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. FALSE

• The 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. FALSE

• Probably 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. FALSE

• Children 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 Resources

Coping with Burnout - Scroll down to Episode 10 on 1/25/23

Seton Home Study School

Seton 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 chores

• Dust furniture and run a vacuum.
• Empty room trash.
• Teach them how to do their laundry.

As they get older

• Teach 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 Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton 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 online

If 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.

Audiobooks

I 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 classes

Sometimes, 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 enrollment

Most 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 Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton 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 Notes

Motivation 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 Motivate

1. 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 off
• They 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

1. “Will my kids have any friends?”

   • Sparse population, long drives, fewer ready-made peer groups

   • Kids everywhere spend more time indoors/on screens—urban life isn’t automatically better

2. Lack of parental support or local mentors

   • Few (or no) other homeschoolers nearby

   • Fear of feeling “weird” or being criticized for homeschooling

3. Mom-level loneliness & burnout

   • No extended family close at hand

   • Temptation to compare yourself to picture-perfect online families

Practical ways to build real community

1. Leverage existing institutions

   • Parish life – altar-serving, CCD, youth groups, Sunday coffee-and-bagels hospitality

   • Little League, scouts, dance, music – shared interests trump age gaps

   • Public library – ask librarians to connect you with other homeschool patrons; book rooms for classes

2. Host & invite

   • Post-Mass brunches or crock-pot chili after Sunday-evening Mass

   • Team pizza parties, park picnics, backyard “bring-your-own-blanket” days

3. Find (or create) online bridges

   • Facebook groups: “Catholic Homeschooling Moms,” local “[Your-Town] Homeschoolers,” curriculum-specific groups

   • Program-specific networks (e.g., Seton’s My Seton family locator; Catholic Harbor for teens)

4. Special-needs bonus

   • Mixed-age homeschool culture often embraces kids with disabilities—fosters compassion and confidence

5. Mind your manners

   • Share positives; avoid trash-talking neighbors’ schooling choices

   • Simple, non-confrontational answers when asked, “Why do you homeschool?”

Key takeaways

• Community 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 mentioned

• Seton Home Study School & Seton Books

• Catholic Harbor (teen discussion platform for enrolled Seton students)

• Local parish ministries, scouts, sports leagues, public libraries

Thanks for listening!

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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 Success

1. 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 bedrooms
• Get 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 Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton 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.

1. 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.
2. 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!
3. Double batch - When you make a meal, double the recipe and freeze one meal.
4. 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.
5. Go to the library or online and look up some simple recipes—one-pan recipes, 30-minute recipes, and 5-ingredient recipes.
6. Allow for the occasional pizza/take-out night.
7. 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.
8. 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.

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Homeschooling Resources

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