The Stay-at-Homeschooling Mom Podcast

Have you ever wondered how you’ll teach subjects you don’t fully understand—especially as your children reach high school? You’re not alone, and you’re not expected to know everything. In this episode, Ginny and the team walk you through practical, realistic ways to handle “tough subjects” with confidence and peace.----------------------------------------Show Notes:At some point, every homeschooling parent faces this question: What happens when I can’t teach the material? The good news is—you don’t have to panic. This episode will help you take a calm, step-by-step approach, using the many resources available today to support both you and your child.1. TAKE IT ONE YEAR AT A TIMEIt’s easy to worry about subjects your child hasn’t even reached yet.- Focus on the year in front of you- Trust that solutions will be available when needed(This is key: today’s challenges are enough—don’t borrow tomorrow’s.)2. START WITH TRUSTED SOURCESBefore looking elsewhere, check the curriculum you already use.- Many programs include detailed instructions and support- Publishers often provide videos, guides, and lesson plans- Don’t hesitate to call a counselor(You already trust these sources—let them help you.)3. BE WARY OF SOCIAL MEDIAWhen you feel stuck, it’s tempting to ask online—but this can overwhelm you.- Too many conflicting opinions- Advice from people you don’t know or trust- Can lead to confusion instead of clarity(Hint: ask one trusted, experienced homeschool mom instead.)4. USE FREE ONLINE TOOLS WISELYYou don’t need to be an expert to introduce a subject well.- Geography videos bring the world to life- Science visuals make concepts engaging- Music, art, and even drawing can be learned online(These resources are often free—and surprisingly effective.)5. EXPLORE STRUCTURED SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOLAs subjects become more advanced, it’s okay to bring in help.- Affordable or free online courses- Use them alongside your main curriculum or independently- Great for math, science, and foreign languages(This is key: you are still guiding the education—even when others help teach it.)6. CONSIDER COMMUNITY OPTIONSYou don’t have to do this alone.- Homeschool co-ops with skilled parents- “Pod” learning groups with shared teaching- Parents pooling resources for tutors- Look for strengths in your community- Be thoughtful about content and alignment(Working together can lighten the load for everyone.)7. LOOK AHEAD TO DUAL ENROLLMENTOlder students may be ready for college-level work.- Take classes that count for both high school and college- Available locally or online- Can build confidence and momentum(Finally, always check with your homeschool program before enrolling to ensure credits are accepted.)Final EncouragementYou don’t need to have all the answers to be a good homeschooling parent. Your role is not to know everything—but to guide, support, and seek out what your child needs. With today’s resources and a steady, faithful approach, you truly can do this.Homeschooling Resources:Seton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Do you ever feel like you need better tools to become a more effective homeschool teacher? You’re not alone—and the good news is, small shifts can make a big difference. In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen share practical teaching skills that bring more peace, clarity, and confidence to your homeschool day.Show Notes:Homeschooling isn’t just about curriculum—it’s about developing the habits and skills that make learning flourish in your home. If your days have felt rushed, frustrating, or scattered, this episode offers simple, powerful adjustments that can transform your teaching and your child’s experience.1. LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALKInstead of explaining everything, invite your child to narrate.* “Tell me what you remember.”* “What stood out to you?”* “Why do you think that happened?”This is key: narration builds understanding far better than constant instruction.2. ASK BETTER QUESTIONSMove beyond yes-or-no questions.* “What confused you?”* “What surprised you?”* “What would you have done?”Open-ended questions develop thinking—not just recall.3. MASTER YOUR OWN CALMYour emotional tone shapes the entire learning environment.* Step away if needed* Take a breath, say a prayer* Return with calm clarityCalm is a superpower—and it keeps learning alive.4. SIMPLIFY YOUR APPROACHMore curriculum does not mean better education.* Focus on core subjects* Cut what isn’t working* Leave room for reading and discussionHint: teach what you can do well, not what looks impressive.5. OBSERVE YOUR CHILD CLOSELYPay attention to how your child learns.* When does attention fade?* When do they light up?* When does resistance signal confusion?This is key: observation helps you teach the child, not just the subject.6. MODEL CURIOSITYYou don’t need to have all the answers.* “Let’s look that up.”* “That’s a great question.”* “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”Learning alongside your child teaches them how to think.7. CREATE A DAILY RHYTHMStructure brings peace and predictability.* Morning read-aloud* Quiet work time* Afternoon movement* Weekly nature walksChildren thrive when they know what to expect.8. ALLOW PRODUCTIVE STRUGGLEDon’t rush in to solve every problem.* “What have you tried?”* “What could you try next?”Finally, perseverance may matter more than perfect answers.9. PROTECT WONDEREspecially in younger years, cultivate a sense of beauty and awe.* Read rich, meaningful books* Spend time outdoors* Explore art and creationWisdom begins with wonder.10. KEEP LEARNING YOURSELFA growing parent creates a growing homeschool.* Read, think, and stay engaged* You don’t need expertise—just presenceYour example sets the tone for your entire home.A Final EncouragementYou don’t need to overhaul everything to become a more effective homeschool teacher. Small, intentional changes—listening more, simplifying, staying calm—can transform your days. God has placed you in this role with purpose, and with His grace, you are more capable than you think.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

What do you do when your child simply hates a subject—and nothing seems to help? You’re not alone, and this struggle is more common than you might think. In this episode, Mary Ellen and Ginny are here with practical, faith-filled strategies to help you guide your child through resistance while building responsibility, cheerfulness, and perseverance.Show Notes:Every homeschooling parent eventually faces this moment: your child resists a subject with everything they have. It can be frustrating and discouraging—but it’s also an opportunity to teach something deeper than academics. In this episode, you’ll learn how to address the struggle with wisdom, creativity, and calm confidence.1. BUILD CHEERFUL HABITS EARLYBefore tackling resistance, lay the foundation.* Teach children to do difficult things cheerfully* Model this in your own daily tasks* Encourage gratitude and responsibilityThis is key: attitude is learned long before resistance appears.2. KEEP A CONSISTENT SCHEDULEChildren thrive when they know what to expect.* Start school at a consistent time* Use a predictable routine* Tackle difficult subjects firstHint: “Get it done early” reduces stress for everyone.3. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS WITHOUT DRAMA*When a child resists, avoid power struggles.* Calmly remove screens or distractions* Don’t argue or negotiate endlessly* Return privileges when cooperation improvesFirm, quiet action is more effective than raised voices.4. LOOK FOR THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMSometimes resistance signals a real difficulty.* Delayed skills (like handwriting coordination)* Frustration from struggling to succeed* Learning differences or developmental timing* Try simple adaptations:  * Whiteboards or chalk instead of paper  * Alternate ways to complete work  * Break tasks into smaller stepsThis is key: not all resistance is disobedience—some is struggle.5. USE MOVEMENT AND BREAKSA restless child is often a resistant child.* Schedule regular outdoor recess* Encourage physical activity between subjects* Avoid long periods of sittingMovement can reset both mood and focus.6. SPARK INTEREST THROUGH REAL LIFEBring subjects to life whenever possible.* Visit museums, zoos, libraries, or nature trails* Connect lessons to real-world experiences* Use local resources—even in small communitiesWhen curiosity is awakened, resistance often fades.7. CONNECT LEARNING TO THEIR INTERESTSMeet your child where they are.* Choose books about topics they love* Use media (wisely) to enrich lessons* Incorporate hands-on learning* Examples:  * Gardening for science  * Cooking for nutrition  * Drawing star maps for astronomyFinally: interest opens the door to effort.A Final EncouragementNot every subject will be loved—but every challenge can be fruitful. With patience, creativity, and a steady example, you can help your child grow not just in knowledge, but in character. These moments are shaping habits that will last a lifetime—and you are exactly the guide your child needs.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Thinking about pulling your child out of school and starting homeschooling—but unsure where to begin? It can feel overwhelming, especially if you're making the switch midstream. In this episode, Mary Ellen and Ginny walk you through a calm, practical, and thoughtful approach to making your transition with confidence.Show Notes:Deciding to leave a traditional school setting is a big step—but it doesn't have to be chaotic or stressful. With the right approach, you can smoothly and confidently transition your family into homeschooling. This episode gives you clear, grounded guidance to help you begin well and avoid common pitfalls.1. START WITH THE LAWBefore anything else, understand your legal requirements.* Check your state laws through trusted sources* Follow what is required—no more, no less* Consider support organizations if neededThis is key: clarity here removes unnecessary stress later.2. LEAVE GRACIOUSLYEven if your experience has been frustrating, don't burn bridges.* Keep your explanation simple and positive* Avoid criticizing the school or staff* Preserve relationships when possibleA peaceful exit keeps doors open and relationships intact.3. STAY CONNECTED TO COMMUNITYHomeschooling doesn't mean isolation.* Maintain friendships with school families* Host simple get-togethers* Stay active in parish or local lifeHint: strong relationships support both you and your children.4. KEEP KIDS ENGAGED OUTSIDE THE HOMEYour children still need healthy social outlets.* Sports, dance, theatre, or clubs* Community-based activities* Opportunities to build friendshipsBusy, engaged kids are happier—and often more cooperative.5. FIND YOUR HOMESCHOOL COMMUNITYYou are not meant to do this alone.* Connect with local homeschool families* Check libraries, churches, and local groups* Use school networks if availableThis is key: the right community brings encouragement and practical help.6. DON'T OVERCOMMIT YOUR FIRST YEARIt's tempting to say yes to everything—but resist.* Limit co-ops and outside activities initially* Focus on establishing your homeschool rhythm* Add more later as you gain confidenceFinally, less is often more in your first year.7. CHOOSE CURRICULUM WISELYStart simple and avoid overwhelm.* Don't rely on endless social media opinions* Consider a structured home study program* Adjust over time as you learn what worksYou don't have to get it perfect—you have to get started.Final EncouragementStarting homeschooling may feel like a leap—but it's one you can take with peace and purpose. You don't need to have everything figured out on day one. With patience, thoughtful decisions, and trust in God's guidance, you can build a strong and joyful learning environment for your family.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

With so many curriculum options available, how do you decide what’s best for your homeschool—especially when it comes to Catholic vs. non-Catholic materials? It can quickly become overwhelming. In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen offer clear, practical guidance to help you choose wisely and confidently for your family.Show Notes:Choosing curriculum is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a homeschooling parent. With countless opinions online, it’s easy to feel pulled in every direction. This episode brings clarity and peace to that decision by helping you understand where Catholic materials matter most—and where flexibility is okay.1. PROTECT WHAT MATTERS MOSTSome subjects require absolute clarity and consistency.* Religion is non-negotiable—use Catholic materials* Ensure accurate teaching of Scripture and Tradition* Preserve devotion to Our Lord and Our Blessed MotherThis is key: your child’s faith formation must be clear and uncompromised.2. BE DISCERNING WITH HISTORYHistory shapes how your child sees the world—and the Church.* Secular or Protestant texts may distort Church history* Catholic contributions are often minimized or omitted* Anti-Catholic bias can be subtle but influentialChoose materials that present truth with fairness and depth.3. RECOGNIZE THE CATHOLIC ROOTS OF SCIENCEA Catholic worldview enriches scientific understanding.- Many foundational scientists were Catholic:  * Gregor Mendel (genetics)  * Louis Pasteur (bacteriology)  * Nicolaus Copernicus (astronomy)  * Georges Lemaître (Big Bang theory)This is key: your child should see faith and reason working together.4. SUPPLEMENT WHEN NEEDEDNot all good materials are Catholic—but gaps must be filled.* Literature programs may lack Catholic voices* Add saint stories or Catholic works as needed* Be intentional about what is missingHint: supplementation can preserve both quality and identity.5. KNOW WHERE FLEXIBILITY IS FINESome subjects are less dependent on worldview.* Phonics, spelling, and vocabulary* Studio art and skill-based subjects* Math approaches (choose what works best)Use what helps your child learn effectively.6. DON’T GET LOST IN ONLINE OPINIONSCurriculum debates can quickly overwhelm.* Social media offers too many conflicting suggestions* What works for one child may not work for another* Focus on your child’s needs, not trendsThis is key: clarity comes from discernment, not noise.7. SUPPORT CATHOLIC PUBLISHERS WHEN YOU CANYour choices shape the future of Catholic education.* Catholic publishers serve a smaller audience* Your support helps them grow and improve* Strong Catholic materials benefit all familiesFinally: when in doubt, supporting Catholic resources is a meaningful investment.A Final EncouragementYou don’t have to navigate curriculum decisions with fear or confusion. With thoughtful choices and a clear sense of priorities, you can build a homeschool that is both academically strong and deeply rooted in the Faith. Trust your judgment—and trust that God is guiding your efforts.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

When homeschooling feels overwhelming, discouraging, or just plain exhausting, it’s easy to wonder if you’re failing. Be assured, you are not failing! Join Ginny and Mary Ellen as they discuss the moments every homeschool parent faces and offer practical, faith-filled ways to regain perspective, reconnect with your children, and rediscover your purpose.Show Notes:Homeschooling can feel like a long, discouraging journey. Some days everything clicks—but other days feel flat, frustrating, and unproductive. In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen remind us that failure is not what it feels like—and offer simple ways to reset your mindset and restore joy in your homeschool.1. YOU ARE NOT FAILINGIf you are listening to this, you are not failing.If you love your children, you are not failing.If you are trying your best, you are not failing.Homeschooling is hard, and the stakes feel high—but a few difficult days or weeks do not define your journey.2. REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSEThis is the foundation of everything.· You are not homeschooling to impress others· You are homeschooling to lead your children toward heaven· This is a long, eternal journey—don’t judge it by a rough season3. RECONNECT BEFORE YOU CORRECTWhen things feel off, step back and rebuild connection.· Play a board game· Go for a walk· Bake something togetherSometimes the best thing you can do for your homeschool is simply enjoy your children again.4. TAKE A BREAK—ON PURPOSEThe long journey includes rest.· Spend a week focused on enrichment: art, music, reading aloud· Go outside—hike, explore, observe· Visit a friend or take a short tripHomeschooling is not confined to a rigid schedule. The books will still be there.5. SHARE THE LOADHint: You don’t have to do this alone.· Ask your husband for guidance and support· Use a tutor or online class for a difficult subjectRelieving pressure in one area can restore peace everywhere else.6. SEEK CLARITY, NOT ASSUMPTIONSIt’s easy to feel behind—but feelings aren’t facts.· Use a standardized test to see where your children really are· You may find you are doing just fine7. KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVEFinally, remember this:Our modern school system struggles in many ways. You would have to try very hard to do worse than simply loving, guiding, and teaching your children at home.A Final EncouragementThe homeschool journey is not measured in perfect days—it is measured in faithfulness. Stay the course, trust the process, and remember why you began.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Kathryn struggles with meal planning, house cleaning, and having a chore system. She wants to be more organized. Where does she start?  Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen address Kathryn’s issues and how their simple solutions for her can help you build good housekeeping habits.Show Notes:First, forgive yourself.  You were not really trained for this job.Today’s young moms were raised to:Get good gradesPractice the pianoScore a goal in soccer.Don’t make the same mistake with your own children.Assign age-appropriate chores to each child.Teach them every aspect of running a house.Give them confidence in their abilities.Hint: Share some of the workload with them. It’s a win-win-win!The long journey begins with one step.Moms with infants, if you don’t have a reliable bedtime or wake-up time, try this:Try heading to bed at 10 with 30 minutes to:Wash upSay your prayersHopefully, you’ll be asleep by 10:30.Set an alarm for 6:30. If you have a coffee pot with a timer, set it for 6:45.  This is key: get up, say your prayers, and pour your first cup before waking the kids at 7:00.This may solve more problems than bedtime ever will.  If you start school at 9 am, you have two hours to get everyone fed, beds made, dishwasher unloaded, a load of wash started, and the kitchen cleaned up before school.Set regular tidy times! Use the timer on your phone if necessary.Take a full hour for lunch.  If you start at noon, set tidy-up for 12:45.Dishes done, move the laundry to the dryer.Clean up the toddlers’ toys, and then put them down for naps/quiet time.Set 30 minutes after school for chores.  If kids finish their assigned jobs, they can be free earlier.Same with after dinner – another 30-minute tidy-up.Get the littles ready for bed.Finally, run the dishwasher – even if it is not full.  Sweep, run the vacuum, take out trash.Save the big jobs – a thorough clean-up for Saturday morning.  If the house is generally neat, it is a whole lot easier to mop and dust if everything is already put away.Here’s a tip: Don’t have time to clean the bathroom? Keep Clorox wipes under the sink.  Wipe down the toilet and vanity, and stow the brushes in the drawers.  Remember, in another age, kids were caring for gardens and farm animals at very young ages.HOMESCHOOL ASSIGNMENT!  Among the best of American children’s literature are the "Little House” books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. You can meet Laura, the little girl who would grow up to write the Little House books, here. Our kids need to know what they are capable of.  Sacrificing for the family should not be limited to historical fiction.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Ginny started homeschooling 40 years ago to protect her children’s innocence. Sadly, the world has only gotten worse, and kids are exposed to minefields of inappropriate stuff. Over the years, Ginny has learned volumes. With those lessons learned, today, she and Mary Ellen discuss seven rules on how to navigate through it all.They start with what younger kids can handle.1. YOU, the parent, are the best judge of your child’s maturity levelNot your friends and neighborsNot relatives who only see your children on holidaysNot total strangers on social mediaYou can, and should, tailor information based on maturity level.2. Ask a question before you answer one to determine the maturity levelYou may not entirely understand what your child wants to know. Asking a question helps you give age-appropriate answers.3. Strictly limit internet accessMore and more kids need phones, but they don’t need smartphones.Nip the habit of sitting behind a screen.Let them go outside and play.There’s just too much information, bad and good.Don’t let the online world substitute for you.4. Encourage prayerWhen kids are too young to understand, an answer can always be, “Let’s pray for them.”If you say family prayers together, remember to include these intentions.5. Don’t kid yourself!Be prepared, there comes a time when they are simply going to be exposed, from scouts, sports teams, or cousins, to events that are complex and difficult to explain.6. Start the habit of daily dinner time conversationYounger years are when to start with some prompts: Three things you are grateful for.A person you helped today.What would you change about…As they enter their teen years, your children will have developed the habit of discussing things with you and within the family. So how do we address a world we sometimes struggle to understand?7. Faith FirstThe most important thing we can do when dealing with events and ideas is to apply Scripture and Church teaching to them. “This is wrong because Our Lord said….” or “Catholics have always supported this…”Finally, Teach the Faith EverydayThis podcast is sponsored by Seton Home Study, a program that both Ginny and Mary Ellen have used with great success. If you aren’t using Seton, may we urge you to prayerfully reconsider using this thoroughly Catholic program –one where the Faith is integrated into literature, history and science.  Your children need strong Faith formation to understand and navigate this crazy world.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Catalog - FreeSeton Home Study School - websiteSeton Testing Services - website

Many public schools offer open enrollment, allowing kids to attend charter, magnet, and schools outside their local district.  But what about homeschools?  Can School Choice help homeschoolers get financial relief? Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss state funding options on their podcast. Show Notes:Today, we are talking about School Choice and what it means for homeschoolers.Remember - these options vary from state to state.  Check your state’s status before you make any presumptions.Private and homeschool options:Vouchers are state-funded scholarships to pay tuition at private or homeschools.They may be targeted at students from low-income families.Or with special needsOr are currently attending a failing public school.Vouchers are available in at least 10 states and the District of Columbia.Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs)ESA programs create personal accounts that store a child’s state Education Dollars, making a child’s education truly customizable.Education dollars pay for:School tuition, textbooks, and feesTutoring and special therapiesOther approved expensesESAs are available in at least 18 states.Scholarship Tax Credit ProgramsCorporations and individuals make private donations to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships to eligible children. In return, the corporations and individuals receive a state income tax credit.There are at least 21 scholarship tax credit programs operating across the country,Individual tuition tax creditsIndividual tuition tax credits give parents a state income tax credit for their child’s approved educational expenses.They are available in about half a dozen states.DrawbacksMany homeschoolers oppose ANY government contributions to their homeschool. Their concern is that "with government shekels come government shackles". A valid concern—let’s address it.Remember, Shackles can be imposed even without subsidies.  States with education choice policies tend to respect homeschooling autonomy more than those without, but homeschoolers still have to stay awake and aware.  We Catholics need to partner with Christian homeschoolers and let our state reps know we are watching them.States without school choice policies— including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island—are among the worst for burdensome regulations on homeschool families. They tend to be ruled by teachers’ unions.  States with school choice policies—including Iowa, Indiana, and Oklahoma — have few homeschool regulations and liberal education-choice policies. Note: In 2023, Ohio lawmakers passed both universal school choice and a reduction in homeschool regulations.There is no school choice policy that requires a family or a private school to participate. All are free to reject the government goodies, but many families could really use the help.   All families and schools can evaluate the costs versus the benefits and then decide.❤️ Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Homeschoolers are uniquely positioned to keep Advent in the way the Church encourages, bringing back traditions to deepen our faith as we prepare for the coming of Our Savior.Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny bring home the message that, despite what the big-box store says, Christmas does not begin when Halloween ends. Here’s what your family can do. Show Notes:In recent years, the practice of observing Advent has grown lukewarm. Many forget that the Christmas season begins on December 24th with the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Nativity.Homeschoolers are uniquely positioned to lead the way and keep Advent, one of the richest and most beautiful of liturgical seasons, in the way the Church encourages. If you are called to bring back traditions that deepen our faith as we prepare for the coming of Our Savior, here’s how:An easy observance: The Advent wreath·      Three purple and one rose-colored candle·      Light the candles, adding one each week, at dinner time.·      You can find lots of Advent wreath prayers online.How to Make Observing “Little Lent” FunThis is a penitential season, often called “Little Lent.”Children are very visual - explain the meaning of the season's colors.Purple for the Penitential seasonRose colored Gaudete Sunday.Christmas is gold and white.Ask them to notice:The Gloria is removed from Mass, just as it is in Lent.But the Alleluia is kept because we are anticipating a joyful birth.Use an Advent calendar or a paper chain to count down the days.If you make a paper chain:Use purple paperOne pink chain link for Guadete SundayCelebrate Catholic New Year’sThe Saturday night before the first Sunday in AdventThis year – 12/29/25Make a special dinner.Have party hats and noisemakersSparkling apple juice to toast the new liturgical yearPut out a Nativity set.Leave out the infant Jesus for now.Keep a jar or basket of straw nearby.When the children make a sacrifice or penance, have them place a straw in the manger to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus.Enthrone Baby Jesus after midnight on December 24Celebrate the SaintsBecause Advent contains both penance and joy, we can celebrate the many feast days throughout the season.December 4th, the feast of St. Barbara, patroness of architects, you might build a graham cracker house.December 9th, for St. Juan Diego’s feast, make a brown paper tilma and serve tacos.December 12th, to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, create paper roses and enjoy Mexican hot cocoa.Observe Ember Days and O Antiphons. These lesser-known liturgical observances of the Church are beautiful. 2025 Advent Activities for Catholic Homeschoolers has over 200 activities, crafts, and recipes for Advent.2025 Advent Activities for Catholic Homeschoolers are Available for purchase.2025 Advent Activities for Catholic Homeschoolers Free Download Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Want to be the hero of your homeschool week? Pull out a game board!In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen share how to “gamify” your homeschooling—turning lessons into fun challenges that build motivation, confidence, and joy in learning. Discover how games activate the brain’s reward system, sneak in skill-building, and bring your family closer together (while making Mom look like a genius).Show Notes:Activating the brain’s reward system releases dopamine—making learning pleasurable.A perfect boost for memorizing math facts, Latin declensions, and more.Board games and gamified lessons can be your best-kept homeschool secret.Playing Games vs. Gamifying LessonsPlaying Games = Using an existing board, card, or online game to reinforce skills.Gamifying Lessons = Adding game-style elements—points, levels, challenges—to regular schoolwork.Gamification makes learning feel like play by adding:Friendly competitionSmall rewardsVisible achievements The focus is still on learning, but the experience feels like a game!How to Gamify Your HomeschoolAward points or badges for completed tasks.Allow badges to be traded for privileges (screen time, outings, desserts).Laugh about it—yes, it’s a little like potty-training bribery, but it works!Examples:Each handwriting sheet = 5 minutes of tablet time.A near-perfect math lesson = 10 extra minutes before bedtime.“Beat the clock” challenges for spelling or Latin drills.100-day streak = family outing or prize.Learning Through PlayGames aren’t just fun—they teach life lessons:Taking turns and waiting patientlyLosing gracefully and trying againCongratulating others on successCounting, reading, strategy, and critical thinkingFavorite Educational GamesTry these family favorites for skill-building and fun:Scrabble – spelling and vocabularyBird Bingo – nature and observationYahtzee – math and probabilityCount Your Chickens (Peaceable Kingdom) – teamwork for younger kidsKerplunk – logic and planningMemory games – recall and focusMonopoly – money managementMath Bingo or Flashcard War – fast-paced reviewMore Ways to Gamify Reading & WritingReading Bingo: Make a bingo card with challenges like “Read under a blanket with a flashlight” or “Read a poem aloud.” Each square earns points or stickers.Story Quests: Break a writing assignment into “quest steps”—draft, edit, illustrate, share. Each completed step earns a “quest token.” Collect enough tokens and unlock a special reward.Monster Battle Spelling Test: Present spelling words as a “battle.” Each correct word defeats part of the “monster.” If all the words are correct, the student wins the battle.Gamifying MathTimed Challenges: Beat the clock on a set of problems and earn a badge for each level (bronze, silver, gold).XP Points for Mastery: Each new math skill mastered earns “experience points.” At certain totals, the student “levels up.”Treasure Hunt Problems: Hide math problems around the house. Each correctly solved problem gives a clue to where the “treasure” (small prize or snack) is hidden.Gamifying History & ScienceTimeline Quests: For each chapter studied, students earn a “timeline card” to add to a big wall chart. When the timeline is complete, they unlock a “History Hero” badge.Experiment Badges: Every science experiment successfully carried out earns a lab badge (like “Junior Chemist” or “Rocket Scientist”).Exploration Maps: Track progress on a map—e.g., each time they learn about a new country or historical event, place a sticker or flag to “conquer” that territory.Everyday GamificationStreaks & Challenges: Track days in a row of practicing piano, praying morning prayers, or writing in a journal. Celebrate hitting the streak goal.Bottom Line: Whether you’re playing a classic game or creating your own, the goal is joyful learning. Sometimes the lesson is math or spelling—sometimes it’s simply family togetherness.❤️ Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

So many problems that homeschool moms face can be solved by developing the habit of consistency. Lack of consistency has derailed many a homeschool.Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen distill their years of experience into ten simple and practical tips to bring harmony of practice, firmness of character, and lasting success to your homeschool. Show Notes:Consistency can be hard in every season of homeschool life. It’s hard for everyone. Mostly it’s about developing good habits, and each year presents a new set of circumstances, so new habits and routines must be developed.These Ten Tips Will Help Get You in the New Groove.Have weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals.Start the day with what is most important and difficult to get done.  Keep to a daily rhythm: do the same things at around the same time every day. Children, especially small children, do much better with routines.Set clear expectations. Habit stack. The excellent book Habit Stacking by S.J. Scott recommends linking a new habit to an already existing one.  For example, you brush your teeth every morning, so while you are doing that, you can say your morning offering. Treat your homeschool hours as sacrosanct.  Do not look at your phone, turn on the TV, or answer the door. You are at work, and only emergencies should distract you.Be miserly with your time outside of homeschool. Carefully and prayerfully discern outside activities. Have a “set in concrete” check-in time for each child to keep them accountable and to make sure they are keeping up with the work.Don’t schedule too much work in a day. a.    Start with too little and gradually increase to the sweet spot. b.    Do some subjects like history and science every other day. c.     Make a schedule that works for each child. Overwhelm is death to consistency.Once in a while, be inconsistent. Stepping out of the box helps keep you on track when you need to be. Habit Stacking by S.J. Scott Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Remember life as a newlywed?  You vaguely knew you would have to cook, but hey, your husband could cook, and maybe you'd eat dinner out sometimes. Now, three or four kids later, you barely have time to shop for the food, much less prepare it!  Need help? Ginny and Mary Ellen have solutions and more on today's podcast. Show Notes:Struggling to find time to plan and prepare meals?Use the KISS Meal Plan: Keep it Simple, Stupid1. Remember, leftovers are your friend - Find ways to stretch one meal into two.* If your family goes through one pound of pasta at dinner, make two.  Have it for lunch the next day or for dinner two days from now. - Add some cheese and make mac and cheese, or red sauce, a bit of meat, and some pizza cheese, and make poor man's lasagna.   * If you buy a rotisserie chicken, put the carcass in a slow cooker with veggies and have soup later in the week.  2. Want to have a salad every night?* Want the health benefits, but don't feel like preparing one? Make a big salad one night. Store it in the fridge in a covered container with a napkin or paper towel in it.  * The paper absorbs moisture, keeping the salad fresh.3. Think simple* Nothing is easier than baked potatoes; wash them, prick with a fork, and bake.  * Fancy potato dishes can wait until the kids get older.4. Teaching Life Skills through Meal Prep* At four years old, teach your oldest to set the table, and it's off your to-do list forever.* Kids are more likely to try a food they have helped prepare.* Teach your primary school children to:Scrub potatoesPeel and chop veggiesDip cutlets in eggs and bread crumbsYou are teaching them your family's heritage5. Food choicesOur children have an obesity problem and need to eat healthier foods. Here are some hints:Serve fresh, healthy food first. Let kids make a fruit or veggie tray as an appetizer.One menu only – this is dinner –take it or leave it. Have to take a taste.Enjoy food with your children.6. Mealtime manners Children's likes and dislikes are not proper table talk; if the child doesn't like something, the correct way to express that is, "No thank you," when the food is offered.No eating before graceNo reaching No disgusting behavior like chewing with your mouth openDon't hunch over food – no one is coming to steal it from youNo screens, just conversation – 3 things you are thankful for; someone you helped todayAsk to be excusedRules like placing your napkin on your lap or using utensils instead of your fingers to pick up food may seem overly formal for family meals.  But today's young adults report feeling uncomfortable when they have to attend business luncheons.7. After dinnerEveryone clears their own placeAn older child or parent rinses and stacksYounger child loads the dishwasherA child wipes the table and fixes the chairsThe floor is sweptConsider setting the table for tomorrow's breakfastHomeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Has anyone questioned your sanity for deciding to homeschool? The questions you hear range from silly to insulting. Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny prepare you for those questions in a fun way.Show Notes:Don't be caught off guard. These replies, mostly tongue-in-cheek, provide responses to various things homeschool detractors might say to you. 1. Homeschooling? Is that even legal?The pandemic may have rendered this question moot, but I have received it nonetheless. The reply is that, yes, of course it is legal in all fifty states. Homeschooling, thanks to the efforts of some brave mothers and fathers, including Dr. Mary Kay Clark, is now legal and even commonplace in the United States.2. Aren't you concerned that your children will have no friends? What about socialization?That this question continues to be asked astonishes me. Study after study shows that homeschooled children do as well or better in social situations than children who attend brick-and-mortar schools.3. You must be so patient.I have a little secret to tell you. I lack patience. "I have more patience for my own children than I would have for thirty children in a classroom."That usually stops the conversation.4. Your children will know nothing of the world or of pop culture.Your reply to this silly question can be, "Which R-rated movie would you suggest my ten-year-old see to bring him up to speed?"5. How will you teach calculus?When people ask what I am going to do about calculus, ancient Greek, or organic chemistry, I generally say, "Well, I thought I might ask you to tutor them. After all, you went to public school, so you must be qualified."6. What about the prom? How can you deny your child a prom?The fact is, many homeschool groups hold proms for their high school kids because if a homeschooled kid wants a prom, he/she will plan and execute one with a little guidance from an adult. Homeschooled kids are like that; they get stuff done.7. I could never homeschool; I want my kids to have a life.You want them to have a life, so you lock them in the same room every day with the same twenty-five people, listening to the same person day after day. In contrast, my children are out in the world, meeting people, taking classes, and having the freedom to try new things. Tell me again, who is lacking life experiences?8. Why would you want your kids around all day? Don't they drive you crazy?Here's the thing: I actually like my kids. I'm glad I have them. They are funny and smart, and their presence fills me with joy and gratitude.That's not to say that they don't drive me crazy sometimes, but so do people who ask silly questions.9. How will your children learn how to line up?I'm not kidding. This is a genuine question that homeschool mothers often get asked. It stems from some post-cafeteria stress syndrome people have.The response is to call your children to you and ask them to line up. It's easier for certain people to have a visual. Then laugh. Seriously, laugh your head off.10. What is your child going to do for a high school diploma?Well, if my kid graduates from Seton, they will receive an accredited diploma. Bottom Line: Don't let anyone question your motives or desire to homeschool your children, but rather, let them know that you are equal to the task and unwavering in your commitment. Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Homeschooling an only child or the youngest with older siblings? Ginny and Mary Ellen share tips to keep your ‘caboose’ happy, engaged, and thriving. Tune in for encouragement and practical ideas! Show Notes:Got a homeschool ‘caboose baby’—the only child left at home? Here are six creative ways to keep them happy, engaged, and thriving.Tip #1 – Search for Co-opsEven if you’ve checked before, look again—new groups often form.Some only meet weekly, but it’s still a chance to connect.Tip #2 – Offer Classes YourselfShare your skills with other homeschooling families—teach French, math, or science right from your dining room.Low-cost or free classes attract families, and your child gains schoolmates.Tip #3 – Explore Local ProgramsMany libraries, museums, zoos, and 4-H clubs run homeschool days.Programs may not be Catholic, but they’re great for meeting wonderful families.Tip #4 – Invite a BuddyBring a homeschooled friend along for field trips or activities.Offering transportation makes it easier—and gives your child a partner in learning.Tip #5 – Build Sports into the DayPractice basketball, soccer, or skating during daytime hours.Many rinks and facilities offer off-peak sessions and lessons.Sports fill free time productively and provide team connections after school.Tip #6 – Encourage Work OpportunitiesYounger kids can help neighbors with pets, yard work, or babysitting.Middle schoolers can be mother’s helpers or take on light chores.Building reliability and a strong work ethic early often opens doors later.Whether through co-ops, sports, or neighborhood jobs, there are countless ways to make sure your “caboose” thrives in homeschooling life. Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Jesus Christ calls us to spread the Good News. Fostering religious vocations is one of the most effective ways to answer that call. Sensitive to the issue, Catherine contacted us on Facebook and asked us to discuss ways we can foster these vocations.It’s a timely topic, and today, Mary Ellen and Ginny are delighted to discuss ways to foster vocation in our homeschool families. Show Notes:Hey, you are already fostering vocations because you homeschool.  Homeschooled men are four times more likely to enter the seminary when compared to Catholic school graduates.*In 2023, 11% of newly ordained priests had been homeschooled. 14% of newly professed members of religious orders had been homeschooled.*Based on a study by The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate – known as CARA – at Georgetown UniversityOther Ways to Foster Homegrown VocationsHave more kids if you are blessed to do so! In 2013, most ordinations came from families with four or more children.  Use Catholic materials in your homeschool.  A solid catechism program is essential, and it can be enhanced by adding biographies of the saints, many of whom were priests or religious.  Learning about the significant role Catholics, especially Catholic religious, have played in history and science can be inspiring to young minds.Show your children the beauty of the Catholic Church. Expand your horizons - Visit your diocesan cathedral.  When traveling, look for beautiful churches, shrines, convents, and monasteries to inspire your children.  Consider retreats and spiritual direction for high school students.  An older student who shows interest in the priesthood or religious life may greatly benefit from one-on-one attention.  See what is available in your area.Check out this interview we did with Fr. Phillip Schumaker.  It’s definitely worth a listen.Father Schumaker- Encouraging Faithfulness and Vocations in your Students 3/8/24Father Andrew Clark’s Video: Homeschooling and VocationsHomeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Do you remember when you took your wedding vows and promised to accept children from God and raise them in the faith? You repeated that vow each time one of your children was baptized. But what does this vow require of us homeschoolers?  Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss keeping that promise and training our children to be responsible and respectful adults by living according to Church teaching.   Show Notes:Why it's Important:Raising virtuous children is part of our homeschooling vocation.  Along with reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic, and religion, we parents must teach our children another R -- responsibility, and yet still another R -- respect for authority, Responsibility – We do not raise children, we are raising adultsTwo books to model on:Bringing up Bebe, American author Pamela Druckerman talks about French children emptying the dishwasher at 3.  Farmer Boy, Laura Ingalls Wilder recounts how her husband Almanzo was training a yoke of oxen at nine years old.Yesterday – Higher ExpectationsIn rural areas, 75 years ago, Little boys:Hauled wood and waterCared for animals starting when they were maybe 5 or 6.  Worked in the fields.  Girls didn't get off easy either: They kept the fires going, weeded gardens, and helped with laundry before washing machinesToday - Living Up to Low ExpectationsHoly Mother Church teaches that Sloth – laziness – is one of the seven deadly sins.Diligence – applying oneself to hard work –is one of the opposing seven heavenly virtues.  We are required by our vows to forbid laziness and encourage hard work.Give Your Children Real Work to DoToddlers can stow their diapers and dirty clothes and pick up their toys. As kids get older, they can learn to vacuum, mop, do dishes, and even handle their laundry. By 15 or so, they should be capable of running the household if you get called away.The Next R: Respect - The 4th CommandmentTrain your children in the ways that God demandsIt makes family life more pleasant and prepares them to take their places in the adult world.Start right from their first words – Please and thank you, Do you mind? Would it be too much trouble?  Mealtime manners- No negative comments about the food, ask to be excused, clear your placeProper greetings –  Look up from the screen and ALWAYS recognize a person who has entered the room.  Do not interrupt for anything less than a medical emergency.  If they must, they have to excuse themselves.  Do not allow your children to speak disrespectfully to an adult.  Ever!  Including, actually especially, you!  Books Mentioned in the episode.Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela DruckermanFree Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children by Lenore SkenazyFarmer Boy by Laura Ingalls WilderHomeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Some homeschool moms on social media are miserable.  Their kids are out of control, and it's often described as a typical day. Well, it wasn't our typical day – and it doesn't have to be yours either. Nothing can derail home education faster than out-of-control kids.Today, on The Stay-at-Homeschooling Mom Podcast, Mary Ellen and Ginny discuss why this is happening and share the ways to fix it. Show Notes:Out-of-control kids are not unique to homeschooling families.  A trip to the park, the library, or a family restaurant will convince you that poorly behaved children are epidemic.  Many parents have convinced themselves that brattiness is just a normal stage of growing up, like cutting teeth -- it is not.  In countries all over the world, children are obedient, respectful, hardworking, and even sacrificial.Why have we lost control?  A few ideas:Americans are generally pretty well off.  In movies and TV, parents, especially dads, are often portrayed as buffoons. Childcare professionals, the so-called experts, give terrible advice.So, who SHOULD we follow for parenting advice?  Catholics should follow just three "pages" when it comes to raising their children:  Sacred ScriptureOur Holy TraditionsThe Magisterium or teaching authority of the church.The 4th Commandment is NOT a suggestion.  We are required to teach our children to honor and obey us in everything that is not sinful.The simplest path to well-behaved kids is to establish your authority right from the start.  As soon as they can understand you, probably about 1 ½ yearsRule #1: Clear, easy-to-understand rules.  BEFORE we leave our bedroom in the morning, we stow dirty clothes and make our beds.  When we get up from the table, we clear our places. We always say please and thank you.  Rule #2: Don't whine or beg your children to be good.  Express your expectations clearly and leave no room for doubt. If they don't listen, give a clear and immediate consequence.  Rule #3: Do not give delayed consequences."No TV for you tonight is ineffective."  The kid will never remember, nor will you.  You don't have to yell or scream – calm and confident works best.  You just have to persevere. Rule #4: Do not argue with your kids:  You will never win!   Expect obedience and walk away from an obstinate child.  Do not engage. Rule #5: A simple, sensible schedule and a check-off list for responsibilities.Set a regular time and post it on the fridge or a whiteboard:SchoolworkChoresInstrumental practice, or whateverToo strict? It's just the opposite.  There's ultimately less stress when children know what is expected of them.Tune in in two weeks for part 2 of our discipline series.  Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

In just a few decades, we’ve gone from floppy disks to artificial intelligence. Computers that once filled entire rooms now slip easily into our pockets and purses. The digital revolution is here—and homeschooling parents can’t ignore it. So how do we navigate this ever-changing landscape while staying true to our values and educational goals? That’s what Ginny and Mary Ellen are diving into today on the Stay-at-Home Schooling Mom podcast.Show Notes:Should your kids have a smartphone—or maybe just a “dumb” phone? Many homeschooling parents proudly declare, “My kids will never have cell phones!” when their children are toddlers. But as those kids grow, the reality of modern life sets in. Pay phones have disappeared, and at some point—music lessons, sports practices, part-time jobs—your child will need a way to reach you.That doesn’t mean you need to hand them a smartphone with full internet access.In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss realistic, age-appropriate approaches to phones and tech. From basic flip phones to laptops and Chromebooks, they break down when kids actually need a device—and what kind. They offer practical, experience-based advice on:·      When kids truly need a phone (hint: driver’s licenses change everything)·      Why flip phones still work—and how they can be a great first step·      The educational benefits of controlled computer access·      Setting healthy tech boundaries in your home·      Social media safety and how to teach kids digital prudence·      Creating family-friendly tech rules—like public charging stations and shared screen time standardsThey also cover the importance of parental controls, device monitoring, and open conversations about online risks and responsibilities.Today’s digital world moves fast, but with some planning, clarity, and common sense, you can raise capable, tech-wise kids without letting screens take over your home.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Do you have buddies who are toying with the idea of home education but have not yet made the leap? If you do, this is the show to pass on to them. Mary Ellen and Ginny discuss it all today, as they discuss Why NOW is the time to start homeschooling. Show Notes:Public schools are a disaster.NAEP Reading Assessment – ⅔ of students do not reach basic proficiency in ELA: ¾ in math.  Major universities have students taking remedial math courses. The social environment in too many public schools can be toxic. Pronoun police, kindergarten drag shows, gay pride parades, and girls forced to undress in front of bio boys!  Often, schools ignore specific requests from parents to exempt their children from these programs.  Even if your local school is not that bad, it will certainly not help pass on your Catholic faith to the children.Catholic schools are few and far between and often beyond the means of many families. You can tailor your curriculum.Is Junior a math whiz, even in primary years?  You can do 3rd grade with 5th grade math!  Does your daughter struggle to keep pace in her classroom?  You can move her down a level.  Or you can take longer to finish the school year.  Or you can get a special curriculum to meet her needs.  Virtually endless options for homeschoolingMaybe your in-laws are immigrants.  You can add their native language to your school day.Is your child a high-performing athlete or performer? You can schedule your school day around practices, competitions, rehearsals, and performances.Does your family like to travel?  Pack up the books, and away you go. It’s unnatural for kids to sit for long hours.It is not even a little unusual today.  Little Johnny doesn’t sit still in class and has trouble paying attention.  It must be Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and school officials will often recommend medicating him.  BTW, school districts get more money for “handicapped” kids. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder should be required reading for every family with kids.  Based on a true story from a 19th-century NY state, little Almanzo is given a yoke for his 9th birthday, which he enthusiastically uses to train oxen.  Before breakfast, he and his siblings care for the livestock; they collect eggs and haul water and firewood.  Then, they have a long walk to their schoolhouse, where they are thrilled to sit down for a while.  After the long walk home, they again care for livestock before even looking for an after-school snack. Compare that with today’s school kids. They eat breakfast; most don’t even make their beds. They wait for a bus less than a block from their homes, sit on a bus, sit in a classroom and a lunchroom, sit on a bus, and come home—too often to play video games.Homeschooled kids can be active for much of the day.  They can do chores, take lots of breaks between classes, and rarely have to work after regular school hours.  They live a much more natural life. Let your kid be a kid! Brick-and-mortar schools will always be there.We now know that most homeschooling parents can do a great job. Homeschoolers routinely outperform kids in brick-and-mortar schools by almost any measure.But things can happen – family illness, financial problems, sometimes we just can’t continue.  Here’s the thing – the schools will still be there if you want to change your mind. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Mary Ellen and Ginny began homeschooling before the age of influencers. They say that was an enormous blessing because there is a lot of bad advice out there. The good news is that, using their combined over 50 years of homeschool experience, they have this to share: "The 5 Worst Pieces of Homeschooling Advice." Program Notes:Let's jump into some bad homeschooling advice.1. If it's hard, you are doing it wrong.  FALSEThe complete opposite is true. It shames the mom into thinking she is doing something wrong. You are educating young minds, and they are not inclined to hard work. Homeschooling well, running a household, doing sports, etc., is hard work.Tip: Recognizing it is hard and treating it like a full-time job will make your life easier.  2. Child-led learning will result in a complete education. FALSEProbably not – an attractive book is helpful but not enough.Math, grammar, writing skills, and foreign languages require effort and diligence.3. Grading your child's work will kill their love of learning.  FALSE·       Grades should never be a source of shame.They show if students are learning the material. Grades are a guide to adjust your methods or materials.4. Routine oppresses you and makes you less creative. FALSEChildren thrive when they know what to expect. Routine lets creativity thrive - mundane tasks are done by rote - leaving the brain free to create.  Many famous writers and authors have structured routines they follow with success.5. If you feel burned out or frustrated, you should switch curriculum. FALSE·      Being burnt out is not a good reason to switch your curriculum choices.·      Try other things before throwing the baby out with the bath water. ·      Frequent switching of curriculum creates gaps in skills and knowledge. There are many ways to cope with burnout - We did a whole episode on burnout – See the link below.Homeschooling ResourcesCoping with Burnout - Scroll down to Episode 10 on 1/25/23Seton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Homeschooling can take a lot of time.  Then, we have to cook meals, clean the house, and do laundry. Oh, and do the shopping and cart kids around to activities.  It all can seem daunting, but Ginny and Mary Ellen share their proven solution: Take some of those chores off our plates and put them smack on the kids' plates.   Program Notes:1. Start early - really early!  As soon as they can walk.  When you change a diaper, have the baby put it in the trash.  When toddlers change their clothes, teach them to put dirty clothes in the hamper.  Finishing up play time, have them stow their toys in the toy box or bin.As they get older, but still preschool age:Insist that they clear their cups and plates after meals.  They can put away clean silverware from the dishwasher. Teach them to tidy up. All of this is easier if you get an early start to the day.  2. Teach them all the necessary life skills  Begin to teach them to do every household chore.  Primary-grade kids can load a dishwasher while their older siblings rinse the dishes.  They can empty it while you or older kids put away stuff in high cabinets.  Other little guy choresDust furniture and run a vacuum.Empty room trash.  Teach them how to do their laundry. As they get olderTeach them how to clean kitchens and baths Teach them how to operate a lawn mower safely and shovel walks.Teach them to follow a recipe and prepare meals.  Make sure after-prep cleanup is included in the lesson.  Before they leave for college, your children should be ready to run a household.3. Assign specific tasks and make them regular responsibilities.  Some parents use a "chore chart" route.  The advantage is different children can learn various tasks over some time.  The disadvantage is you have to remember to keep the chart updated 4. Don't allow them to treat adults or siblings like unpaid help.  Do not allow your children to leave the table and dash off to play video games.  Or, for that matter, dash off to do schoolwork.  When dinner is finished, we all help clean up or get the little ones ready for bed. Perhaps taking out the trash.  5. Let them suffer the consequences of their actions or inactions.Teach the kids to do their laundry – if they forget - that's their problem.  In the real adult world, no one else comes to clean, cook, or do laundry for you.  Our kids need to be given responsibility.  Too many are going to college without knowing how to fry an egg.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Does teaching Shakespeare, the Constitution, or Apologetics terrify you? The fear can arrive even before high school. When my grandkids took 5th-grade life science, my DIL did a way better job teaching it than I would have. She’s a nurse and understands that stuff!First potential solution:  Ask among your friends, neighbors, and folks at church. Maybe a mom who quit her nursing job when she had kids wants to make a few extra bucks teaching high school biology. It’s not difficult to find a Spanish speaker. It might be enough to correct pronunciation and explain different grammar rules. Would a local priest enjoy helping with Latin or Apologetics? Sometimes, the simplest solution is close to home.Another simple fix - Look onlineIf you don’t remember the Pythagorean theorem, you can find many clear explanations if you google it.  The internet can be dangerous, but it can also be helpful.  AudiobooksI did not advocate allowing kids to listen to their reading assignments, but Shakespeare’s plays were just that—plays intended to be performed on stage. Let the student read Merchant of Venice but then find a performance. It can make a big difference.Recorded online classesSometimes, they are produced by a textbook company – Saxon Math has very popular videos, and Teaching Textbooks is another popular online math program. At other times, they are made by the homeschool provider to match their course offerings.  Dual enrollmentMost community colleges accept students aged 16 and up.  Dual enrollment is an option for live classes. Prices are usually pretty reasonable. Important Note -If you enrolled in a home study school, check with one of their counselors to ensure they will accept your dual enrollment course for credit.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Motivating our students can be an uphill battle. We want them to focus and work hard, but they are inclined by their nature and encouraged by society to be distracted. There is always something more interesting or fun to do.Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny open their tool kit of ways to encourage our children to work hard and develop good study skills without it being a constant battle. Hang on, this will be fun.Program NotesMotivation can be a wispy, ethereal thing arriving at inopportune times. I prefer to instill:1. Good habits and routines.2. This allows a child to do “the thing” without thinking about “getting down to it.” 3. That said, a little motivation can go a long way to making the process more pleasant. Five Ways to Motivate1. Gamify the lesson. This brilliant, simple technique tip from Laura Berquist:Challenge the child to “beat the clock” with math problems or spelling tests.Set a timer – see how many problems can be answered correctly before it rings.Use nickels as prizes; money is a great motivator.2. Socialize the work. Teens (and preteens) need to be with their peers. Try getting a study group, history or science, and learn the subject matter together.Add some snacks and free time to goof offThey will likely work harder at the subject than they would on their own. 3. Tie the lessons to the life goals. A concrete goal is a good motivator. If you want to travel and study abroad in college, study your Italian lessons.If you want to attend medical school, let’s focus on the sciences. If all else fails, the “you need to do this to get this” is a good life lesson.4. Work alongside them—at least for a while. If your student struggles with writing, try partner writing for the first paragraph. He writes a line, and you write the next line; it works with math problems, too.Sometimes, that blank page can seem so overwhelming that it is easier not to try. 5. Take a break. A little break in the action will refresh and motivate. Plan a four-day weekend and a field trip. A museum or planetarium day or a nature hike or camping trip.  Bottom Line: Focusing on developing good habits is the key to success as a student, but having some pleasant motivation makes for a happier student and a happier homeschool.Send us a FB message and tell us what you want to hear about.Homeschooling Resources• Seton Home Study School• Seton Testing Services

Feeling isolated on your homeschooling journey because you live “out in the boonies”? Worried your kids will miss out on friends—or that you’ll never meet another mom who “gets” it?Today Ginny and Mary Ellen tackle the unique challenges of homeschooling with little local support. Drawing on decades of experience, they share concrete ways to build community, keep kids socialized, and stay sane—no matter how many miles lie between you and the nearest neighbor.Challenges many rural (and not-so-rural) homeschoolers face“Will my kids have any friends?”Sparse population, long drives, fewer ready-made peer groupsKids everywhere spend more time indoors/on screens—urban life isn’t automatically betterLack of parental support or local mentorsFew (or no) other homeschoolers nearbyFear of feeling “weird” or being criticized for homeschoolingMom-level loneliness & burnoutNo extended family close at handTemptation to compare yourself to picture-perfect online familiesPractical ways to build real communityLeverage existing institutionsParish life – altar-serving, CCD, youth groups, Sunday coffee-and-bagels hospitalityLittle League, scouts, dance, music – shared interests trump age gapsPublic library – ask librarians to connect you with other homeschool patrons; book rooms for classesHost & invitePost-Mass brunches or crock-pot chili after Sunday-evening MassTeam pizza parties, park picnics, backyard “bring-your-own-blanket” daysFind (or create) online bridgesFacebook groups: “Catholic Homeschooling Moms,” local “[Your-Town] Homeschoolers,” curriculum-specific groupsProgram-specific networks (e.g., Seton’s My Seton family locator; Catholic Harbor for teens)Special-needs bonusMixed-age homeschool culture often embraces kids with disabilities—fosters compassion and confidenceMind your mannersShare positives; avoid trash-talking neighbors’ schooling choicesSimple, non-confrontational answers when asked, “Why do you homeschool?”Key takeawaysCommunity rarely arrives on your doorstep—but it can be built.Mixed-age friendships and adult role models are an asset, not a deficit.A little strategic hospitality (and a lot of prayer) goes a long way.Resources mentionedSeton Home Study School & Seton BooksCatholic Harbor (teen discussion platform for enrolled Seton students)Local parish ministries, scouts, sports leagues, public librariesThanks for listening!Send topic requests via Facebook —and don’t forget to leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Remember when you started homeschooling your oldest in kindergarten? People would ask, "What will you do when you have to teach trigonometry?" No worries, that was years away.Then high school arrives. But fear not—Mary Ellen and Ginny homeschooled through high school and produced great adults. Here’s how they did it and how you can, too. 8 Steps to High School Success1. Set an alarm and get an early start in the morning, the same time every day.  2. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Your student needs a lesson plan. 3. Have a daily appointment with high school students to ensure they stay on track.4. Figure out shortcuts or solutions to getting bogged down.  5. A Good High School rule of thumb is about an hour each school day for each course.6. Train your kids in practical life skills. This rule is essential! 7. They must be a good example, especially for younger siblings if so blessed.  8. Dress modestly and speak nicely to others and about others. People will judge homeschoolers and Catholics by what your kids do.   Send us a FB message and tell us what you want to hear about.Homeschooling Resources• Seton Home Study School• Seton Testing Services

Why do we homeschool?  Don't like the public schools in your district?  Can't afford the Catholic school?  Or there is no Catholic school?  Family togetherness?  Better academics?   All are good reasons, but today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss why most of us need to start and keep homeschooling our children. If this were Star Trek, we would call it The Prime Directive.  Show Notes:There are days when sainthood is not our first thought when we see our kids squabbling, being lazy, or sneaking a snack. How do we produce these saints in our homeschools?Use Catholic materials. Most homeschool materials seem wholesome, but wholesome is NOT the same as daily learning about the sacraments and the saints.  Fill your home with prayer.      Prayer doesn't have to be long, but it needs to be regular.  As soon as they can talk, teach children a morning offering.Say grace before meals, short night prayers to their Guardian Angels, and a simple Act of Contrition. Fill your home with sacramentals.  Statues in the garden and on the mantle; holy water fonts; crucifixes in the bedroomsGet the whole family involved in your parish church. Encourage your kids to join the choir, serve Mass, and even help clean up the pews after Mass. Make a big fuss over family sacraments—even in the extended family. Throw a party, invite people over.Make Pilgrimages. When you travel, visit a cathedral or some other holy site. Attend daily Mass when you can.  Daily rosary: Pray the stations during Lent.  Try to make a novena. Catholic homeschooling families have a unique opportunity to produce saints for America, the world, and eternity.  Do not let this chance go by!  Homeschooling is worth your best efforts, to the very limit of your energy. How great will be your reward in heaven.Thanks very much to Seton Home Study School for sponsoring our podcast. We would also like to thank our producer, Jason Loughry, our social media director, Beth Egan, and Jim Shanley, who do all our show notes and generally keep us on task.  Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Isn’t it funny that one meal seems to take up 9/10ths of our brain daily? Dinner or meal planning is one of our most requested topics. We’ll answer these questions and more:·      What are easy meals? ·      How do I plan for meals?·      How much should the children be helping?  Dinner is the big kahuna in terms of time, expense, and general stress but this will help:8 Rules to Cook By to organize and streamline for healthy economical meals. Meal Prep Plan: Having a set plan is a lifesaver. Mary Ellen prepares once-a-month, Ginny once a week. You decide which is best for your style.Know what you are going to make by 10:00 a.m. so you can work on it in free moments during the day. Even better, if you know before school starts, make a slow cooker meal!Double batch - When you make a meal, double the recipe and freeze one meal.Make a Sunday sauce, turkey, or roast, and use it all week in different meals. Chicken can be enchiladas or quesadillas, beef can be shepherd's pie, sauce can be pizza or meatball heroes. A ham on Sunday becomes a ham, potato, and cheese casserole on Tuesday, and pea soup on Thursday.Go to the library or online and look up some simple recipes—one-pan recipes, 30-minute recipes, and 5-ingredient recipes.Allow for the occasional pizza/take-out night.Put older children in charge of one meal a month. Teach them a specialty. Even younger kids can put together a salad or cut up veggies and dip. A big bonus is that kids are more likely to eat healthy foods if they or a sibling prepares them.Spend one day a month prepping meals. I do this after one of my daughters has a baby. Stock the fridge with frozen homemade meals. It's even better if you can make this a family project. Please share how you get dinner on the table and your favorite recipe on our Facebook page.If you enjoy this podcast, please like and subscribe. 5-star ratings and reviews help us reach more people. Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Special Services

Online conversations about how challenging homeschooling can include some version of, "They just don't listen to me," "They dawdle all day" or "They argue constantly." If this sounds too familiar and is not what you expected from your homeschoolers, join Ginny and Mary Ellen in a crash-course in teaching good attitudes and better behavior. These lessons will last a lifetime. Show Notes:Often, homeschooling succeeds or fails based on student behavior.  This can be the reason parents hesitate to homeschool or even stop homeschooling. Discipline can be tough to enforce, but it is not complicated to understand. Here are five simple ideas to get you started. Step 1 – Start Early+ Around 18 months:  Some parents use sign language to communicate with babies this age.+ As soon a baby understands you: Start instilling good habits; Put your diaper in the trash, please.  Let's put your toys in the toy box. + 3 years-old: instill obedience as a virtue. Constantly repeat, "You have to obey Mommy right away."  Reassure them, "You will never get in trouble if you obey Mommy."  Step 2 – Insist on Courtesy and Refinement at all times – from the start+ Always use the magic words:  “please”, “thank you”, “if it's not too much trouble.”+ NEVER give something to a child who has not said, "Please." + Always recognize someone who has entered a room. Step 3 – Have a Clear, Consistent Daily Schedule+ Children do best when they know what is expected.+ Same wake-up time and morning routine: brush teeth, get dressed, make bed, put PJs under the pillow, eat breakfast.+ Schoolwork starts at the same early time every day. Step 4 – Take Every Opportunity to instill virtue in your childrenUse the words: “I expect you to be kind, generous, polite, and to put others first.”Be honest: “It is a sin to show your temper, hit your brother, or throw things at people.”Praise generously: “You cleaned the kitchen while I was shopping?  That's terrific!” Step 5 – Deal with Problems before they become big concerns.Don't give out delayed or extended consequences because you'll forget!Let consequences flow naturally from offenses. "No TV tonight, Billy. Remember you gave me a hard time getting started this morning.  We have to have earlier bedtimes for a while until you get a handle on your mornings."  Summary: If you put in your time when the kids are little, things will go much easier as they get older. Not only for you – but for them.  Self-discipline, courtesy, setting schedules, and virtue will help them in college, in professional life, and as they raise their own families Send us a message and tell us what you want to hear about.Homeschooling ResourcesSeton Home Study SchoolSeton Testing Services

Staying healthy as a busy homeschool mom is not easy, mostly because moms put everyone else’s needs ahead of their own. In the hustle and bustle of life, it is easy to neglect your own health, and that will eventually catch up with you. Let’s talk about ways to stay on top of your health and wellness to keep up with your busy life. Show Notes:    Let’s talk about ways to stay on top of your health and wellness to keep up with your busy life. Living a healthy lifestyle is protecting your health, which is the key to feeling well. This means eating well, moving a lot, and resting. Set realistic goals and baby steps first. Eat one healthy meal per day or change your snacking situation.  Start with trying to get 5,000 steps a day or three glasses of water.  Rest when you can. If you are getting up with a baby at night, try to rest when the baby naps. Prioritize moving. Go to the park and play with the kids. Do some gardening, go for a walk. Get a fitness watch or band to tell you to get up and move if you’ve been sitting too long. This actually works well in a homeschool setting. Kids NEED recess, even if all you do is put the baby in a stroller and take a walk around the neighborhood. Make it a science class if you want, identifying trees and flowers.   Meal plan. It’s the best way to stay on budget and healthy.  Do some meal prep on the weekends. It saves time and gives you the opportunity to be ready, so you are not getting junky takeout or reaching into a bag of chips. Get the kids involved.   Kids HATE to do the dishes and mop the floor, but they seem to really like meal prep.  Teach them how to wash veggies and make a simple salad. Every meal should have at least one fruit or veggie or both.  It could just be carrot sticks, cucumber slices, a cut-up apple, or a bowl of grapes.  Whatever was on sale at the grocery.  Resting can certainly mean getting a good night’s sleep. But it also means learning to handle stress.  Some people manage stress by meditating.  Others take what is called a “forest bath”  – walking outside in nature.  We Catholics have a real leg up here.  My favorite meditations are the mysteries of the rosary.  There are books and online sites to help keep your mind focused on the mysteries. Or you can read scripture.  Or buy a book of prayers – some specifically written for moms.  Pray when you are nursing the baby or before bedtime.  You may find it is worth getting up half an hour before the kids, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and pray. Summary: It’s easy to put off doctor and dental appointments when you have small children. Bringing them along or getting a sitter can seem overwhelming, but it is essential to get your appointments done. A yearly physical, dental cleaning, gyn appt., and mammogram should be the minimum you try to achieve within a certain amount of time. At different ages, the priorities change, but make sure to be in touch with your physician at least once a year.    Thanks to Jennifer for the idea! Send us a message and tell us what you want to hear about. Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

Brittany contacted us.  She has two younger children in primary grades, a toddler and a newborn, and wants to give them a thorough academic education.  She's willing to do the major subjects separately but wondered if she could combine other subjects, like science and history.  Combining students in different grades is a question we frequently get, and we discuss it in today's podcast. Show Notes: Put your kids in community soccer, baseball, or softball.  Use your town's dance academy or gymnastics program, or give them piano lessons.  Place them together or separately, do whichever is easier and works for you. Science and Social Studies can be combined, certainly in primary grades K-3.  They are minor subjects and often don't involve any testing or challenging assignments.  Combining is clearly easier when students are no more than one or two years apart in age.  In my experience, it is also easier when the boy is the older child.  Little girls often can concentrate better than boys – but you know your children. Religion is a content subject that deserves special consideration. On one hand, it is easy to combine grades.  After all, every grade has the same seven sacraments and Ten Commandments, but consider the rules of your parish since certain grades deal with sacramental preparation.  Reading: In the primary grades, students are learning sounds, sight words, and reading. It is not uncommon for siblings, close in age, to work together and grasp concepts more or less simultaneously.  But you may need to be flexible. Be observant and accommodate developmental skills progressing at different rates. Reading can be a very flexible subject, and you don't necessarily have to move the student up a level.  If the older child has mastered a particular grade level and can do much more, go to a public library and get extra books.  Seton has a recommended reading list on their website, linked below. English is one subject that I generally advise against combining unless the older student is going down a grade.  Some of the concepts are pretty abstract. For example, objective, nominative, and possessive nouns and pronouns require higher-level thinking skills.   Math is a very straightforward subject – either a student grasps a concept and learns his facts, or he does not.  If you have a little math whiz, combine classes with an older sibling. You cannot enrich math, and it makes no sense to hold a child back. Summary: Use how they perform in primary grades to decide whether or not to continue, but take it year by year. Material becomes more detailed and advanced, and homeschool programs often have increased testing and reports. A 3rd grader may be able to read and comprehend 5th-grade science but be unable to take grade-level tests. I hope this helps you, Brittany.   Send us a message and tell us what you want to hear about. Homeschooling Resources   Seton's First Grade Supplemental Reading List Seton's Second Grade Supplemental Reading List President's Council on Sports and Nutrition Love 2 Learn Book Lists Khan Academy Art History Khan Academy Music Lessons Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services Note: We share these links for informational purposes only, and they do not constitute an endorsement of the site or its content.

Jennifer contacted us and asked for any tips we have about raising teens. It's a tough time to be raising adolescents, and there is little support for a Catholic lifestyle. In addition, the Internet and video games dominate the lives of many of them.   We thought we were doing a great job homeschooling them, but they roll their eyes like their public school counterparts.  What is a Catholic parent to do?  We tackle that in today's podcast. Show Notes: Teens have lots of energy.  If you do not channel it into wholesome, enriching activities, they will find less wholesome activities to occupy themselves. Here are our tips to raise good kids while retaining your sanity. Every Teen Should Have:    1. Regular household responsibilities - You choose the chores.    2. A Job - Start with babysitting, snow shoveling, lawn mowing, whatever.      3. An after-school activity - sports, dance, theatre, or church group. Something wholesome. Don't Argue – You Will Never Win.    1. Explain your rules simply." Sitting around playing video games with your friends does nothing to make you a better person." You do not have to defend that point of view.      2. If a kid makes a rude demand - It does you no good to argue. Tell the kid to leave the room, gather her thoughts, and come back and speak in a civil tone. And then turn your back! Use Good Judgment with Electronics    1. Give your teens flip phones – no internet.  Consider smartphones when they begin to drive.    2. Unlimited Internet access is not a good idea. Have your kids hand over phones at a particular time to a family "charging station."      3. Unlimited Access to laptops and Chromebooks is also not a good idea.     4. Limit video games and encourage board games. Remember - You Are Guiding Them into Adulthood.  They need increasing Independence.     1. Strict curfews make less sense than "Come to me with a plan…"    2. Tell them if they do something dumb to call you – encourage honesty.  Let them know you are on their side.    3. Allow friends of the opposite sex to come to family gatherings or other public events – strict "no dating until you are ready to get married" rules lead to lying.    4. Teens need to acknowledge their actions have consequences for which they're responsible.   Thanks to Jennifer for the idea.  Send us a message and tell us what you want to hear about. Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

So often, homeschool days can devolve into tantrums, tears, and recriminations, and that’s just mom.  Meltdowns and bad days happen, and we have to make our peace with that, but there are ways that you can set yourself up for success. To help you, Mary Ellen and Ginny introduce seven rules to set you up, reduce the bad days, and help your children enjoy their studies more.  Show Notes: A big part of having a successful homeschool is having an environment that encourages learning. This does not mean a Pinterest-worthy school room; what you need is a well-lit, comfortable place to sit, a place to write, and a place to read. Bookcases, a spot for nature finds, some arts and crafts materials, and a place to play outside would help. Mary Ellen and Ginny have put it all together in these seven rules: 1. Make sure you (mom) do the prep work. Make the copies, set out the pencils, get the books together, and set up the clipboards. Even if you have to start later, it is better to be prepared. 2. Cultivate a rhythm to your days. Days are smoother when everyone knows what is expected of them and when. 3. Head off the frustration. If you see the child at the end of their rope, it is time to take a break. It is easier to prevent behavior than responding to it - because that can take all day. 4. Plan a few fun, out-of-the-house days/afternoons a semester. Get some fresh air and explore some new places. Visit something historic or uplifting. Schedule a regular park day with friends.   5. Take care of your physical self. Sleep, eat well, shower, and take a few minutes every day to do something that helps you feel good. Read a book, putter around the house, listen to a podcast, or do some gardening.  6. It’s important to remember why you are homeschooling. The academics are very important but you are also building a culture. You are creating an atmosphere where children learn to learn, be independent, and love God and their families.  7. Keep Calm and Carry On. You can work yourself into a nervous breakdown and still not cover everything. You want to raise a student who, as they carry on beyond your homeschool, can fill in the inevitable gaps independently.  Send us a message and tell us what you want to hear about. Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

Angela’s child is an auditory learner, and she wanted some tips to help him.  Her request made us think about how most students have a dominant learning style. And how we can fashion our homeschooling to help them succeed.  Today, we learn about the four major learning styles, how to work with our kids’ styles, and the importance of preparing them not to grow too dependent on their dominant style. Okay, let’s define four major learning styles. Visual Learners learn more through images, diagrams, charts, graphs, and pictures. These students doodle, annotate, and make visual notes to retain information better. Consumable workbooks are better for underlining, margin arrows, and highlighting. Verbal Learners (sometimes called Reading and Writing) absorb information best when they use words, whether reading or writing them. Written words are more helpful than images or spoken words. They’re best at writing essays, articles, and books. Auditory Learners absorb information better when lessons are spoken and might not need notes. They ask questions often or repeat what they have just heard aloud to remember it better. They benefit from reading out loud but can get distracted by the noise around them.  Kinesthetic Learners prefer to learn through movement, by doing. They can’t sit still for long and need more frequent breaks than others. They benefit from activities that reinforce the information just covered in class.  Why We Need a Multisensory Approach Your child’s future professor or boss will not care what type of learner they are. Your kid will not be assigned an essay or a work report and asked to substitute an oral presentation or a diorama. Get them ready: use as many sensory approaches as possible for the best learning. And always remember that repetition is the key to learning. Thanks to Angela for sending us this idea! Send us a message and tell us what you want to hear about. Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services  

Kimberly asked Ginny and Mary Ellen how to juggle homeschooling when you have a huge family. You'll love every minute of their humorous reflections and insightful advice.  You may have a married kid or two with grandchildren dropping by while you're planning weddings and still homeschooling high school, middle school, and elementary school.  Oh, and you're trying to keep the house clean enough so the Board of Health doesn't put your kids into foster care.  Don't miss it. Show Notes: Let's talk about how moms of big homeschooling families can stay sane. 1. Have a School Schedule Start schooling at the same time every day.  An earlier start is better.  If you have children too young to work independently, start with them.   2. For the Young Ones - Do the Essential Subjects with Them But EVERY child has something they can do on their own: copy spelling words, finish a math page, etc.  Be specific:  "Those two pages have to be finished before you eat lunch, so don't dawdle." 3. For Students Who Mostly Work by Themselves - Have a Daily Appointment Make sure they are staying on track.  Set goals.  "This chapter has to be read before tomorrow so you can start on the assignment.  If you can't finish it during the school day, work on it after supper." 4. Don't worry about unessential subjects Music in our family was piano lessons, voice lessons, or dance lessons.  Anything I did not have to do!  They were not cheated; two of my kids pursued fine arts after high school.  Art lessons mainly were appreciation – Seton books and the Art Institute of Chicago.  You can tour famous museums online, too.  PE was town sports – that was enough. 5. Skip unnecessary busy work If Junior is a good speller, give him a pretest on Monday.  If he only gets one or two words wrong, have him write them ten times each and give him another oral test on Tuesday. If there are twenty English problems identifying proper and common nouns, assign the first ten.  If Janie gets them all right, move on to the next subject.  Do the same thing with math fact problems.  Repetition is the key to learning, but if you have it, you have it! 6. Schedule tidy time. Having polished floors and sparkling windows can be challenging, but a tidy house makes all the difference to your peace of mind.  Assign chores that include washing dishes and cleaning counters.  Jackets are hung up, and laundry is folded and put away.  Half an hour after school and another after dinner often does the trick if everyone chips in. 7. EVERYONE Chips In If kids have moved back after college or are attending college while living at home, that's great.  But a free ride does not include free maid service. They must take care of their laundry and clean up after themselves; they have to contribute their labor to the household:  mowing the lawn, mopping floors, cooking dinner, whatever.   You Won't Regret It:  Young adults living at home should not be a burden – they should be just the opposite – fully contributing household members. Thanks to Kimberly for sending us this idea. Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

We have discussed institutions of higher learning in another podcast, but today, we will discuss graduating high school students who may have had enough of school—at least for now. A son is not sure if he wants to go to college. A daughter thinks she wants to be a dentist, a hairdresser, or a chef but is unsure what these entail. Today, let's talk about how to help those kids. Show Notes: Some kids are great students and have plans and professional aspirations.  BUT College is now the default for many families, but should they reconsider? Cost is prohibitive. Campus life is less than wholesome. Is Junior or Sis ready to leave home? Do your grad’s aspirations require college? What should they do?  Some possibilities Get a Job - You cannot go wrong with taking a year off to think about your future and earn some money. ·      Build "employment skills." Show up on time, Learn to take orders from a superior, navigate a workplace, and stay off your phone. ·      Test Drive a job in a field your student is considering: Front desk at a hair salon or dental office, carpenter's helper, restaurant host.  ·      Learn Money Skills - Build a bank account, buy and insure a car. Go into the Military Great benefits - Job training and after discharge: Free education - Low-cost mortgages Learn teamwork - Hard work - Physical fitness - Discipline Travel on the government's dime. Take Time to Build a Spiritual Life Frequent Mass and Confession - Get regular spiritual direction - Go on retreat Volunteer in your Community Church: altar server, lector, choir, teach CCD – Scouts – Help an elderly neighbor  Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

This time of year, many homeschooling parents are dealing with high school seniors who are wondering what they will do with their lives. Join Ginny and Mary Ellen in a lively conversation about post-high school educational options—their pros and cons—for young Catholic adults. Your hosts' insight and practical advice are always flavored with their inimitable humor.  Show Notes: Many homeschooling parents have high school seniors wondering what they will do with their lives. Join Ginny and Mary Ellen in a lively conversation about a wide variety of post-high school educational options—their pros and cons—for young Catholic adults. Neumann Guide schools –Colleges recognized for their commitment to a faithful Catholic education. Pros - Easy access to the sacraments and other spiritual benefits. Many have expanded their academic offerings. They can be counted on NOT to teach your kids anything opposed to the faith - Wholesome living conditions - no coed dorms. Cons - Private schools – not taxpayer-funded $$$, Distance from home and family, they might not offer certain fields of study. Catholic Trade Schools –An early but growing trend in the Catholic sphere. Pros - Many of the same benefits as Neumann Guide Schools – wholesome environment – opportunities for spiritual growth. Less costly and takes less time (associate degree), Kids with a trade will have few problems finding a job. Cons - It's a new concept with no proven track record. There is uncertainty about which credits will transfer if kids pursue higher education. Community Colleges Pros - Kids can live at home – a BIG plus. While not spiritually uplifting, the lack of residential campus life can be an improvement over four-year schools.  Many students go to class and work, which is WAY more cost-effective. Credits will typically transfer to a four-year state school. Cons - Any spiritual growth must come from local churches and families. State Colleges and Universities Pros - It is much cheaper than private institutions, especially for in-state students, and offers a wide range of majors.  Credits transfer; many have well-regarded schools for particular subjects, such as fine arts, bioengineering, and premed. Often, they are connected to local institutions for internships, etc. Cons - Campus life is often at odds with Catholic teaching, which requires students to be firmly grounded in the faith BEFORE enrolling. Look for Opus Dei study centers and Neumann Centers. Most professors are left-wing and prejudiced against traditional values, although that can vary among departments. Private Colleges and Universities Pros - Many have strong name recognition and greatly benefit graduates seeking jobs. Strong alumni networks for job opportunities. Prestigious programs that make it easier to enter into prestigious graduate programs. Cons - $$$$ Do not allow students to become so obsessed with going to a big-name school that they forget they will graduate with possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. Even smaller, less-known colleges are expensive, and they may not accept some transfer credits. Campus life is not always wholesome. Look for Opus Dei study centers or Neumann Centers. Homeschooling Resources Newman Guide Recognized Colleges Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

Every homeschool parent fervently hopes to raise a child who loves to read. Once they find themselves loving a book, a series, or a subject and choose to immerse themselves in the pages of a book, we have won half the battle.  So, how do we encourage children to read? How do we make it so much a part of life that there is no option but to be a reader? Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny explain ten ways to raise a reader. Show Notes: 1. Be a reader. Let your child see you enjoying a book, magazine, or newspaper.  2. Fill your house with books. Go to the library, pick up books at sales, thrift stores, and garage sales, trade books with other moms, and put books on the Christmas lists. 3. Read aloud every day. Read aloud to the newborn, the toddler, and the primary and secondary ages. It cannot be overestimated how important it is, even for toddlers.  4. It must be a live experience; audiobooks are not the same. 5. It’s okay to be interrupted. Answer the questions, make funny noises, notice the pictures, and point to things. 6. Give emerging readers time; don’t rush it. Often, a child who has been struggling suddenly gets it. Be patient.  7. Reading at this age should inspire imagination, encourage curiosity, and be fun. 8. If you suspect a learning issue such as dyslexia, don’t panic. There are programs available to help you*. Many families deal with these issues; don’t let them quench a child’s desire to read. 9. When a child is reading independently, check in often and provide a wide selection. Don’t neglect comics and series of books. Create a culture of reading. 10. Don’t forget non-fiction! A book about video games is still a book. If your child loves dinosaurs, sharks, or the rainforest, get some books about it. Listener question:  This is an interesting one from Michael Lewis I was wondering if you would consider making the title a bit more generic to account for the fact that plenty of dads out there are considering dropping the 9 to 5 and full-time homeschooling.  The name of the podcast reflects our experience as homeschooling mothers, but we support and admire all the dads who have taken on the majority of homeschooling responsibility. Homeschooling is a whole family proposition, and whichever parent takes on the bulk of the teaching, leaving the other to take on the bulk of earning a living, knows that both are living lives of heroic virtue.   Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Special Services Seton Testing Services

While knowing the Four Rs (reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmatic, and religion) is essential for your child to succeed in life, it is also important to learn certain life skills to function well in the world. Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny discuss ordinary things your children need to know, like how to manage money, how to really clean a room, and how to plan and cook healthy meals.  Show Notes: Did you know that an entire Instagram account is dedicated to the hapless texts teens send their parents while trying to navigate life?  Questions such as:  What aisle is the pasta water in?  What’s my middle name?  Can I put the big silver pot in the microwave?   While knowing the Four Rs (reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmatic, and religion) is essential for your child to succeed in life, it is also important to learn certain life skills to function well in the world. So often, we hear of young people who cannot: Shop for groceries Do a load of laundry  Iron a shirt Sew on a button The result is that they cannot cope efficiently in life.  You can’t send your children into the world without teaching them how to care for themselves, their homes, and the people around them. Part of the problem is that an entire generation of people out there whose mommies did everything for them, and it shows. Let’s run through a few basic life skills your children need to know how to do. Managing money.  ·       Children should be taught the value of money. ·       How to keep track of it from a fairly young age.  ·       They must learn to save, give to charity, and spend wisely.  ·       Grasp the long view of money. Every stop at Chik-Fil-A is that much less in savings.  ·       Teach them to write a budget and stick to it. 2.     How to make small talk.  ·       Conversation is a life skill.  ·       You will be called upon to get to know strangers in business and social situations.  ·       You must make eye contact and speak in sentences. ·       Learn to ask polite questions, smile, and be courteous. 3.     How to really clean a room. ·       Start at the top and work your way down, dusting, vacuuming, and polishing. ·       Putting things away, fluffing pillows, and vacuuming curtains. ·       Washing windows, baseboards, and moldings. 4.     How to iron a shirt. ·       This skill will save money. ·       Your clothes will last longer. ·       And it’s a dying art and will impress friends, family, and prospective spouse. 5.     Taking care of a car. ·       Pumping gas, checking the oil, and changing a tire. ·       Jumping the battery, cooling an overheating radiator, and general maintenance. ·       Preparing for an emergency.  6.     How to read a map. How to plan and cook some healthy meals as well as how to grocery shop. Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services   Notes from Social Media Anastasia wants to know, "How do you challenge a high ability/gifted child? What’s the best way to do that without stifling their natural wonder and love of learning?" Ginny offered, "Anastasia, they still have to learn to apply themselves to academic tasks to build future study skills. But what keeps them engaged, challenged, and stimulates their wonder and love of learning is enrichment, which includes class trips and special programs of particular interest to them."

A recent social media meme asked, "Am I teaching my children for Heaven, or am I teaching them for Harvard?" Ginny and Mary Ellen address these important questions on the minds of many parents in today's podcast, thoughtfully defining the meaning of those destinations and guiding you to find your family's unique homeschooling solution.  Program Notes: First, no parent wants their child to go to hell, and we all recognize that only a handful go to that particular university or any Ivy.  So, what are we talking about?   Let's define some terms. Heaven means that we give our children a thoroughly Catholic education so they: Will stay close to the faith. Live virtuous lives. Go to Heaven.  Harvard means raising leaders for success in their: Community Country World Ability to get others to Heaven. Not every child is a good candidate for the Ivy League, but Every child can change the world—our job is to prepare them for that. We must: Form our children in the faith. Encourage pious practices. Teach them about the saints. Give them a rigorous academic education.   Practical Suggestions Great literature must be read to train getting past the 10-second social media blurbs.    They need the thoughts of great men and women to be great citizens themselves.   They need to learn how to think, form opinions, and process information, all through the lens of the Catholic faith.  A true understanding of science is what produces pro-life adults.   They have to aim for as high a place as their abilities can take them.  Can't Afford College?  Community college is a thrifty alternative.   Or join the military and let the GI bill pay for college.   Or take a year or two off to work and save. Very Important Life Lessons Let them play sports to develop discipline. If they like a particular sport, encourage them to work hard, stretch themselves, and strive for excellence. Sadly, too many young people have no idea how to present themselves in public.   Teach them gracious manners, self-sacrifice, and service to others. They will stand out. Attractive personalities do just that – they attract others. Hopefully, some of your children, the talented and lucky ones, will reach positions of power and authority. Our country and our world need them. But every one of them can: Serve on the parish council, your town board to keep the porn shop from opening in town, or your library board to keep offensive books out of the children's section. Organize the bus trip to the March for Life. Raise money for pregnancy centers. Start a travel baseball, softball, or soccer league in your town to keep kids busy with wholesome pursuits. Summary - Moral adults can improve the world in thousands of ways.  So don't teach for Heaven or Harvard – teach for both!   Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services   Notes from Social Media April asks if we have some encouragement for a family dealing with complex medical issues. "My question is: what would be the one thing you would share with a family to encourage them when they have a season where they are exponentially challenged, and they are spending more time praying than "educating"? I know what we do, but I'd love to hear what your combined experience offers your listeners. Thank you for sharing your talents." Mary Ellen replied, "April, when you're a medically complex family, you are basically required to be flexible. Plans, deadlines, and intentions all take a backseat to health. With this in mind, it also presents a wonderful opportunity to teach fortitude, discernment, gratitude, patience, etc. I hope that helps. Please know that you and your family are in my prayers."

Providing children with a Catholic education was considered so important to Irish, Italian, and Polish immigrants that parishes built the school BEFORE the church.  A lot has changed but Mary Ellen and Ginny remind us that one thing that has NOT changed is the serious obligation of Catholic parents to give their children an authentic Catholic education. Today they discuss how homeschoolers can best fulfill that obligation.   Show Notes: Years ago, providing children with a Catholic education was considered so crucial that parishes built the school BEFORE the church.  What changed?  Well, lots, but today, Mary Ellen and Ginny remind us that the one thing that has NOT changed is the serious obligation of Catholic parents to give their children an authentic Catholic education. They also discuss how homeschoolers can be best equipped to fulfill that obligation. Parents are required to give their children a thoroughly Catholic education – period. So, what does this mean for homeschoolers? Catholic materials have to be the default choice.  ·       There are a few legitimate reasons to use non-Catholic materials – a special needs child, could be one of them. ·       Money can be a factor if you truly cannot afford a Catholic option. 2.     Content is a critical issue in reading, science, and history. ·       Books should teach the Catholic Faith and give examples of the saints.   ·       Christian books can be downright anti-Catholic.  3.     It is imperative to teach the extraordinary accomplishments of faithful Catholics. Holy Mother Church is often portrayed as anti-science.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Some sources are quick to bring up Galileo but neglect to mention that: ·       It was Catholic cleric Nicolas Copernicus who first identified the sun as the center of our solar system.  ·       Augustinian Monk Gregor Mendel founded the field of genetics.   ·       Louis Pasteur, founder of bacteriology, was a devout Catholic who prayed the rosary daily.   ·       Seismology is often called the Jesuit science because of the order’s contributions.   That’s why you need a Catholic program!   4.     Your parish CCD program, even the best-intentioned of them, is Catholic-lite.   They cannot and do not replace daily religious instruction in your home.  Thirty hours a year just does not cut it.  And it includes a minimal Catholic history of accomplishment.  A Great Catholic program we love: Seton Home Study School Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services Society of Catholic Scientists Notes from Social Media Beth from Illinois wants to know: How much time is typically spent on kindergarten? My second child is on the way, and I am overwhelmed by the idea of managing a school schedule with a new baby at home.  Best advice: Don’t sweat it.  Maybe an hour to two during the day can be split up. Be flexible using baby’s naptime or downtime.  Now, as they start to crawl and walk, things get challenging. You’ll find more about that in our episode, The Secret of Teaching with a Toddler in the House.

Are you considering homeschooling but are not quite there yet? You may have bought a few books, read a few blogs, and followed a few Instagram accounts. It can be really hard to say, "We are doing this!" and jump in. Well, fear not: Ginny and Mary Ellen have helped thousands with their clear and simple practical advice, along with a generous helping of good humor. Listen now at the link below!  https://www.setonhome.org/podcast/   Program Notes: How Do I Get Started? Are you considering homeschooling but are not quite there yet? Have you dipped your toes in? You may have bought a few books or read a few blogs. It can be really hard to jump in and say “We are doing this!” Ginny and Mary Ellen have a few things to consider that might help you take the plunge.    So, if you think you should homeschool, we agree and have a few tips to help you get started. Check out the laws in your state. ·       HSLDA is an excellent resource for state rules. See the link in Resources below. ·       Discreetly check out the compliance your local school district requires.  ·       Look for local Facebook groups. ·       Veteran moms are an excellent resource for the ins and outs of reporting. ·       If you withdraw from public school, sending a letter stating you will homeschool is standard. ·       Provide the minimum of information. Too much information can cause trouble.   2.     Start with a boxed curriculum.  ·       In the first year, you might be more relaxed if you are enrolled somewhere.  ·       It's straightforward; you know all the bases are covered.  ·       As you gain experience, you can pick and choose or write your own. 3.     Get organized.   ·       Start getting your house in order.  ·       Be ruthless and get rid of everything not serving your family.  ·       Set up a system to easily plan your meals, tidy up, and grocery shop.  ·       Record a phone message:  "Schools in session. I'll return your call after dismissal." 4.     Get routines started.  ·       Envision your daily routine and rhythm.  ·       Establish play times, chore times, nap times, and bedtimes. ·       Schedules will make your first year of homeschooling much less stressful.  5.     Make a Plan.  ·       Decide on your start date, vacation days, and end date.  ·       Plan a few field trips and art projects.  ·       Get a teacher planner for each child. 6.     Time outside your home.  ·       Use good judgment in choosing activities. ·       Your first year is not the time to jump into outside activities. ·       Those activities will be available in the second semester or even next year. ·       Time may be your greatest asset, be a miser spending it in your first year.   Homeschooling Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)   Notes from Social Media Maria and Carrie posted on the podcast's FB page asking for tips on how to teach spelling.   There are two keys to successful learning:  repetition and multi-sensory.  Kids who struggle with spelling should write them 5 or 10 times each.  They see them, and the words go into muscle memory when they write them.  Even better, say them and spell them as they write them.  Book b-o-o-k Book.  Make it fun by letting them write words on a whiteboard or the patio floor using sidewalk chalk.  Before they test, have students march up and down, repeating the words and their spellings several times.

Who says Catholic homeschool students can't enjoy school spirit and connection with their fellow students? Not Seton Home Study School! Seton has an online forum, Catholic Harbor, to provide just those things and more. Listen to learn more! --- Draper Warren Bio: Draper Warren is the Director of Admissions at Seton and the Admin of Catholic Harbor. He is a Seton alumnus and graduate of Christendom College. He has worked at Seton for over 25 years, earned an MBA, and is currently completing a doctoral degree in educational leadership at Marymount University. --- Show Links: https://www.setonhome.org/student-life/catholic-harbor/ https://www.catholicharbor.com

Venerable Fulton Sheen said. "There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be."  These words could easily be applied to homeschooling. Too many people react negatively when they hear of a family homeschooling, but these impressions could not be further from the truth. Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny take on the naysayers' challenge with Debunking Seven Myths and Misconceptions About Homeschooling, arming you with the real story.   #1 Parents are not qualified to teach their children.  This is ridiculous, considering a child learns more in the first five years of life than in the remainder of their lives, and that's entirely due to the parents. You can find all kinds of resources to help you teach. #2. Homeschooled children don't get to socialize.  This is the most pervasive myth about homeschooling. People always bring it up, and it is just not true. Numerous studies prove that homeschooled kids excel in socialization.  Bottom Line - School socialization is virtually useless: This generation is the unhappiest we have witnessed in modern history. Kids—the vast majority of whom are in school—are miserable, so socialization is not what it is cracked up to be. 3. It's harder for homeschooled students to get into college.  This may have been true at some point, but now colleges are actively recruiting homeschooled students.  4. Only parents with advanced degrees can homeschool.  That is not true. Any parent can homeschool. If you are unfamiliar with the material, there are teacher's editions, videos (YouTube, Khan Academy), and some home study schools have counselors. Online classes are also an option. As long as you are directing your child's education, you are homeschooling. You don't have to be the one teaching every class. Also, it is fun to learn alongside your kids. Public school teachers all have degrees, many advanced, and that system is a disaster. Parents would almost have to try to do worse. 5. Homeschoolers need to experience diversity.  This is a funny criticism since public school classrooms are strictly geographical in their composition. You are sitting in a room with people who make up your neighborhood. How diverse is that? However, homeschooled students get out into the world, travel, feed their curiosity, volunteer, and have the opportunity to explore the world as they learn about it. 6. You can't work outside of the home and homeschool.  Again, not true. You can homeschool at any time of day or any schedule that works for you. You have to be organized and sometimes let something go (your floor may be sticky for a while), but it can be done and done well. 7. Homeschoolers can't participate in extracurricular activities.  Homeschool kids play on soccer teams, go to dance classes, and participate in the same club leagues and other organizations that other kids do. Because their time is better managed, they also have an opportunity to follow up on their interests. They have time to read for pleasure, craft, tinker with Legos, or build forts in the yard.   There will always be naysayers when you choose a path different from the norm. When you prayerfully decide that homeschooling is right for your family, do not let the Debbie Downers of the world rob you of the peace that comes with knowing that your child is growing and learning in a loving, safe environment from parents who want the best from them.   Resources: Homeschooling and the Question of Socialization Revisited, Richard G. Medlin, Stetson Univ. Richard G. Medlin, Stetson University (A wealth of information here, See: Publications)   Homeschooling Information: Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

Do you have a child who is hesitant to try new things? Who would rather sit and stare at a book because they are convinced, they can’t do it, even before they try?  Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss how confidence can be encouraged in even the most hesitant children and chart a map of seven key lessons for building self-confidence in your homeschooled child. The Hesitant Child Do you have a child who is hesitant to try new things? Who would rather sit and stare at a book because they are convinced they can’t do it before they even try? Self-confidence is an essential life skill, enabling a child to face challenges, cope with frustration, and try their best at new things.  Seven Key Lessons to Build Self-Confidence in your homeschooled child. 1. First and foremost, self-confidence is knowing you are a child of God. He has given you gifts and talents and expects you to use them. When you know that, it becomes easier to believe in yourself. One of the best results of self-confidence is the ability to do the right thing even when it is unpopular, which is part of life in the world today.  2. Model confidence for your children. Tell them that sometimes new things make you nervous or stressed out, but they mostly turn out fine.  We were not created to worry but to try to discern God’s will for us. Sometimes, that means doing something new or out of our comfort zone.   3. Praise sincerely. That doesn’t mean constantly. Constant praise diminishes the effect and kids know insincerity when they hear it. It’s a “you get a sticker for everything” culture. Praise when something is truly praiseworthy and make it meaningful.  It doesn’t have to be direct praise.  You tell Daddy that little Johnny took over for you to make dinner when you were called away.  He was a lifesaver.  You don’t have to say to him directly.  Everyone will know that he saved the day. And he’ll know it, too.   4. Help them set realistic goals. Some kids will set the bar for themselves too high for their developmental age. 5. Guide them in problem-solving, ask why something isn’t working, help troubleshoot the problem, and let them work it through. 6. Let them fail. It’s the best teacher.  Let them see that sometimes, even our best efforts are not enough to reach a goal, and that’s okay. 7. Give them responsibilities and their completion opportunities to earn privileges. Children gain confidence in their abilities when they accomplish something – not when they get an unearned trophy. Start with household responsibilities such as yard work or babysitting. As they gain skills, they can market them.  Epilogue: Two of my grandkids were hired to help at a large family gathering – mainly to entertain little ones.  They did that but also helped with party cleanup.  Got glowing reviews and tipped!) Homeschooling Information Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

To Learn Online or Not – That's the Question Online homeschooling programs offer a tempting solution for busy parents. However, it's essential to consider both the benefits and drawbacks.  Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen cut through the noise to provide practical, no-nonsense advice, wrapped, as always, in their unique humor and warmth.   Little kids – preschool and primary grades.   Overall, there are advantages to Online Learning, but sitting a child this age in front of a screen gets a big thumbs down, with just a few exceptions. Kids this age need to be:   Jumping around. Sniffing flowers. Chasing bunnies, real or imagined. These activities develop imagination, observational, and communication skills. It's their chance to tell you what they have seen, heard, touched, and smelled.  Stuck in the house? - Give them blocks, Legos, or a whiteboard with markers—not a screen.  A word or two on Handwriting: Have you seen children's Handwriting recently? Does it look like chicken scratch? Most young children can't read cursive, and virtually none can write it.  They will whine but need to sit and practice penmanship for hours.  Writing, cutting, and pasting builds small motor skills and reinforces learning.     Is online education ever appropriate in younger years? Two opportunities stand out: Online Language Lessons Being bilingual does great things for children's brains. Online language lessons are a solution. Enrichment Programs For instance, if students study bees in science and are very interested, an online enrichment lesson or video could be beneficial. But an even better solution might be a trip to the library.   Online for Middle and High Schoolers?   The PROS: Online Can be Appropriate for Older Kids - Upper-level and even middle-school math, science, and foreign languages. Even before high school, moms may need help teaching grammar and diagramming. Teaching Textbooks has been a lifesaver in many homeschools. Online classes allow kids to hear lectures from experts or watch videos that expand on a textbook lesson. As students mature, it will be easier to put screens in perspective. The CONS: Isolation - It is psychologically unhealthy to be isolated.  This generation has more diagnosed mental illness and higher suicide rates than any before it. Human beings are social creatures - we need social interaction. We don't get that in front of a screen. Tongue-tied - We've all passed groups of teens who stand near one another but never look up from their phones. They don't know how to communicate. Teens struggle to get jobs because they lack social confidence.  None of this gets better if they stare at a screen all day.   Homeschooling Information Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

Many of us started homeschooling to pass on our Catholic faith and get our kids to heaven. But in the back of our minds, when we can think past laundry and dishes and driving kids to activities, we hope they can exert a positive influence here on earth.  Our guest offers a career track to fulfill that influence in a Christ-centered manner. Dr. Maura Wenzel’s nursing career satisfies her desire to serve, love others as Christ loves, and see Christ in every patient. Her choice may be a perfect fit for your Catholic homeschooler.   Program notes: Now more than ever, why do we need nurses with a solid moral compass?  Dr. Wenzel is a Clinical Associate professor at the Catholic University of America’s Conway School of Nursing. As a former U.S. Navy nurse, Dr. Wenzel has experience in many fields of nursing, including surgical, emergency, and perioperative nursing. Dr. Wenzel is passionate about nursing, nursing education, and weaving the Catholic Faith throughout her courses.  She and her husband and three young children live in southern Maryland. An inside look at this gratifying profession.  ● What attracted her to nursing? ● What are the emotional or spiritual traits that make the best nurses?   ● How did homeschooling help you develop them? ● What high school courses are most important?  ● What is the difference between R.N., BSN, and APRN?   Why is Catholic University so attractive to Catholic homeschoolers? Catholic—The beautiful campus, in a very safe part of Washington, D.C., is steeped in Catholic culture. Surrounded by the U.S. Conference of Bishops, next to John Paul II Shrine, there is an abundance of priests and nuns on campus and many opportunities for daily mass. Professional – An education from an excellent faculty, teaching in a new state-of-the-art nursing building with a floor replicating a hospital wing. Receive a nursing education that clearly emphasizes the role of ethics, values, and spirituality in health care in a city with many partnering hospitals for clinical experiences.   “Nursing is an excellent profession for those who wish to serve but in a much more spiritual way. It is an opportunity to love others as Christ loves and to see Christ in every patient.  As a young nurse, I found my deep faith in our Lord to be the framework through which I was able to process many challenging patients, situations, and long hours.  Still, in a much more substantial way, it helped me to persevere through new and challenging medical ethical dilemmas. The world has shifted since my early nursing days, and the challenges we Catholic nurses face now are even more difficult to navigate.” Dr. Maura Adams Wenzel   Resources Conway School of Nursing The Catholic University of America Seton Magazine: Answering the Nursing Call to Duty by Dr. Maura Wenzel  Homeschooling Information Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

In an enlightening exchange, Mary Ellen and Ginny discuss the remarkable but often overlooked value of a Liberal Arts education.    Michael Yost of Thomas More College joins our hosts today, revealing why a Liberal Arts education may be the wisest, most valuable choice your student could ever make. This conversation could change everything if college is in your family's future.   The Remarkable and Increasing Value of a Liberal Arts Education Michael Yost is the Senior Admissions Officer at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts. He is a 2018 graduate of the college where he met his lovely bride. They are the proud parents of three beautiful children.  Tapping into Mr. Yost's expertise as Senior Admissions Officer, our hosts discuss: How affordable is Thomas More College? Work-study opportunities. Why is the Rome Semester integral to their education? The Admission Department's view of "Mom diplomas." The value of extracurriculars on the college application.   Full disclosure by Mary Ellen: I have a daughter who graduated from Thomas More College, so I am partial to the college; it's dear to me.    What makes Thomas More College a unique experience compared to other colleges? The focus is on a college education rather than training.  Students learn to be fully rational, knowledgeable creatures capable of understanding themselves, their Maker, and the world around them. They are trained to be talented communicators, able to process information rapidly and clearly.  Skilled in communication abilities needed in a world driven by data and information.   The Thomas More College Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.  Our Program consists exclusively of the great works of the Western canon, deliberately organized in our single, integrated program of studies.  By carefully guiding in-class conversations, our exceptional faculty start students down the path of Wisdom in a mode more characteristic of discovery than instruction.  These aspects set the College apart from most other institutions of higher learning, yet the College is truly unique in its emphasis on the necessity of experience.  Each student sees first hand the impact of culture in our mandatory semester in Rome, begins the study of philosophy by studying the natural world in our Natural History course, and learns the value of craftsmanship in our Guild program.   The Rome Program – Integral to the Thomas More Education In their Rome semester, Thomas More College sophomores  Traverse catacombs and cloisters, piazzas, and palazzos. Explore the heart of the Christian West. Experience the history of Christendom written in the stones and on the ceilings, in the streets and the cemeteries, and in the skyline dominated not by skyscrapers but by the dome of St. Peter's.   Statistics: After four years at Thomas More College, each student has Written at least 64 papers. Participated in 1,792 seminar hours Translated over 1,000 lines of Homer, Cicero, and other Classical authors. Read 10,000 pages of the Great Books. Traveled over 8,400 miles to and from Rome, Italy. Visited over 100 baroque churches, Roman architectural sites, Renaissance piazzas, and catacombs. See it all here.    Thomas More Resources FAQs Meet Michael Yost The Rome Program: An Integral Part of the TMC Experience   Homeschool Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services  

Let's All Keep Chickens! Dalia Monterroso is the passionate author of "Let's All Keep Chickens! The Down-to-Earth Guide to Natural Practices for Healthier Birds and a Happier World," and her enthusiasm for this homeschool-friendly topic is contagious.   She is a popular teacher on the basics of backyard chicken keeping. In today’s show, Dalia talks with Ginny and Mary Ellen about her book, which is gaining popularity among homeschooling families who appreciate its educational value as part of their learning curriculum.    Program Notes: Dalia is the creator of the website and YouTube channel "Welcome to Chickenlandia," podcast "Bawk Tawk," and an online course called "Chickenlandia's Backyard Chickens 101". She also hosted a TEDx talk titled "I Dream of Chickens."  She is also the author of "Let's All Keep Chickens! The Down-to-Earth Guide to Natural Practices for Healthier Birds and a Happier World," a comprehensive guide for beginners and experienced chicken keepers.   Getting started 1. Is it legal to own chickens where you live? 2. What is the expense and the daily care?  3. Is there a good number of chickens to start with?  4. What's your best advice for frugally getting started? 5. What are the recommended breeds?   Chickenlandia for Homeschoolers 1. Why does chicken keeping resonate with homeschooling families?  2. What unexpected life skills can kids gain from interacting with chickens?  3. How do you integrate chicken keeping into your curriculum?  4. How does chicken keeping help us connect better with ourselves and each other?   Resources "Let's All Keep Chickens! The Down-to-Earth Guide to Natural Practices for Healthier Birds and a Happier World Dalia's website and YouTube channel "Welcome to Chickenlandia." Her online course is called "Chickenlandia's Backyard Chickens 101." Dalia's TEDx talk titled "I Dream of Chickens."    Homeschool Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services

Is your homeschooling experiencing the “End of the Winter Blues?” Are you frustrated that you and the kids have been cooped up way too long? Ginny and Mary Ellen have the tonic for that. Their formula is simple, and their solutions are straightforward. Their insight, ideas, and effective routines will help you manage everything.   How to Homeschool and Not Lose Your Mind (PART II) This is part two of our topic. If you missed one, listen to the episode posted last week. Last week, we covered discipline, early rising, prayer, and focusing on what is right for your family. So, let’s jump back in. Household – three things must be done daily. 1 – Laundry: washed, dried, folded, and put away. 2 – Meals: menu plan, grocery plan, and a well-stocked pantry. 3 – School: math, reading, and religion. Keys to Success Simplify your home and life as much as possible. Eliminate clutter. Minimize time out of the house. Before you join a co-op or pod school - Discern carefully! They sound attractive, but: Will it be worth it? They require everyone to be up and dressed for outside the house. Drive time there, entertaining the non-co-op kids, and a drive home. Don’t buy the socialization nonsense.  Let them be friends with their siblings, cousins, neighbors, and teammates. Socialization occurs outside of academic situations all the time. Basic Rules of Life – Children Pray with them. Instill discipline. Give them meaningful work. Basic Rules of Life – Older Boys Maintain a schedule. Should have physical work. Occupy their time as much as possible. Teens should get paying jobs, gaining valuable skills that their peers lack. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Spend time outside every day. Even 15 minutes makes a difference. Kids need vigorous exercise and lots of fresh air. Better concentration in class, and standardized test scores went way up. Homeschool strategy in a nutshell Pick a program and stick with it. Simplify your curriculum. Don’t follow trends (stay off the internet). Minimize the outings. Do school every day. Strengthening your marriage is very important.  Schedule a home date regularly. Welcome him when he arrives. Praise him often and speak well of him. Listen to his concerns and involve him in your decisions.   Homeschool Resources Seton Home Study School Seton Testing Services