Laura offers a series of pre-recorded parent classes on the different stages of formation. These classes provide an excellent overview of the MODG methodology and can be a great way to begin planning for the new school year. Laura's curriculum classes provide valuable information about methodology and course content at each grade level. These classes are free for enrolled families.

In my last article I talked about various techniques that can help to motivate our home schooling children to learn. Eventually, of course, our students should be motivated by knowledge itself, or by the end to which knowledge is ordered, God Himself, but often as he moves to that goal, there are intermediate steps. I mentioned some of the techniques involving material rewards, like stickers, and some involving immaterial reward, like praise. The effectiveness of this last motivation depends on something else, however.

Laura Berquist & Margaret Hayden will be speaking at Christ the King Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, MI on March 17th. Early registration: $15.00 Late registration (after March 3rd): $20.00. Register here. Contact Denise (248-345-9086) with questions. 

Motivation is a very important consideration in teaching, whether one is teaching in a home school setting, or in any other  setting. A teacher can only teach. The student has to do the learning. If the student is not motivated to learn, the best teacher in the world can’t teach him.

I home schooled my own children for many years. As a home schooling mother, I have been concerned about motivation for all of those years. In 1995 I started Mother of Divine Grace School, which now has over 4600 students enrolled. I have, of course, had even more opportunities to think about motivation since then.

Donald Daniels (MODG dad) mentors St Monica's Rocketry club, a NASA Student Launch team that includes 2 MODG students (in a team of 11 homeschool members). They have been asked by NASA to participate in the NASA Student Launch in April 2018. In preparation for this they will be doing a Critical Design Review live with NASA on January 29th. They took 12th place at the Team America Rocketry Challenge in May (the first team in Connecticut to do so!).

On January 10th, Laura Berquist will be leading a one-hour class on the Primary Stage of Formation, exploring different family situations and how best to apply MODG methodology. Enrolled families can sign up through the family site (Seasonal Workshops - Stages of Formation). Non-enrolled families please contact our office.

MODG's Office will be closed from Christmas, December 25th through New Years Day, January 1st. May you have a blessed and merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

We are pleased to announce our new Kindergarten Art Book is now available for purchase in our bookstore. This 61 page text contains beautiful images, discussion questions, and many activities and games to achieve the formation goals of close observation and memorization. The paintings are carefully chosen to appeal to children.