Virtues

CHC Lesson Plan Guide: Middle School Years

Book cover: 'CHC Lesson Plan Guide: Middle School Years'

I have just finished planning the school year for my 5th and 8th graders using the new CHC Lesson Plan Guide for the Middle School Years, and I have never had such a productive and enjoyable time of it! Normally, I like to plan, but there never seemed to be enough time or information in one place to do it effectively or efficiently. I prefer a customized curriculum for each of my students, emphasizing their particular interests while shoring up their weaker subjects. With six students alongside little ones, planning the school year's curriculum is a very time-consuming process.

The Children's Book of Virtues

Book cover: The Children's Book of Virtues
Author(s): 
William Bennett
Illustrator(s): 
Michael Hague

This lavishly illustrated story-book was inspired by (and includes stories from) the best-selling story collection The Book of Virtues. This has been a favorite book in our family since my oldest was just two. The stories include: The Little Hero of Holland, the Tortoise and the Hare, The King and His Hawk (a cautionary tale about anger involving Genghis Kahn – my daughter liked this story so much that she had it almost memorized at the age of 2 1/2), St. George and the Dragon, St.

Garden of Virtues

Book cover: Garden of Virtues: Planting Seeds of Goodness
Author(s): 
Christina Keffler
Illustrator(s): 
Rebecca Donnelli
Suzanne Etman

This is a friendly and lovely little book on practicing the virtues in the midst of family life. Although it is clear that at least one of the authors is Catholic, the book is written on a very practical level and in such a way that it would be appealing to any family attempting to live a peaceful and virtuous life (particularly in the midst of raising children).

My Path to Heaven

Book cover: My Path to Heaven
Author(s): 
Geoffrey Bliss, S.J.
Illustrator(s): 
Caryll Houselander

This is one of the nicest educational materials I've come across (and I think that's saying a lot). What this book amounts to is a simplified form of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, designed to be understood by children. This is cleverly done with a very detailed picture for each of the twelve chapters. The child studies the details of the pictures and then the parent or the child reads the text (two or three pages) which explains the details of the pictures. The child is then invited to look at the picture again.

The Children's Book of Heroes

Book cover: The Children's Book of Heroes
Author(s): 
William Bennett
Illustrator(s): 
Michael Hague

I like this volume even better than The Children's Book of Virtues. (We checked it out from the library three different times before I finally bought it!) Heroes includes stories of Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Helen Keller, David and Goliath, Father Flanagan and Jackie Robinson. The book is filled with illustrations and stories are generally three to five pages, with a few poems included as well. The biographies are our family's favorites, but there are many other stories including myths and fairy tales which teach some of the same values.