Would you like this course added to your child's academic packet? Send your request through Mavenlink. Be sure to mention the student, course number, and the quarter you wish to start the course.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The Beginner’s Bible is used to introduce the Bible stories and listening skills, and to introduce a book that the child will be reading himself in the next year or two to excite him about learning to read. Read aloud casually, front to back, discussing the stories with your little ones, two to three times a week. A pacing is included in your course plans.
The New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism is used to teach the prayers and premises of the Faith gently, but formally, and to introduce this reference and resource into the home to use for Sacramental preparation. This year teach the following prayer memorization: The Sign of the Cross, The Hail Mary, The Prayer to the Guardian Angel, The Blessing Before Meals, The Lord’s Prayer, The Glory Be, The Morning Offering, and The Night Prayer. Pace the memorization according to your student’s ability, but consider learning one prayer a month. To teach proper behavior at Mass, early in the year read "The Holy Mass", pp. 53-59, together, then read it again together late in the year.
528 pages; 95 stories; index. It is worth ordering the out-of-print "Beginner's Bible" by Karyn Henley. The publisher has reissued the book under the same title, but with new artwork and a different author rewriting the content. The new version will serve, but the Henley version is preferred by most. Our course plans refer to the Henley version. Rainbow Resource carries only the new
So many pre-readers and slow readers are found under their blankets with this colorful book and a flashlight, laboring through the words, teaching themselves to read—this book is a must to introduce to the young child as soon as possible. Yes, there are other early reader Bibles, but this is the one the child learns to use and read and enjoy the quickest, easiest, and most enthusiastically!
This year read this aloud casually, front to back, discussing the stories with your little ones, two to three times a week. (In 2nd grade, the child will read this text to you as part of a religion/reading/history/study skills unit.)
The New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism is used to teach the prayers and premises of the Faith gently, but formally, and to introduce this reference and resource into the home to use for Sacramental preparation.
This year teach the following prayer memorization: The Sign of the Cross, The Hail Mary, The Prayer to the Guardian Angel, The Blessing Before Meals, The Lord’s Prayer, The Glory Be, The Morning Offering, and The Night Prayer. Pace the memorization according to your student’s ability, but consider learning one prayer a month.
Read the prayer to the child twice through, twice a day, for a week. Talk about the meaning of the words and the prayer. The next week have him begin repeating the prayer each of the two times you read it to him; the next week have him continue echoing you each of the two times you read it to him per day. Then work on his independent oral presentation of the prayer. Move slower or faster as your child needs.
To teach proper behavior at Mass, early in the year read "The Holy Mass", pp. 53-59, together, then read it again together late in the year.
For quarterly reporting, divide the Quarterly Report Form “Religion” box in half and report the number of prayers memorized and/or page numbers covered.
LESSON PLANNER
WEEK A
Preparatory Week A: Use this school week to gather the materials for this course and thoroughly read the book notes, course notes, and, if applicable, the weekly lesson plan in your St. Thomas Aquinas Academy curriculum guide.
WEEK B
Preparatory Week B: Use this school week to complete Preparatory Week A and explore the materials for this course. Flip through all of this course’s materials. Make mental notes about the design and organization the resources for the course (editor’s notes, table of contents, maps, charts, forms, appendices, glossaries, bibliographies, end notes, internet supports, etc.).
WEEK 1
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: The Beginning; The Special Helper
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, "The Holy Mass" and "Holydays of Obligation" (pp. 53-61).
[ ] Memorization Work: The Sign of the Cross and The Lord’s Prayer
WEEK 2
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: A Sad Day
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 1: God Made Us.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Sign of the Cross and The Lord’s Prayer
WEEK 3
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: The First Rainbow; A Tall Tower.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 2: God is Great.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Sign of the Cross and The Lord’s Prayer
WEEK 4
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: A New Land; The Promise; A Wife for Isaac; The Blessing; Jacob’s Dream.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Sign of the Cross and The Lord’s Prayer
WEEK 5
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: A Big Family; The Dreamer.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 3: The Blessed Trinity.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Hail Mary
WEEK 6
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: A Secret Message; A Surprise Visit.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 4: The First Sins.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Hail Mary
WEEK 7
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 5: Our Own Sins.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Hail Mary
WEEK 8
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: A Basket Boat; The Burning Bush.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Hail Mary
WEEK 9
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Hard Times for Egypt; The Sea Rolls Back.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 6: The Son of God Becomes Man.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Glory Be
WEEK 10
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Manna, Quail, and Water; God’s Rules.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 7: Jesus Opens Heaven for us.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Glory Be
WEEK 11
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Twelve Spies; A Talking Donkey; A Wall Falls Down; Trumpets and Torches; Long and Strong.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 8: Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Glory Be
WEEK 12
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Ruth; A Special Prayer; A Voice at Night; The First King; A Good Heart; The Giant.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Glory Be
WEEK 13
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Best Friends; King David; Solomon; Food from Birds.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 9: Sacrament of Penance.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Prayer to the Guardian Angel
WEEK 14
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: A Jar and a Jug; The True God; The Chariot of Fire; Jars of Oil.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 10: How to Make a Good Confession.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Prayer to the Guardian Angel
WEEK 15
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: A Room on the Roof; Naaman; A Boy King ; Food for Daniel.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 11: The Holy Eucharist.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Prayer to the Guardian Angel
WEEK 16
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: In the Fire; Spending the Night with Lions; Inside a Fish; The Angel’s Secret.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, .
[ ] Memorization Work: The Prayer to the Guardian Angel
WEEK C
Preparatory Week C: This is a bonus week. Use it for Semester 1 catch-up, corrections, review, assessment testing, standardized testing, or semester reporting (Semester 1 reporting packets are due February 28th). Welcome/assessment packets for the upcoming school year may be ordered as early January 10th. Families are strongly encouraged to complete and return assessment tests by April
WEEK D
Preparatory Week D: This is a second bonus week. Complete Preparatory Week C or begin the Semester 2 course plan.
WEEK 17
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, "The Holy Mass" and "Holydays of Obligation" (pp. 53-61).
[ ] Memorization Work: The Morning Offering
WEEK 18
[ ]The Beginner’s Bible: The Most Special Baby; Good News; Blessing for the Baby. Visitors from the East.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 1: God Made Us.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Morning Offering
WEEK 19
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Running Away; The Man Who Could Not Talk.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 2: God is Great.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Morning Offering
WEEK 20
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Lost!; In the Jordan River; Helpers and Friends.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Morning Offering
WEEK 21
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible (Read as many of these chapters as you can this week; it may not be possible to read them all): A Wedding Party; Through the Roof; On a Mountain; A Sick Servant; The Farmer’s Seeds; A Tiny Seed and a Big Tree; The Net; The Treasure and the Pearl.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 3: The Blessed Trinity.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Blessing before Meals
WEEK 22
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible (Read as many of these chapters as you can this week; it may not be possible to read them all): Wind and Waves; One Touch; A Big Picnic; Walking on Water; Open Eyes; Money in a Fish; A Good Neighbor.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 4: The First Sins.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Blessing before Meals
WEEK 23
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible (Read as many of these chapters as you can this week; it may not be possible to read them all): Listening; The Woman Who Could Not Stand Up; The Lost Sheep; The Lost Coin; The Lost Son; The Man Who Remembered.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 5: Our Own Sins.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Blessing before Meals
WEEK 24
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: The Children; The Blind Beggar; A Small Man; Two Small Coins; The Man at the Pool.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Blessing before Meals
WEEK 25
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Mary’s Gifts; Make Way for the King; Washing Feet.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 6: The Son of God Becomes Man.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Night Prayer
WEEK 26
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: The Last Supper.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 7: Jesus Opens Heaven for us.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Night Prayer
WEEK 27
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Sadness.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 8: Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
[ ] Memorization Work: The Night Prayer
WEEK 28
[ ] Memorization Work: The Night Prayer
WEEK 29
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 9: Sacrament of Penance.
[ ] Memorization Work: Review all the prayers learned this year.
WEEK 30
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Surprise; Fish for Breakfast.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 10: How to Make a Good Confession.
[ ] Memorization Work: Review all the prayers learned this year.
WEEK 31
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Jesus Goes Home.
[ ] New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism, Lesson 11: The Holy Eucharist.
[ ] Memorization Work: Review all the prayers learned this year.
WEEK 32
[ ] The Beginner’s Bible: Wind and Fire; Peter and John and the Beggar; A Bright Light; Paul and Silas in Jail; The Door into Heaven.
[ ] Memorization Work: Review all the prayers learned this year.
ATTACHMENTS AND COMMENTS
What questions can we answer for you?
We would love to hear from you! Please reach out with your questions by phone or email, schedule a courtesy telephone consultation with an advisor, or submit an enrollment application if you are ready to start planning for the upcoming school year.
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We have all enjoyed the way STAA ties the courses together for the whole family.
Alyse M.
California
Thanks for all you do on your end to help make our homeschooling academically, intellectually, spiritually, and morally enriching!!
Denise
Michigan
My advisor helps me to understand what needs to be done and how to make it really fun for the kids. What I really like are the tips she gives me for dealing with the little ones while trying to school the older ones.
Amber
Texas
This is our first year homeschooling. STAA and [our advisor] have made this a very easy transition. We have had a great year!
Gwen H.
Kansas
I really don't know what I would do without your kindness, and very helpful advice. You are a blessing to our family.
Pat
Idaho
The assessment testing was quick and easy to do, so I didn't expect much valuable feedback. Boy was I wrong!!! It was like my advisor had met my kids and spent hours/days with them.
Mary Ellen
Maryland
We have been so very happy with our first year with STAA! Thank you for walking me through it and for all the fantastic resources and materials we are using. There is not one we don't like!
Elizabeth
California
Our family so enjoyed our wonderful relationship with STAA as our [son] worked his way through high school. It was a wonderful and outstanding experience for him and we continue to suggest your program to all those who are looking for an excellent homeschool experience.
Debra S.
Colorado
Since I am writing, I will also sing more praises of the Greek Studies plan. [My daughter] moaned over the timed-essay and then did very well. So easy to implement with the choose one reflection topic from each subject and then get ready, get set, go! Apparently the school also gave suggestions for the process essay in "Format Writing." Thank you! For a mom of many this is real time saver.
Alisa from Indiana
mother of 9th grade daughter and several STAA graduates
The academy works as a team to accomplish for your family specific ideas or needs for education, but more importantly, what each individual in your family needs, even Mom.
Anne
Illinois
God bless you for the job you are doing -- the peace you have helped us find as a family is priceless!
Cerita
Texas
We can’t imagine going without these wonderful, enhanced lesson plans! Thank you!
On the STAA Study Guides
Anonymous
I especially appreciate the advice and wise counsel I receive from the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy staff during our phone appointments and their understanding of my children's needs.
Stephen T.
Illinois
It is a thrill to receive the delightfully arranged weekly guidelines from STAA that keep us on track but allow for flexibility.
Dee Dee C.
Florida
I can honestly say that our children have blossomed into well rounded individuals because of your program.