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adnilpress
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Is anyone else using the Didache series for high school? Have you used all four volumes?
http://www.theologicalforum.org/default.asp?ci=33
Do you use the Teacher Manual and Student Books? So far, we've nearly finished Book 1, and I do have the Teacher Manual, but have used it only on occasion. My 17 year old, 16 year old, and 15 year old have been using it - we were studying it together, but now with my limited time this year, they are now studying it independently.
I really want to begin Apologetics with them as well - what have others used to introduce Apologetics to your high school students?
Thanks!
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Linda
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adnilpress
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Oh, and I also meant to ask - if you only had time to do two of these books with an older student, which ones would you choose? We're finishing up 'Introduction to Catholicism', but may only have time for one more text with my 17 year old. Or, should we just focus on the Apologetics?
Boy, all these questions! You'd think after 12 years of this I'd actually know what I am doing!
Always more to learn.........
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Linda
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mwittlans
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I've used the first two books and love them. My 16-year old is working with the third book in a co-op this year. I don't use the teacher's manual or workbook.
For apologetics, I have a lot of real books instead of a textbook. My kids have a lot of Protestant friends in their shooting club and so they find themselves using those apologetics resources quite often in real life situations.
Even at 10th and 12th grade my girls still pull out the Friendly Defenders flash cards. For their school binders they like to slip in the Catholic Verse Finder (Bible Cheat Sheet) and Scott Hahn's Bible at a Glance (Faith Charts).
Short and easy is nice -- like the Beginning Apologetics series by Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham. They also like Patrick Madrid's pocket guides -- also easy to share with a friend who questions your faith.
Of course, the most important part of the apologetics puzzle is to discuss it in everyday conversation. We have some great dinner table discussions on this topic.
Blessings,
Maureen :)
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guitarnan
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We don't use the teacher's manuals either.
We loved the Church History book - if I were choosing just one other book in the series I would pick that one.
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Erin
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Hi Linda 
We have just started Didache, as per advice here I didn't bother buying the Teacher's Manual.
I purchased Intro to Catholicism and Understanding the Scriptures. The second was dd's choice. One book I do want her to do before she leaves home is the Morality one, even just to read and us discuss.
I'm reading Intro with ds14 and its providing lovely opportunities for discussion about the chapter and Faith in general. A precious time with him.
BTW- Not too sure where you purchased your copy, but try Better World, much cheaper than anywhere I could get it in Australia, $40+ cheaper. 
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mariB
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We did Understanding the Scriptures. Then we used a couple of the Father Laux books. Now we are using the Didache Morality book and I am reading it along with our 12th grader as I think it is important to go over Morality now that he is 18! I love the Morality book...it is very Catechism distilled. (Both Baltimore and Catechism of the Catholic Church.)
I would really love to purchase the Church History book!
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Tina P.
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Yes, we're using Didache. We only have the Morality and church history (dd has only just started this one) ones so far. We like them. I only assign one or two of those thought-provoking questions for them to write a short essay on and then we discuss another.
ETA: We did not buy the TM.
I'm using this St. Francis De Sales book for Apologetics. I read it aloud and when their eyes glaze over, I sort of translate what he meant into more modern language.  I might drag Friendly Defender cards back out as well, just to brush up.
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SallyT
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We also have not used the teachers' manuals. My daughter did Introduction to Catholicism in a co-op class, and is now working through Understanding the Scriptures on her own, answering the review questions at the end of each chapter (her choice of how to go about it, not necessarily mine). She has loved both books so far, and especially finds the scripture one exciting. In fact, she's consistently said that next to Latin, religion is her favorite subject, and it's largely due to the Didache books.
Sally
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Tina P.
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I think it's quite interesting how every one of us has used these at different times in our children's lives. I was on the MODG timeframe when I started this series and, as I had already introduced the faith through Fr. Laux's book, I went ahead and used the Didache Morality book. Now we're into the Church History book because we're moving through Ancient History. When we finish that, we'll work on the Understanding Scripture book.
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Bookswithtea
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What do you y'all think are the advantages of using these books instead of popular authors and works like Madrid, Kreeft, etc? I don't mean in terms of convenience, but in what the books and texts have to offer?
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SallyT
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We like to read individual authors on the side. At the middle-school level, we use Amy Welborn's Prove It books in combination with some other things (St. Joseph Church History, Where Did We Get the Bible, etc).
My high-school daughter likes the Didache series because she can just work through it -- she's very self-motivated and doesn't like to be "taught" unless it's absolutely necessary. And it's a lot of good information conveniently sandwiched between two covers: only one book to buy and keep up with and haul to campus with her two days a week (okay, you weren't looking for convenience reasons, but that is a reason for us!).
I also think the "non-popular" feel of the book makes her think she's doing something more serious. That's more a perception than an objective reality (like Kreeft isn't serious?), but it makes a difference to her. And the books are pretty scholarly and well done. She has found the scripture one really fascinating and talks about it often.
She supplements the Didache with saints' writings -- she's been very into Saint Faustina this year, for example. But the Didache provides a very thorough and coherent spine, which is why we use it.
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LisaR
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my ds uses this series in Catholic High School.
The Scripture book and the Church History are fantastic!!
We all especially enjoyed Church History (his soph year).
He does some individual authors on the side, but wow, those Didache books are PACKED!!
We learned that Scott Hahn was asked to help create a college level text series, but then almost all the way through, the publisher decided to go ahead and market it for High School!!!
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sunnyviewmom
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Wondering...do the Didache books give suggestions for additional/supplemental reading?
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Tina P.
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Didache gives supplemental reading *inside* the covers. They also have little blurbs from the CCC. And in some chapters, there are advanced concepts.
As regards extra reading, we use Kreeft and St. Francis De Sales among other authors for Confirmation Prep, which we do in tandem with Didache.
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Erin
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I'm really struggling with marking some of the questions  I've been toying with the idea of whether the Teacher's Manual would actually make it easier. Thoughts?
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Erin
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adnilpress
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Hi Erin - I have the Teacher Manual for the first book, and I do use it. As a Protestant convert, some of the questions I have no idea about, so I'm glad I have the teacher manual - I'll most likely order in the teacher manuals for the others as well, when we get to them.
I still wonder about the workbooks, though - has anyone seen them? Do you know what they are like, and if they add to the programme at all, or do they just double-up on what is already in the text?
Thankyou,
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Linda
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Erin
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Linda
Thanks that is interesting. Mmm
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sunnyviewmom
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Just want to say that I am very interested as well to hear any opinions on the teacher's manual and workbooks. I will soon be ordering Intro. to Catholicism to use for 9th grade next year. Thanks for bringing this up, Erin.
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guitarnan
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One other thing to consider...if your diocese has a list of approved textbooks for home study (ours does - they use the USCCB's Conformity Listing), that might affect your choice of which books to use, particularly before Confirmation. We are able to do religion studies at home (skipping CCD, except for Confirmation classes) because we use books on the USCCB list - Faith and Life for dd and the Didache series for ds.
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Carole N.
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I use the Didache series as well. I started with Understanding Scriptures, then moved into Church History. Senior Level is the book on morals.
I bought the teacher's manual to Understanding Scriptures and found that I had a difficult time understanding some of the answers. So I bought the workbook. It was much easier to use. I also have the teacher's edition and in fact, we generally discuss the chapter rather than do the questions and grading.
I did not purchase the first book simply because I have so many other activities. I hoped that my dc would know their faith well enough to not need an introduction (lol).
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Didache Series & Apologetics for Teens
