Ginny’s Gems

Academics and spiritual formation go together. Seton shares some of Pope St. John Paul's inspirational thoughts on homeschooling and the love of truth.

Families grapple with discipline in the home. Ginny Seuffert tackles an aspect of it by making etiquette part of and not an obstacle to homeschooling.

I have known Catholic families and I know how much light they were in the 1950’s. One family I knew as a seven-year-old boy touched me by the very fact that the father of the family led the Grace of the meal with the Sign of the Cross and the prayer asking for God’s blessing. A small thing, but small things speak to pure hearts.

We can’t socialize well (because we never go out of the house); we’re not good at sports; it’s not healthy to spend so much time around your Mom; we’re not qualified to teach geography (because we never go out of the house); we’re not qualified to teach anything; snow days are healthy for kids and homeschoolers don’t get snow days, and so forth.

Unfortunately, the resolutions that are made are often forgotten or abandoned after the first several weeks. So, where are we to begin and how can we give ourselves a fighting chance at keeping the resolutions we make? How can we help our children to understand the value of making and keeping New Year’s resolutions?

This great design of awaiting the next pleasure forms the master plan of life designed by a wise Creator who orients man toward the future with hope. No one ever truly wants to return to the past or dreams of recovering the fountain of youth.

Blessed are those who do not stumble or become hindered in their faith when Christ does not act according to the plans and preconceived ideas they’ve worked out in their own minds concerning how things will go in their lives and how God will move in their lives as well.

Catholic homeschooling is like running a circus! Mary Lou Warren explores 7 things the circus experience shares in common with running a homeschool.

Have my second grader reading. - My resolution is to have more fun with teaching. - More reading aloud, more hands on learning fun. - Keep up with grading and hours. - Grade every week and to be more hands on. - Be more consistent.

Shakespeare in one scene has Hamlet walking up and down in the castle with a book open in his hand. When Polonius comes up and politely asks, “What is it ...

Download this ‘The 4 Marks of the Church’ Crossword! A fun activity to challenge your knowledge of facts and trivia. For all ages! Answer these questions: There are four ___ of the Catholic Church by which all men can recognize it as the true Church. - The Catholic Church has this mark because all its members profess the same faith and have the same sacrifice and sacraments.

The words of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on the day of her first Confession are very appropriate: “How awful are those words of unloosing after a thirty years’ bondage! I felt as if my chains fell, as those of St. Peter at the touch of the Divine Messenger. My God! What new scenes for my soul!”

A few months ago, I wrote an article dealing with blaming yourself as a Catholic parent whose children have veered off course. In it, I told the story of a man who spent an afternoon in a famous museum. The man walked around and observed the paintings of Raphael and the sculptures of Michelangelo.

Words, like music, can create harmony or discord. Words, like certain fine instruments, can refine and beautify or, like blunt tools, can break and smash. The art of living requires sensitivity to the choice of words, to the tone of voice, and to the manner of speech.

Do you know what an aspiration is? An aspiration is a strong desire to do something, be something, or possess something. People have many different aspirations. Some aspire to be musicians, doctors, or librarians. Some aspire to go to college, while others aspire to go right into the workforce. Some aspire to be priests or religious brothers or sisters, while others aspire to be good husbands and wives. There are as many aspirations as there are people in the world.

Pregnant and nauseous, I traveled with my husband, kids, and parents to Emmitsburg, Maryland, to sit on a rock. Yes, a rock. It’s a long story that begins and ends with Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. As I sat on the rock from which Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton taught her first three students, with my first three “students” Gianna...

How do I figure out the grade for my students for Section A on the quarter reports? I have an active wiggly little boy who does not want to sit still for his schoolwork. What do I do? Do I need to keep attendance records for my school district or for Seton?

Every Catholic homeschooler knows the marks of the church – One, holy, catholic and apostolic. We recite them in the Creed at Mass, and they remind us of the nature of our Church. In much the same way, Catholic homeschooling has marks and characteristics too.

Seton is clearly a rigorous academic program, designed to enable students to excel in college. But, for any number of good reasons, many Seton graduates do not continue their studies after high school. Truth to tell, a liberal arts college education really is not mandatory for success in life or salvation; students who choose to enter the work force or the trades after high school are not therefore second-class citizens!

How do I begin to figure out financing for college? Is a campus visit absolutely necessary? How do I determine if a college is right academically? ...