| “First, I am always giggling inside when I hear other moms fuss and complain about the time they have to spend "planning out" their lesson plans. I love the fact that all of that work is done for me, and all I have to do is turn the page. There is very little prep that needs to be done at the beginning of each week. This is the major plus for me!
Another part of the lesson plans that I have fallen in love with are the Character Cards. I have combined these cards with Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr., and I reward my daughter for filling up each Character Card. Putting each of the virtues and manners into practice at home, I notice a huge difference in how she acts in public, now that she is used to just acting that way. It is so beautiful!
For the days that I have lost momentum, have caught cabin-fever, or when my daughter can't seem to get her feet off the ground, the various spelling and math activities come in really handy. She has been sent on scavenger hunts (with lists that she has to read, although she claims that she can't read). She has been responsible for preparing our grocery shopping list, which she surprisingly did not fill with junk! And we have been able to include my 4 year old in some of the math card games and activities.
I have many friends who pride themselves on using such a wide variety of materials for their home schools, however, they are also the same ones who are burnt out by Spring of every year because they have to plan and coordinate all of those materials to coincide with each other. CHC has made that a non-issue for me, and I am able to use those valuable hours to spend with my children and family doing much more exciting things. I also appreciate how the lesson plans are for four days, giving me one day every week to apply towards catching up, field trips or extra curricular activities. We have not been behind more than a few days this entire year, and I think it is because of that 4-day flexibility.
I thank you, CHC, for making my first years of homeschooling absolutely pleasant and unforgettable. I am already looking forward to starting second grade!”
- Rebecca, GA |
“I have used your lesson plans from the very beginning and I am ALWAYS amazed by what I receive in those packets. It is just chock full of amazing ideas and helpful hints and the resources are timely and well thought out. Your system has helped me to be able to continue to homeschool on bedrest pregnant with my 7th child! Anything that could do that is worth much more than you charge for the lesson plans! LOL! There are friends of mine who after looking at my lesson plans have decided to buy it as an addition to everything that they are using, just because they like what they see. There is something to bowl me over every year, and things to come back and enjoy throughout the year. Thank you for the thought and love of family that is so evident in your lesson plans...you have blessed my family and made homeschooling a reality!”
- Jen, MI |
“I wish we had just started with a simple CATHOLIC program like Little Stories, and moved on from there. I'm shelving [other program] next year in favor of CHC's First Grade Lesson Plans and curriculum. Sometimes simpler is just better.”
- J.M. |
“Dear CHC friends, Your books arrived today and I am very relieved. I have 13 children (11 at home, school for 7, and 4 under 5), and have home-educated for over 17 years. When I began, there were no support groups,no on-line community, and the only texts we could easily find were Protestant. How I wish you were around then! Just reading your catalogue and website are inspiring to me. Thank you dear ladies.”
- Kathy, Tasmania, Australia |
“I spent several hours this weekend poring over the first grade CHC lesson plans. All I can say is WOW! I can't recommend them highly enough! The academic content is wonderful, but what I like best is that our Faith is incorporated into just about every subject every day, which is what our homeschool is all about!”
- Teresa |
“[During testing] my first grader demonstrated skills well into the third grade level for English and into the second grade for Math! This indeed is a testimony of the success of the CHC curriculum! I knew my son was doing well with the CHC reading program, but I did not realize how "advanced" he was, and moreover, I was elated to discover that he was doing better than his expected grade level in Math also. Clearly, the CHC reading and even the Math program served us well. I am very, very pleased with CHC and the support that I have received thus far. I would highly recommend CHC to anyone looking for an effective homeschooling program. Thank you for your help and prayers.”
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“I would like to thank you all at CHC for the fantastic work you are doing. I have been using the grade 1 curriculum this year with my son and he is doing so well, far-exceeding my expectations. The reading program especially is pure genius!!! My son is reading everything. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God continue to bless you and your good works.”
- Rosalia, Australia |
“I absolutely loved the Lesson Plans for 1st grade. I could not believe everything that was in those pages. My daughter and I had the best time using all the wonderful references that were included. You truly gave us a gentle plan to follow to introduce a young one to a lifetime of learning. She looked forward to her school each day knowing that something wonderful would be planned for that day. Thanks for all the extras in the lesson plans!”
- Angela, WI |
“I have loved the lesson plans. I use all the resources listed and it makes me so confident to know that I am covering everything that he needs. It is also handy when grandparents poke around to see what we are covering. It was exactly what I needed to help me get started. My son was having severe issues in school. His behavior was causing him to be sent home at least 3 times a week. (He is in grade 1). Since beginning the grade one program through CHC his behavior is incredible. The virtues he has been focusing on with the character cards as well as the deeply faith enriched curriculum has Jesus in his heart all the time. He talks about wanting to make Jesus happy almost every day. He often tells me about things he almost did and then had second thoughts because he wants to be good like Jesus asks us to be. This curriculum has changed his life and the life of our family as a whole.”
- Tracy |
“We were experiencing homeschool burnout last year and after praying over the summer switched to all of your materials for 1st, 3rd and 6th grade. It has been a joy and we are having a great school year. The lesson plans are so gentle and prayerful. I love how the materials work together and are so faith filled. Thank you for all your work to make God's work of homeschooling continue in this exciting time.”
- Ashley, Louisiana |
“We have been using your lesson plans for two years now - kindergarten and 1st grade. I have older children and dabbled in designing my own lesson plans and curriculum for a few years. I can tell you that your lesson plans take all the stress out of planning for me. Even if I don't have time to plan any extras, I can just open the planner on Monday and start right in with the day's assignments. If we do want to do something a little different, we just note it in the planner and everything gets recorded all together.
Some days my son whizzes ahead with his work and others he goes at the gentle pace set forth in the lesson plan. Always we benefit from the tips and inspiration included in each weekly plan. The planner also helps us keep our focus on our Catholic faith, with reminders and enrichment activities such as "church manners" and Marian, Christ and saint coloring pages. The guides are full of helpful information I refer back to throughout the year, especially when one of us hits the doldrums. The weekly activity suggestions are often helpful in adding variety to our schedule. We enjoy using the chore chart and character building cards. He will frequently pop out a memory gem weeks after he worked on memorizing it. He's not big on coloring pages but does enjoy the cut and paste activities.
I like that the planner and guide are loose, rather than bound in a book format, that way I can either put the pages in a big binder, or split them up into smaller, more portable sections. When we are on the road, the planner is easy to pack and keep us on track.
I particularly appreciate that the lesson plans are separated into core and non-core studies. If my son is struggling with a reading or math concept, I am perfectly comfortable in letting the social studies or handwriting, or other non-core subject slide in favor of spending a little extra time on the challenging core subject.
Thank you so much for taking the stress and anxiety out of lesson planning and prioritizing. School is actually fun!
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- Robyn, AZ |
“Calling these 'lesson plans' is a little misleading because they are so much more than that. Sure there is a day-to-day breakdown of all the materials suggested for 1st grade, but the plans don't stop there. The tips, suggestions, and enrichment activities reach into the very lifestyle of the homeschooling family. I feel such relief and confidence in just following the plan as-is since it provides solid academics and plenty of hands-on activities and fun that I know will keep her interest. In this season of homeschooling, as I prepare for our fourth year of official schooling and with four young children, I need all of the help I can get. I didn't know that my prayer would be answered so abundantly!”
- Jennie Lou |
“I really love the character building activities in the lesson plans. I'm really trying to work with my son on his character!
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- Christina, TX |
“This year I have used the Character Building curriculum with my two younger children (2nd and Kinder) and Growing in Virtues of Jesus with my two older children (6th and 8th grades). I love the specificity and concreteness of both programs, and my two younger children really like reward system built into their curriculum. I've overheard at least two of my kids explaining manners and virtues to neighborhood kids who clearly aren't learning values elsewhere. I've been homeschooling for over 10 years now and I've tried a lot of other Catholic and secular programs. The number one thing I love about your curriculum is the infusion of catholicity throughout...it connects with my children in a way others have not. Please keep up the good work! We love CHC and recommend you at every opportunity.”
- Colleen, TX |
| “Thank you for being here for us homeschoolers. I have always used CHC until this year (5th). I signed up for [Catholic packaged curriculum] with their counseling and turning in work. I paid a lot for it and it lasted a couple weeks before I got really frustrated and quit and lost all the money. I think [the program] is okay if your kids is at the learning level they think your child should be at (and you can sit daily without distractions to get the work done on time), but otherwise it is too much pressure to try to make my child the same as other children and pressure on my family to be on time with everything. I realized that that is why I homeschool, to adapt our year to our needs.
Thank you so so so much for selling your curriculum without having to turn in work, etc. I can take your curriculum and adapt it to our needs without pressure. You also allow families that could not afford [the Catholic packaged program] to be able to have guidance and to be able to homeschool... If it wasn't for CHC I believe I would have given up on homeschooling. God will reward you for your kindness in selling the curricula without making people enroll their children and turn in work...”
- Jennifer, NJ |
“Your lesson plans are so lovely and so inviting. Before the school year started, I really enjoyed sitting down and casually perusing them. There was so much to see and so much to read. It was obvious that a lot of thought went into creating these plans. I loved the 2 page spread, the goals for the week, the shaded "core" subjects, and the room to write down appointments, books read, and extra work, but my favorite part about the lesson plans was the way that all of the subjects were so nicely integrated. I am looking forward to using the 2nd grade plans for my oldest next year, and the pre-school plans with my second child.
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- Susan, MA |
“The most helpful CHC resource has been the lesson plans and all the ideas in there. I am NOT a creative person, so this planner really helps me to come up with ideas and activities that I would have never dreamed of. I also love the prayers and support in there. Oh yes, and the games and coloring pages.”
- Bridget, CA |
“I'd like to tell you how pleased our family has been with all your products and customer service. I have made several purchases during this school year and feel your products have helped us through our first year of homeschooling tremendously. I especially like your Lesson Planner for First Grade since it helps keep me on track and provides and incorporates a variety of inspirational ideas for projects throughout the curriculum. Thank you again and may God continue to bless you and family in all that you do. Keep up the good work! :)”
- Rosaria, FL |
“CHC's Character Building Cards have been a simple, fun, and rewarding way to focus each day on growing in virtue. This year we will be doing them for the third time and I am more excited than when we did them the first time.”
- Clarissa, MN |
“Thank you for your beautiful materials! I purchased a few of your books and started our school year. A few weeks into our schooling I felt that I needed more direction, so I decided to purchase A Year with God and a 1st grade lesson plan. WOW, what a difference. I realized I was spending a good deal of my time planning when your curriculum is just what I needed. Next year I will be purchasing a lesson plan for all 3 of my children instead of spending all of my time planning.”
- Chris |
“We are just finishing our 5th year of homeschooling and have been looking to make some changes. I wanted more flexibility in our daily lessons, and really desiring having more FUN in our day-to-day work. I have been purchasing some things from you over the past two years, but decided to look at your offerings more seriously. After receiving your kindergarten and first grade lesson plans, I must say I am thrilled. I like how seamlessly our Faith is woven into school and work. I cannot wait to order our materials for next fall!”
- E |
“I am nervous about my first year of homeschooling, but after looking over the lesson plans, I think everything is going to be fine. The materials are just beautiful.”
- Deborah |
“I would like to thank you for your wonderful materials. My daughter is almost finished with the 1st Grade materials and they have been a pleasure to use. The whole curriculum has been very manageable and flexible. I'm very glad to be able to use the lesson plans as my record of her studies. I write the date in the box when a lesson is completed/mastered. It also allows me to keep track of attendence at the homeschool co-op, Tae Kwon Do lessons, and books read. It makes a perfect record when completed.”
- Melissa, MN |
“I can only say that your curriculum is permeated with Catholicism. Just as we are not Catholic only on Sundays, your curriculum is not Catholic only during the Religion lesson. I LOVE that!!! She reads about Catholic "things" in Little Stories for Little Folks and it's not something out of the ordinary, it's just life as a Catholic.”
- Melissa, CT |
