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.

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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.

1. 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.

1. 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."