Our family has been enjoying Learning Wrap-Ups in a variety of subjects to drill and practice basic concepts. Each set consists of ten key-shaped plastic flash cards attached at a pivot-point with a string to wrap back and forth from question to answer. After finishing each key, simply look at the back to be sure the string matches up with the self-correcting answer key. I love how my children can study independently with these sets AND they can be used over and over again. They are sturdier and more self-contained than ordinary flash-cards (and don't get lost under the couches!). Learning Wrap-Ups may be purchased one set at a time or in money-saving multi-set kits.

The Spanish Introductory Kit includes four flashcard sets:

Learning Words: Each of these cards involves matching pictures to Spanish words. Subjects covered are: parts of the body, school words, clothing, food, animals, family members, household objects, outdoors and transportation.

Talking Basics: Match numerals, symbols and pictures to Spanish words. Some are in the format of simple fill-in-the-blank sentences. Subjects covered: counting, months of the year, action words, miscellaneous objects, more parts of the body, opposites, directional words, holidays and week days, and telling time.

Making Statements: This set uses simple fill-in-the-blank sentences to practice vocabulary in the following subject areas: fruit, things you can read about (also practices plural endings), miscellaneous objects (while practicing using "an" before vowel words and using "a" before consonant words"), things we wear, objects in a living room, more action words, money and stating a need.

Asking Questions: Topics include: Observing zoo animals, tools and equipment, occupations, places, science class materials, vegetables, miscellaneous nouns, bathroom items, kitchen items, and shopping.

The pocket-sized 31 page booklet provides the English translations for each of the Learning Wrap-Ups (the Wrap-Ups themselves do not use any English). We've found this to be a great place to start studying (particularly when I'm doing things with my children in a group). My children line up and enjoy acting out the Spanish words while they're learning them. The booklet is really handy for oral quizzing as well. The children go back to the Learning Wrap-Ups for independent study. The set also includes two audio tapes. (We haven't really used these yet as we tend to do our oral work together. I'm sure it will be handy for further independent study at some point.)

Leonardo da Vinci has long been considered the paradigm "Renaissance Man". Through this book, he offers children a great example of enthusiastic love of life and learning. Readers will come away with a greater perspective on and respect for many important ideas: the importance and joy of learning, early advancements in science, general concepts of art and how to appreciate it, basic scientific concepts, ideas for using the imagination and memory, concepts in math relating to science, Renaissance life and much more.

I was impressed with the care the author took in relating so many interesting ideas in an accessible and engaging manner. I found difficult concepts handled graciously and respectfully - particularly for the intended age level. For example, the reader will learn that da Vinci's parents were never married and that this had consequences on his career choices. We learn that da Vinci dissected dead bodies at the morgue for the sake of artistic and scientific learning. At one point the Pope prohibits him from continuing this mode of study. Instead of being judgemental about these sorts of issues or dwelling on them inappropriately, they are explained in clear, simple terms as relevant parts of the story, but without any extra nonsense.

This would make an excellent "spine" text for a study of the Renaissance. In addition to the text and side bars, there are 21 activities relating in various ways to da Vinci's life. They span a wide range: baking, drawing, math, science, painting, observing, language and more. The book is best for independent reading in 6th grade and up. It could be read-aloud to younger children. Most of the activities are suitable for any school-age children.

Enthusiastically recommended!

Can a practical, hard-working tool designed for everyday use also be inspiring and elegant? The CHC Lesson Planner is just such a tool. Developed to be used with the CHC Middle School Lesson Plan Guide, it is completely useful at any grade level and with any curriculum. This inexpensive plan book is consumable and designed for all subjects for one student for one academic year. This unusual feature supports the CHC philosophy that a student should gradually grow into independent study; having their own planner helps the student to take pride in their growing ability to work productively and independently. The Planner is specifically for a Catholic teacher and student, with reminders of Feast Days in the planning reminders and other Catholic references throughout.

Clear, uncluttered pages are printed using an easy-on-the-eye brown ink. They are spiral bound in a lay-flat presentation with a "jelly-proof"cover. The inside covers concisely lay out the CHC curriculum suggestions for grades 5-8. The Planner is designed for four nine-week quarters and begins with a "Welcome" section that provides help and advice for the start of a new school year. Warm and encouraging, there are specific suggestions for the entire family as well as the middle school-aged student. Each quarter's section begins with a well-organized planning guide, an independent study chart (described in the Middle School Lesson Plan Guide in detail, but a completed sample is provided), and a motivating reflection for the homeschool teacher to ponder throughout the quarter. Each school week is laid out on a two-page spread with a grid for 8 subjects or goals over 5 days. A sample of a completed week is provided. Each week's spread also includes a section for notes and, my favorite, a motivational reflection that is either a helpful hint, useful advice, or a Biblical quotation. This book helps to make planning an enjoyable task as well as a concise documentation of the student's work for the entire school year.

In this small bok, author George Weigel takes us on a journey around the Catholic world, both literally and figuratively. Weigel had the idea to present each different aspect he wanted to discuss with young adult Catholics (and any adult interested in learning a little more about the Faith) by taking his book reading companions on a journey to several noted Catholic destinations, such as Chartres Cathedral in France, the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and various destinations in Poland and America. At each location, Weigel stops to discuss some aspect of Catholic Christianity with his reader.

Weigel begins by telling the reader a little bit about his own upbringing as a Catholic boy in Baltimore. He spends a chapter talking about an energetic parish in South Carolina, and why the pastor, a convert, has succeeded in making the parish dynamically orthodox. Weigel spends time in England with G.K. Chesterton, another convert, and uses a number of Chestertonian quotes to talk about the faith. Flannery O'Connor, too, emerges as one of Weigel's favorite authors, and her quotes are funny, pithy, and speak to the heart.

The author's discussion of redemptive suffering, Theology of the Body, the use of icons and much, much more, make this a book I recommend to all young, and not-so-young Catholics.

You can read a chapter from the book at the Catholic Educator's Resource Center.