted out the blatantly anti-Catholic world view. I am still learning myself and trying to implant a beautiful, authentic Catholic worldview in my family. It is easy to get confused; to know something is not right, but not quite know why. I am getting an education right along with my young children, and I need help from some one who has gone before me on this path.

I really appreciated this email and was not offended at all. In fact, I greatly respect the writer's dedication to providing a truly Catholic education for her children.

To answer her question: I worked hard to sift out anti-Catholic books and focus on books that raise up our children's hearts and minds to heaven. Books that help them see the beauty of our Catholic faith as well as educate them in core subjects.

There are a few book suggestions that do require a parent's discretion due to mature topics. Those books are marked with an asterisk so that parents are forewarned.

Also, I marked all authentically Catholic books with a cross, so that a parent can easily choose good books without worry.

I left out overtly Protestant books. There are secular titles -- it's impossible to do otherwise -- but I worked to make sure they weren't titles that attacked our faith in any way.

If anyone has concerns, questions, or comments about For the Love of Literature, please don't hesitate to leave a comment here on the blog or to email me.

Angela Speaks Up

After the March for Life last year (scroll down then click on older posts to read), I asked the kids to write a few paragraphs for me about their experience. I've done the same this year. The difference is that last year we had 14 teens and preteens, this year we had 40. We also had 11 adults this year and I've asked them to contribute as well. So, sit back and enjoy -- I plan 1 or 2 reflections a day.

Our first marcher is also one of our youngest. Angela is all of 11-years old and she sure knows wrong when she sees it:

When the Supreme Court made abortion legal it's like saying murder is legal. When someone is killed the murderer would go to jail but the doctors get $400 for aborting a baby. When I went on the March for Life and saw a picture of an aborted baby it showed me how bad abortion really is. On the March I saw how many people were there and I thought "All the people took time off from what they where doing to help protect the unborn." I thought that was so cool.

I saw a flyer about the movie Bella. This movie is about a woman who is pregnant and isn't married. She wants to abort the baby but her friend wants her to have the baby and he wants to adopt the child. I think that you will love this movie, and I was glad to see it on the March. This movie was not going to come to a theater in Michigan but my mom and our church supported it and it came to the theater. This was such a blessing! I hope that someday abortion will be illegal.

Angela

Ron Paul at the March for Life

One would think that all of the "pro-life" presidential candidates would be out in force this year at the March for Life. Wrong.

The only candidate I saw there was Ron Paul. He was one of the keynote speakers. His grass roots supporters were everywhere in the crowd. Everywhere!

No sign of Huckabee, McCain, or Romney. None. Not even a bumper sticker. Makes me glad I voted for Ron Paul in the Michigan primary.

As Paul, Just a Regular Guy said:

If I were supporting a different candidate than Congressman Paul, my heart would be aching today to know that McCain wasn't there, Romney wasn't there, Huckabee wasn't there. President Bush, once again, skipped the march, and phoned in his greetings. Ron Paul was there.

As a side note. I had a lot of friends tell me that they liked Ron Paul the best of all the Republican candidates in the primary, but didn't vote for him because it was unlikely he could win. That's flawed thinking, in my opinion. He can win, if people vote for the best candidate instead of the "most likely to win." Paul is not the best speaker or most charismatic to be sure, but he does get to the point and is clear on his political positions.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.

The March and Youngsters

One thing that strikes everyone who attends the March for Life is how youth driven it is. The kids thought it was about 75% high school and college age students. I don't know if it was quite that high, but it was definitely overwhelming.

One of the teens shared with me that because of the youthfulness of the prolife movement, Roe vs. Wade would be overturned. He felt that as the 60's generation began to die off and fall from power, his generation would be able to step in and do away with abortion on demand.

If anything, these kids have great hope. And I don't doubt in my mind for a moment that they will work to change the world to be a better place than my generation left it.

NYU and LOL

Even college profs like my book:

“Maureen Wittmann's new book "For the Love of Literature" is an essential addition to the library of any Catholic homeschooling family -- or anyone who just loves books! I heartily endorse the "method" of teaching through books rather than textbooks, and while history and literature figure prominently, the suggestions for math and science books are especially helpful. Some other homeschooling guides provide lists of books, usually in an appendix, but this is the first I've seen where these lists make up the guide itself. Wittmann's well-organized and carefully researched lists could be used either as a supplement to an established homeschooling curriculum or as a stand-alone curriculum in and of themselves.”
--Anne Schuchman, Department of Italian Studies, New York University

Home From the March

We're home. We're alive, though dead tired. And, being the crazy homeschoolers we are, we have Scouts this morning and Science Olympiad this evening.

I have so much to tell you about the March for Life, but I am afraid it will have to wait.

In the meantime, thank you all so much for your prayers. The trip was a great success. Also, my friend Linda not only survived watching my littles but they all had a wonderful time.

Prayer Requests

Tomorrow morning we leave for the first leg of our March for Life trip. I know that many of you are praying for the trip already and I have an additional request. Please pray for my friend Linda and her family. Linda, very graciously, volunteered to watch my three youngest children for the three days I'm gone with the older four children and Rob is in Detroit for work. Thank you Linda!

A couple of housekeeping notes: I won't have Internet access while I'm away. You can leave comments on the blog, but I won't be able to approve them until my return. Also, should anyone order books while I'm away I'll get them in the mail on Thursday.

See you all in three days!

Chartered Bus Etiquette

This is my first time chartering a bus and I have kind of a dumb question. (Yes, I know - the only dumb question is the one unasked.)

Do you tip the bus driver?

When you get married and rent a limousine, you tip the limo driver. Do you do the same with the bus driver if he or she does a very nice job?

I'd ask Miss Manners, but we leave on Monday and I don't think she can get back to me that fast.

Thanks for any help!

Community College, Cell Biology, and Professors on DVD

Poor, poor Teen Son. He registered for community college, paid the bill, bought his books, and they canceled his favorite class: cell biology. Perhaps it's just as well. Sixteen hours is a lot to carry in addition to his job at the Capitol.

But Teen Son, being the kinda guy he is, decided to teach himself cell biology. And I decided to help him along.

The Teaching Company is a cool resource for home educators. They find the best college professors in the country and videotape their lectures. It's THE new, in-thing to do if you're a hip and happening homeschooler.

So, I decided to join the hip crowd and get Teen Son some of them there fancy DVDs at The Teaching Company. Besides they're having a sale!

Actually, they're always having a sale. If you're coveting a certain DVD or CD course and are patient enough, you'll find it on sale eventually. Just check the website each month or sign up for the email list.

Back to my story. I purchased Biology: The Science of Life, a 72 lecture (30 minutes each), 12-DVD set. The regular price is $700 and I got it for $180! I figure that if Teen Son watches (and takes notes from) one lecture each school day, he'll be done before summer. Cheaper than community college!

Egged on by my friend Sheila, who spent her recent inheritance (really!) on The Teaching Company DVDs and CDs, I didn't stop at biology. I went on to buy Popes and the Papacy: A History as well as Understanding The Fundamentals of Music. I'm hoping to talk my friend Linda into having our older kids complete the papacy and music courses together.

There were more courses that looked great for our family, but they'll have to wait. In the meantime, if I don't like the DVDs, they have an awesome lifetime guarantee!

Oh, one more thing. Rob had a scathingly brilliant idea. Start a foundation built on The Teaching Company and homeschooling. The foundation would purchase as many courses as possible and then provide a lending library for homeschoolers. Kind of like an educational Netflix.

Hey, I wonder if Netflix offers The Teaching Company DVDs. Anybody in the know? My public library has a few titles, but they all come together as one set and we can't watch 4 to 12 DVDs in the week we're allotted.

We Have a Winner! Winners?

Love 2 Learn has picked the winners for The Catholic Homeschool Companion and For the Love of Literature. Or is it one very lucky winner -- Jennifer P. Is there one Jennifer P. or two? We shall find out soon, I hope.

As soon as Jennifer P. contacts Alicia at Love 2 Learn with her address, I'll put her autographed books into the mail. Congratulations Jennifer!

If you didn't win, there's still hope. There are four awesome titles up for grabs today and tomorrow, so head on over to Love 2 Learn to enter!

Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home by Elizabeth Foss

My Cup of Tea: Musings of a Catholic Mom by Danielle Bean

Mom to Mom, Day to Day by Danielle Bean

The Catholic Mom's Daily Planner by Michele Quigley

Christendom and the 2008 March for Life

This is way too cool!
Every Student at Catholic Christendom College to Participate in March for Life
One of the girls who attended the March with us last year will be there this year as a freshman with Christendom. We'll see you there Rebekah!

Happy Birthday Sis!

My sister is busy moving today and I can't get a hold of her by phone right now. Hopefully, she'll check my blog sometime this week and notice that I didn't forget her.

Happy Birthday Chrissy -- I love you!


(She' the one in the middle and I'm the oldest. That's Eileen on the end. My brother Charlie wasn't born yet.)

Speaking Gigs

I have my talks scheduled for Memphis:

For the Love of Literature
The Art of Reading Aloud
Educating God's Wildflowers


I've also added Joliet, IL to my calendar on the weekend of May 23, 2008. I'll be giving these talks:

God's Wildflowers
Relax, You Can Do It


I hope to see some of you there!


If you don't live anywheres near Chicago or Memphis and would like to find a Catholic homeschool conference close to home then visit Catholic Homeschool Support.


Now, I better get to work. I need to rewrite The Art of Reading Aloud and stretch it out another 15 minutes. If you have any special tips or ideas, I'm all ears.

Contest Break

The winner of A Guide to Narnia: 100 Questions About The Chronicles of Narnia--The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is:

Cindi in IL

Congratulations Cindi!!!!

This is a very busy week for me as I prepare for our trip to Washington, DC for the March for Life. Plus we have Science Olympiad invitationals coming up and then the everyday life of a busy homeschooler.

So, the contest is now officially on hiatus. Not to worry, we'll get back to things soon, as I still have free books lined up for ya'all. Monday, February 4, 2008 sounds like a good day to me.

In the meantime, I'll be blogging on the regular stuff, especially the March for Life.

Many of you emailed me about how much you love Mark Shea and his work. If you'd like to order some of his books or tapes, please head over to his website. By ordering directly from the author you get the benefit of an autographed copy and you encourage him to keep writing.

I Can't Believe All the Freebies!

Love 2 Learn is still giving away books and this week you can try for The Catholic Homeschool Companion, For the Love of Literature, The Father Brown Reader, A Picture-Perfect Childhood and Literature Alive. That's a lot of books.

Cay Gibson is giving away Catholic Mosaic and her about-to-be-released A Picture Perfect Childhood. I can't wait to see Cay's new book! It's due out January 20th.

Head over to those two blogs, check out the rules, learn about some very cool books, and maybe even win something!

LOL Bulk Orders

If you would like to take LOL orders for your homeschool support group, I'll give you a nice deal. If you order ten or more book it's only $11.50 per copy of For the Love of Literature (all autographed!) plus $1.00 per book for Priority Shipping. Email me to get payment details.

A Guide to Narnia

The winner of A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About The Passion of The Christ [Ascension Press] is:

Maria of KC

Congratulations Maria!!!!

Today is the last day of Mark Shea Week and the book of the day is: A Guide to Narnia: 100 Questions About The Chronicles of Narnia--The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This is a fun walk-through of the book, highlighting C.S. Lewis' Christian message and linking the ideas in the novel with the depths of the rest of Lewis' work.

Would you like to know the contest rules? It's easy enough. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose a winner from all of the emails.

God is Like So Way Cool

Friday, I had to write a check for our March for Life trip. A big check. A check for $1,500.

We only had $812 in the checking account.

I prayed.

I prayed hard, "God, please send me money!"

The mail came. There were lots of checks from the March for Life travelers.

I added up the checks. I added up the check register. Guess how much money was in the account after the day's deposit.

$1,501.00

God sent EXACTLY what I needed. I wrote the $1,500 check and had a dollar left over to keep the account open!!!

Now, I just need $315 to pay for the food at the retreat center. Not to worry though -- God will send it. Plus a dollar!

A Guide to the Passion

The winner of yesterday's book, The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code by Mark Shea, is . . . envelope please,

Christine in TX

Christine has been notified of her win and patiently awaiting the postman's arrival with her new book.

Today is Saturday. That means that you have two days to get your entry in to me. But I wouldn't wait. Email me at RWitt1776@aol.com with your name and address to enter. All entries need to be received before 5 AM on Monday morning.

Oh, you want to know the title of today's book? Details, details. You may have already guessed, being Mark Shea Week and all, that it is a Mark Shea title. Actually, this book was written by the editors at Catholic Exchange and Mark is the senior editor. A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About The Passion of The Christ [Ascension Press] would be a cool book to win. I don't know about you, but I have older teenagers who viewed the movie with me and A Guide to the Passion helped the kids (and me!) a lot.

This is the definitive guide to understanding the message and the artistry behind Mel Gibson's powerful film, The Passion of the Christ. If you loved the film, you will want this book.

Continuing Education With the Love of Literature

“I have no doubt For the Love of Literature will prove to be a valuable tool for new homeschoolers, veteran homeschoolers, public school teachers, librarians, private school board members, your teacher-aunt, your neighbor with the 2-year-old and the new baby, your pregnant cousin, all parents who have a love for their children, and even the niece or nephew headed to college.

Maureen calls her book a "glorified booklist" but it is way more than that. She has done a job of extensive research in putting this book together so you and your children (no matter how or where they are educated) can enjoy the ripe benefits of continuing their education through the love of literature.

On behalf of all parents who devote their lives to educating their children for life, thank you, Maureen, for all you've done and all you continue to do for us!”

-- Cay Gibson, author, Catholic Mosaic

If you would like to order For the Love of Literature, just check the sidebar of this blog. If you have questions about the book, please feel free to email me.

The Da Vinci Deception

The winner of yesterday's book, Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did is

Elizabeth in WI

Congratulations Elizabeth. Mark Shea is autographing your book as I write and will ship that off to you.

Just a quick housekeeping note. Before posting to the blog each morning, I contact the winner personally by email.

Now, for today's book: The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code by Mark Shea.

An easy-to-digest debunking of the silliness at work in Dan Brown's malicious attack on the Catholic Faith. For anybody who has ever suffered through the novel or the film and then listened to people proclaim, "Wow! I learned so much!" This book will do what The Da Vinci Code only pretends to do: educate you.

Would you like to know the contest rules? It's easy enough. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose a winner from all of the emails.



I'll announce the winner tomorrow morning, along with the contest book for that day, so make sure to check back.

Give Me Free Books

More book giveaways at Love2Learn. Go. Now.

I Love Discounts!

Tom over at Adoremus Books just emailed a new discount code to me. If you'd like to enjoy 15% off your book order at Adoremus, plus free shipping on orders over $25, the code is AOB208. You just key in the coupon code when you check out. This coupon is good until April 1, 2008.

If you've been intrigued by the books in our little contest here, you'll be happy to know that Adoremus carries most, if not all, of them. They also carry a good selection of homeschooling materials including textbooks, videos, computer programs, etc.

Speaking Authors

The winner of Mark Shea's By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition is:

Patty in PA

Congrats Patty! If you're not Patty and you'd still like to own this book, it is available at Mark's website along with a talk of the same title. Have I mentioned that Mark is a public speaker and would like you to invite him to your parish or conference? Mark's books are also available from amazon.com or your favorite Catholic book store.

Today's book is Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did [Basilica] by, yes you guessed it, Mark Shea. Now, this is a cool topic. I love reading about the early Christians.

Reading the Bible in a way as old as Scripture itself, this book takes the reader on a "fly-over" of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation and invites us to explore the literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical senses of Scripture. Whether you've been studying Scripture for years or are encountering it for the very first time, Making Senses Out of Scripture is an invaluable tool that will help you see biblical revelation afresh—as Christians have done for 2000 years. Click here to see reviews.

Would you like to know the contest rules? It's easy enough. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern tomorrow (Friday) morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose a winner from all of the emails.

I'll announce the winner tomorrow morning, along with the contest book for that day, so make sure to check back.

Mark Shea Week Continues

Drum roll please . . . the winner of yesterday's book, This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence [Christendom], is:

Connie in CO

Congratulations Connie!

If you didn't win, and you'd still like to own Mark's book, you can get an autographed copy at his website (make sure to tell him if you want it personalized). You can also get a tape of a talk by the same title. Gosh, you could get totally wild, and buy both. (Mark would sure appreciate it I'm sure, as the kids need braces!) This would be a great book to read during Holy Adoration.

Now, you've all been waiting patiently, so here's the title of today's Mark Shea book: By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition [Our Sunday Visitor].

A tale of spiritual and intellectual awakening that makes a different kind of conversion story. The book describes how, as an evangelical Protestant, I rejected tradition and held to the principle of "scripture alone" as the foundation of religious authority. But this principle crumbled in the face of attacks from modernist scholars who reject Christian doctrine and the authority of the Bible. This book chronicles how, at first reluctantly, then with mounting excitement, I discovered that Tradition as expressed by the Catholic Church is the only guarantee of the truth of the revelation of Jesus Christ. Click here to see reviews.

The contest rules: Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern Thursday morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address . The kids and I will randomly choose the winners from all of the emails. I'll announce the winner tomorrow morning. Everyone is eligible, as long as you have a name and an address. You can enter everyday if you like, but just one per day per person, thank you.

Yet Another Free Book Contest

Cay Gibson's Book Walk continues over at her blog. Go see what you can win!

Karen Gets LOL

Karen Edmisten is one of my very favorite Catholic homeschool mom bloggers. If I need a little cheering up, I head over to her blog for a Ramona fix.

That's why, when I read her review of my book today it made me, well, weepy. I know. I'm a baby. It's just something that happens at my age. And, I've never been good about taking compliments. Maybe it's that I feel undeserving. I don't know. I do admit it feels nice when people say nice things about my book. It's 12 years in the making and gosh I'm happy that it actually helps people, especially dear people like Karen.

Thank you Karen.

I Love Autographed Books

The new owners of Questions and Answers About Your Journey to God by Father Benedict Groeschel are:

Laura in IL
Janet in KS
Tammy in TN

Congratulations to the winners!

Now, for today's contest. Today we begin Mark Shea Week. Each day for the the next six days, I'll have one of Mark's books to give away. Mark is one of my favorite bloggers. He's also an accomplished author and speaker.

Today's book is an autographed copy of This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence [Christendom]. Too bad I don't get to enter -- I love autographed books and I don't own this one yet. I'll have to actually buy one. Thankfully, Mark makes it easy to do at his website.

A popular apologetic written in terms accessible to lay Evangelicals. Its goal is to meet the Evangelical reader within the framework of his or her own basic truths, concerns and loves and show how Catholic Eucharistic belief is already latent in that framework. It addresses common Protestant objections and shows them to be logically flawed, exegetically untenable, or based upon predictable misconceptions as to what Catholic teaching really is. After dealing with the objections the book then positively and convincingly constructs the Catholic case.

The contest rules: Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern Wednesday morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose the winners from all of the emails. I'll announce the winners tomorrow morning. Everyone is eligible, as long as you have a name and an address. You can enter everyday if you like, but just one per day per person, thank you.

Let the contest begin!

To Study Guide or Not

Nancy Brown is talking about kids and literature. A topic that, believe it or not, I find interesting. She says,

There is a trend toward making good books into assignments, and writing Study Guides for them. I've done this myself, but I question why I did it. I don't want to make a book a drudge for a child, I hope to make them love books, love to read.

Head over to her blog, read more on the topic, and join the discussion. Nancy would like your input.

It's Raining Books

There are even more book giveaways in the blogosphere. Get over to Love2Learn right away. You have unitl midnight Tuesday to get your entries in. There are three different titles being given away, so make sure to scroll down. Entering is super easy -- all you have to do is leave a comment.

Update: There will be more books and more contests in upcoming weeks to celebrate Love2Learn.net's 10th anniversary and recent redesign. So make sure to check the Love2Learn blog regularly to see what's being given away.

PSN5: For the Love of Literature

To read past library recommendations, or to join the email list, visit: Pope Saint Nicholas V.

Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title: For the Love of Literature: Teaching Core Subjects With Literature
Author: Maureen Wittmann
Publisher: Ecce Homo Press
Date Published: December 2007
ISBN-10: 0979760909
ISBN-13: 978-0979760907
Price: $12.95, softcover

Comments: This is an important book for librarians to stock, not only on the lending shelves, but also on their personal reference shelves.

Review: Adrienne Furness, New York Librarian and Author of Helping Homeschoolers in the Library (American Library Association)

Fr. Benedict Groeschel

The winners of yesterday's free books are:
Marcia from KS
Rossana form Alberta

Congratulations everyone! Our Sunday Visitor will be mailing the copies of The How-To Book of the Mass by Michael Dubruiel directly to the winners. If you didn't win and you'd love to own a copy yourself, it's easy enough to find at OSV, your favorite Catholic book seller, or even at amazon.com.

Now, for today's featured book: Questions and Answers About Your Journey to God by Father Benedict Groeschel. I don't know about you, but Fr. Groeschel is a favorite author and speaker in this house! I highly recommend checking out all of his books.

Today we have three copies to give away. Three copies! Of Fr. Groeschel! You have a good chance of winning, so make sure you enter. One can never have too many good Catholic books on her bookshelf!

Let's review the contest rules. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern Tuesday morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose the winners from all of the emails. I'll announce the winners tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Mark Shea week, so make sure to check back.

Seeing God's Hand

As my regular readers already know, another parent and I took two vans full of teenagers to the March for Life last year. Many fruits were born of that trip. Almost immediately upon arriving home, the teens began a club -- Homeschoolers4Life. They pray monthly in front of an abortion clinic, commit to pray daily for their spiritually-adopted unborn baby, have started a dresser ministry, and much more.

They also decided to take a busload of teens this year to the March for Life. I'm now heading up a bus of 52 teens and parents to Washington, DC. (Yes, I am crazy.)

In the beginning planning stages, I asked the teen members of Homeschoolers4Life how they wanted the funds distributed. If they worked hard fundraising, shouldn't the money be targeted to a personal account, making their trip cheaper. Or should the money be split among everyone who wanted to come on the trip? We were filling a bus with more than 50 people and we only had a core group of 10 to 15 teens working at fundraising.

The vote was unanimous. They wanted all the money they raised to be split evenly among all the travelers, even though most would not have taken part in the fundraising. They did not even hesitate in that decision -- they were adamant about making this trip affordable and doable for everyone. I was blown away by their generosity. But that was only the beginning.

A family stepped forward and gave us $500 for the bus. The bus company gave us a nice discount. Several families offered to pay the way of three teenagers who couldn't afford to go otherwise. A dear friend went to work to find us lodging and managed to get us a healthy discount for a lovely retreat center. Then, an 18-year-old young man gave up his Christmas bonus to pay for the remaining amount due the retreat center -- enough money to buy himself all kinds of fun electronic teen gadgets. (I cried my eyes out upon learning that one!)

Parents stepped forward and offered babysitting for those of us who will be leaving young children behind, volunteered to make yummy treats for the bus ride, to be our prayer warriors, and more.

Every step of the way, we saw God's hand blessing this trip. Of course, one can't help but wonder why. And there are a million reasons why. But, I think it comes down to how this all started -- a bunch of teenagers who did not hesitate sharing their resources so that many may make this trip. A trip that should cost $200 per person, but they managed to get down to $40. But more importantly, a trip to honor God, to honor Life, and to stand up for those who cannot standup for themselves.

Yet More Michael Dubruiel Books

The winners of yesterday's free books are:

Martha from SD
Janine from MN
Beth from TX

Congratulations everyone!

Our Sunday Visitor will be mailing the copies of The Power of the Cross by Michael Dubruiel directly to the winners. If you didn't win and you'd love to own a copy yourself, it's easy enough to find at OSV, your favorite Catholic book seller, or even at amazon.com.

Now, for today's featured book: The How-To Book of the Mass by Michael Dubruiel. Today we have two copies to give away. If you haven't won yet, don't give up. There are still many more books to come and you have a good chance of winning, so make sure you enter. One can never have too many good Catholic books on her bookshelf!

Let's review the contest rules. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern Monday morning. Tomorrow is Sunday and I get the day off. That means you have an extra day to get your entry in to me.

Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose the winners from all of the emails. I'll announce the winners Monday morning, along with the contest book for that day, so make sure to check back.

Good luck everyone!

We Love Author Michael Dubruiel

First, make sure you have the right email address for entering the contest. I'm afraid that I had the wrong email address posted yesterday for a period of time before catching it and correcting it. The link was correct but the typed out version was wrong. The correct email addy is RWitt1776@aol.com. Please accept my heartfelt apology. I promise to make it up to you with more free book offerings!

The winners of yesterday's free books are:
Emily from AB
Beth from MI
Theresia from OH
Margaret Mary from MD
Terri from MI

Congratulations everyone! Our Sunday Visitor will be mailing the copies of A Pocket Guide to the Mass by Michael Dubruiel directly to the winners. If you didn't win and you'd love to own a copy yourself, it's easy enough to find at OSV, your favorite Catholic book seller, or even at amazon.com

Now, for today's featured book. It's another Michael Dubruiel title: The Power of the Cross. Today we have three copies to give away. You have a good chance of winning, so don't waste anytime getting that entry in to me.

Let's review the contest rules. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern tomorrow (Saturday) morning. You do need to send a new email each day.

Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose the winners from all of the emails.

I'll announce the winners tomorrow morning, along with the contest book for that day, so make sure to check back.

Even Strangers Like My Book

I received this email in my inbox recently:

Dear Maureen,
I am writing to say thank you, thank you, thank you for your wonderful book, For the Love of Literature! I can't even begin to tell you how much it has helped me! It is so well organized and easy to use. I have come across many good book lists online but got so bogged down trying to keep them all straight. I look forward to using your book for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Maureen in PA

See, my close personal friends aren't the only ones who love my book. Sure, Maureen in PA shares my same name (and a fine Irish name it is), but we've never met before. Really.

And, honestly, I am so relieved. I really sweated over the organization of that book. Maureen's email made it all worth it.

Another Amazon Review

Nancy Brown inserts her two cents over at amazon.com. Thank you Nancy for the 5 star review!

If you prefer ordering from Amazon, the books have been shipped to them and they should have them any day now.

If you prefer autographed author copies, you can order directly from me. Just click on the Add to Cart button in the sidebar. If you'd like a book personalized, please leave me a comment with your order.

We Love Free Books

The winners of yesterday's free books are:
Mary Jean from TX
Lisa from IN
Deborah from MD
Jen from PA
And Sue from I don't know where. Hopefully, Sue will be emailing her address to me soon.

Congratulations everyone! Our Sunday Visitor will be mailing the copies of A Pocket Guide to Confession By Michael Dubruiel directly to the winners. If you didn't win and you'd love to own a copy yourself, it's easy enough to find at OSV, your favorite Catholic book seller, or even at amazon.com

Now, for today's featured book. It's another Our Sunday Visitor title. Today we have another five copies to give away. This increases your chances of winning big time, so don't hesitate getting entering today. Oh, what's the title of the book, you ask. Why, it's another Pocket Guide: A Pocket Guide to the Mass by Michael Dubruiel. How cool is that!

Would you like to know the contest rules? It's easy enough. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern tomorrow (Friday) morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address -- otherwise I can't have the book mailed to you. The kids and I will randomly choose five winners from all of the emails.

I'll announce the winners tomorrow morning, along with the contest book for that day, so make sure to check back.

Supporting Catholic/Homeschooling Authors

This was posted at Annunciations in the combox:

Question:
For folks who write books: is it better financially to buy these books directly from the author (who has some trouble in packaging and mailing, etc) or from amazon.com?

It's an interesting question. In case anyone else was wondering the answer to this question, here it is:

It’s definitely better for the author if you buy directly from him or her. Authors typically get a 10% royalty on net sales.

Publishers wholesale books to bookstores and amazon.com 40% to 60% off.

Let’s say a book retails for $10. You purchase it from amazon.com. They likely got a 60% discount. So the author gets 10% of $4. A whopping 40 cents royalty!

If you buy the book from your local family-owned Catholic bookstore, they likely got a 40% discount. So, the author gets a 60 cent royalty. Not a lot, but you are also helping support the Catholic bookstore owners.

If you buy the book directly from the publisher there is no discount. So, the author gets the royalty on the full price — $1 per book.

Now, if the author stockpiles books and sells them herself (as I do) she gets them probably for 40% or %50 wholesale — depending on how many she purchases. So, if you buy the book directly from the author he or she will make at least $4.

Catholic authors don’t make a lot of money. It’s a niche market and sales numbers are not exactly in the stratosphere. If you're writing for the Catholic homeschooling market, that's a niche within a niche.

Most of us write as an apostolate. But, it helps a lot to actually get a paycheck to pay for all the time taken away from our families and the expenses involved in writing a book.

So, that’s the long answer to your question. Yes, it is way better to financially to order directly from the author.

More importantly, it encourages them to continue writing and producing good books.

Let the Contest Begin . . . Again

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to get back to the giveaway fun. Our Sunday Visitor has very generously provided several books to our contest. These are not titles found in For the Love of Literature, but they are still great titles for any Catholic family.

Today we have five copies to give away, yes 5, of A Pocket Guide to Confession by Michael Dubruiel. This is a new book, having just been released in September 2007.

OSV sells this booklet individually or in packets of ten (at a considerable discount). It's a great one for yourself, to share with loved ones, or leave in the book rack at church.

Now, let's review the contest rules. Send an email to me HERE (RWitt1776 at aol dot com) before 5 AM Eastern tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Make sure to include your name and mailing address. I will then randomly choose five winners from all of the emails. I'll announce the winners tomorrow morning, along with the contest book for that day, so make sure to check back.

Amazon and Contests

Remember to check the blog in the morning as the contest will begin again -- now that I've survived Christmas and New Year's Day.


Margaret Mary Myers is the first person to review For the Love of Literature over at amazon.com. Thank MM!!!

HomeschoolLibraryConnection: Helping Homeschoolers in the Library

Homeschool Library Connection is a Yahoo Group similar to Pope St. Nicholas V, except that the focus is on general homeschooling books.

Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Helping Homeschoolers in the Library may be one of the most important book you request from your library. It is a book written for librarians themselves. It is one they should purchase for their personal resource shelf as well as their lending shelves. I haven't been able to read the book myself yet, so I cannot give you a full review. However, I have communicated with the author extensively via email and I am confident that this is a book that will help librarians a great deal in serving the homeschooling community.

Title: Helping Homeschoolers in the Library
Author: Adrienne Furness
Publisher: American Library Association
Date Published: January 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0955-3
ISBN-10: 0-8389-0955-8
Price: Softcover 35.00

From the publisher:

In the past decade, the rise of homeschooling has had a tremendous impact on public libraries. Research from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) reveals that of the 1.1 million children being homeschooled in the United States, 78% of homeschooling parents use the public library as their primary resource of learning materials. Yet, most librarians are unequipped and unprepared to reach this specific group of patrons.

This practical guidebook seeks to bridge the gap between librarians and homeschoolers in these two ways: who are homeschoolers and how can I help them practically? Part 1 addresses the history and background of homeschooling as well as the needs and viewpoints of various homeschooling groups. Part 2 deals specifically with building programs and services for the homeschooling population.

Addressing all age groups, from how to serve elementary school children and teens, to even the homeschooling parent, homeschooling expert Furness offers

· In-depth chapters dedicated to different types of homeschooling and unschooling movements
· Comprehensive discussion of resources to serve the diverse homeschooling population
· Ideas on programs and social outlets the library can provide
· Annotated lists of further readings at the end of each chapter, plus website resources and electronic discussion lists
· 17 real–life stories of librarians interacting with homeschoolers

By moving past stereotypes and understanding what resources are available, librarians can be important allies to this diverse group of patrons. Children’s and YA librarians, library directors, support staff working with youth in public libraries and educators will find the information and tools they need to develop policies, programs, and services to support homeschoolers in their communities.

Adrienne Furness is the head of the Children and Family services department of the Webster Public Library in Webster, NY where she has served homeschoolers for ten years. Her experience includes providing basic library services to homeschoolers as well as implementing targeted programming and collections. She was also the administrator of a 2005-2007 New York State Parent and Child Services Grant dedicated to better serve homeschoolers in Monroe County, New York.