Search Results for: homeschool tips

Best Homeschool Tips – Survey Response – Episode 501

Homeschooling can be a wonderful experience, and in this episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms, we discuss the best homeschool tips. We surveyed our listeners. Join me to find out what they advised.

Thanks to our sponsor CTC Math. CTC is a highly rated math curriculum for homeschooled students for grades K-12. The family math package makes it ideal for large families at one low price. Visit the website for more information.

Last week I shared a milestone episode, 500, and the topic was Homeschool Do Overs; this episode is a continuation with a twist; I selected some of the best advice for homeschool moms who answered our survey. While the question centered on the idea of a homeschool do-over, I found that their advice better fit the category of “The Best Homeschool Tips.”

Check out Homeschool Do-OVER here.

During my years of homeschooling, I’ve received the most encouragement from like-minded families. I still consider my past homeschool friends to be among my closest, the reason. They experienced what I experienced; they put aside their goals and aspirations to focus on their relationship with God, their spouse, their children, their home, and their homeschool.

These ladies were faithful, and most continued the homeschool journey throughout high school. Everyone did what was best for their family; my friends are wonderful news. Keep your eyes on what you and your family think is important, and ignore the rest.

I learned that extended family might be well-meaning – yet, we have to decide what is best, which is a good place to start. If you have not taken the time to decide on your family goals, begin there.

Best Homeschool Tips

As a synopsis of the pages of recommendations and suggestions, I’ve placed them in categories; Faith, Family, Homeschool. I have edited the comments to make them easier to read on-air and kept the names anonymous! If you hear a comment you made on the survey and want to share your name, visit the podcast page at Vintage Homeschool Moms, look for episode 501, Best Homeschool Tips, and leave your comment there!

See if any of these ideas resonate with you!

Faith Tips:

1. God’s to-do list and my to-do list are often very different. This mom shared that while she did make plans and lists, she found her day would go so much better when she placed her plans into God’s hand and asked him to help her accomplish what He wanted her to do.
2. This same person shared that she prayed about her homeschool year and would lay out the curriculum and ideas, even extra curricula, before the Lord. I love this idea because being in God’s will is the goal for us as Christians.
3. One mom said she wished she had focused more on the Bible/Apologetics and given her kids a solid foundation to launch them into a world that doesn’t value what we value. [This friend is one of the main reasons people homeschooled in the past, and it seems to have fallen off. It should be one of your main goals as homeschooling.]
4. I would have prayed more. My passion for praying for God’s will has grown as my walk with the Lord has grown. Praying correlates to my daily peace of mind and joy, which spilled over into my homeschool classroom and my girls who were a part of it. ♥️
5. Praying together as a family nightly and sharing praise reports. What had God done in your life each day?

Homeschool Tips:

1. You may have regrets, but choosing to homeschool your children will never be one of them.
2. Another mom wished she had unschooled and not tried to mimic public school in the early years.
3. Another shared she never intended to homeschool and was, and I quote, “literally thrust into it with no other options at the time. I had no time to research…it was just gone. We only planned to homeschool one year…but this fall is the start of our 12th year, with 13 more years to go.” She said the younger kids definitely will benefit from my early misses. (I love this!)
4. Another stated she wished she had been homeschooled from the start! [In fact, many of you said the same thing!] She began homeschooling when her daughter was in middle school, and it has been the biggest blessing for the family. She feels she missed out on time with her daughter. This is what many people say.
5. Take more field trips and fun days in junior high and high school. Another mom shared she wish she had made school more fun.
6. Have the children each try a class at the local college for dual enrollment, realizing it wasn’t all or nothing. (I did this with two high school students, and it worked extremely well. I was still part of their schooling; they took classes at home and experienced college-level classes where I could help them with good study habits.)
7. This same mom shared that they would not stop doing math over the summer as I did for too many years, as her kids would have benefited from the extra practice.
8. Helped her high schoolers prepare for and take CLEP exams. CLEP exams give a student credit for the class instead of having to take it in college. If your student tests well, this is a good option.
9. One mother shared that her third child, for many reasons, went into a private school in the seventh grade. The world pulled him away from us, and we have major regrets. Another mom said she allowed her daughter to mainstream back into public school in 10th grade. She lasted two years before begging to homeschool again. It caused a lot of unnecessary trauma for the entire family. She said, knowing what I know now about what goes on in those institutions, she wouldn’t let any of her children set foot in public school again. [Friends, don’t think private or Christian schools are the answer; we can be hands-off. We must often grab our kid’s hearts early on; if not, we can start today! I published a book some years back, Secret Code Time: Creating an Unbreakable Bond Between Parent and Child. It is available on my website in limited qualities in print and eBook. I also have podcasts on the topic of kids and relationships. This is key!
10. I wish I had focused on child-led learning sooner. I wish I had been better at making life skills part of our learning when my kids were younger. (We have a Life Skills podcast with Lisa Nehring that you should check out on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
11. Another said she wished they had more fun and more often.
12. One mom said she would be confident about homeschooling, which comes from experience.
13. Another mom said to avoid the online “all in one” curriculum. She admitted that using books with mom, lead teaching takes more time and work, yet she felt more in control and recognized the gaps her children had sooner. She said with online learning, her kids rushed through lessons, and it seems retained little. She also said it was difficult to change in middle and high school. I would encourage this mom that it is not too late to change, and while it might include allowing them to stay in this curriculum until she figures out what she wants to teach and how, it will be something she does not regret.
14. Testing for learning difficulties early on so that intervention and different curricula would be used.
15. Some parents spoke about specific curriculums. I don’t want to be negative about certain curriculums, but I want to say that Charlotte Mason’s inspiration is great, especially in her younger years. Avoid bandwagon curriculums or groups.
16. We use unit studies early on in my children’s homeschool, and I loved the idea of learning together and supplementing with math and reading when needed.

Family:

1. One mom said – that when homeschooling multiple children, remember they were individuals, which would have released expectations that they would learn similarly.
2. I wish I had modeled self-care a little bit more.
3. Another mom said, “I … know my children better than anyone, and I love them more than anyone, and looking at the result, I would spend less time worrying about what other people think, including family members who are passive-aggressive toward homeschooling or just plain don’t understand it. I don’t have to explain myself to others, and in a do-over situation, I wouldn’t.  Hindsight is 20/20! (Amen to this.)
4. A mom of one said socialization was difficult for an only child. To this mom, I would recommend joining homeschool groups and finding moms with like-minded philosophies and kids. My children played with kids of all ages, and that was something that, as homeschoolers, we learned to do!
5. One mom said she purchased a farm, thinking that was the best for her family, but in retrospect traveling the 50 states would have been something she would do over again.

There were so many more great ideas; I invite you to listen to episode 500 if you have not already, and I want to thank you for joining me today.

Greatest Homeschool Tips – Episode 447

What are the greatest homeschool tips of all time? Well, wait until you hear from veteran homeschool mom, author and speaker, Felice Gerwitz. In this session, she shares some of her best homeschooling tips from over thirty years of homeschooling.

Thanks to our sponsors! The movie – Show Me The Father

This film is sure to change hearts and point people to the true father in heaven.  It is a story of parenting and how faith can really make changes for the better in people’s lives. I teared up just watching the trailer and you will too! The links to the movie trailer are on the show notes page – you can find more information about local airing on the website as well as streaming in the near future. This is not to be missed.

In my years of homeschooling I purchased many different programs on getting your homeschool organized or homeschooling from the first letter of the alphabet to the last, or comprehensive this or that, and found after the first few pages that it was not for me. I learned that I had to know what I could and could not do well and focus on my strengths and that is where we will get started. I cover homeschooling, family, and even touch on extended family, faith, and relationships. You should look into your homeschool laws for your state to be sure you are compliant. Here are the HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense) homeschool laws by state.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but it is meant to give you some 25 tangible tips that you can do starting today.

Let’s Begin!

1. You – Parent: You are in charge. You and your husband are the only two people whose decisions and choices matter in your homeschool journey. If you both agree or agree to disagree, then that is the law of the land (or your household). Stand firm and do not let anyone and I mean anyone (even me) change your mind.
2. Each Other: Relationships matter. You and your spouse started together and should end your homeschool journey together. This happens if you A. Value each other. B. Appreciate Each Other C. Encourage Each Other D. Love each Other E. Take Care of Each Other and F. ALL of the Above.
3. Faith Matters: A family that is focused on personal gain instead of everlasting gain will do so much better. Faith brings a family together and leaves a legacy for your children. Films such as Show Me The Father is an excellent example.
4. Your Kids: You kids are not in charge. Not even close. And, your kids are not your friends. You are the parent and God gave you these kids for a purpose. (It may be a little fuzzy right now, but you’ll figure it out at some point.) Kids are wonderful, a blessing but need to listen.
5. Discipline is Key To Your Sanity: If you have kids that won’t go to bed and talk back when they are little the nightmare is just starting if you are going to homeschool them. You have to have consequences for your actions. Think about it, make a plan, and beyond all else? Follow through.
6. Others – Extended Family – Friends – Neighbors: Have opinions, and they have right to their opinions but you do not, and I repeat do not have to A. Listen B. Follow Their Advice C. Feel Guilty D. All of the Above. Refer back to point one. You are the parents.
7. Key to Homeschooling 101: Do not try to duplicate traditional school in the home. It is set to fail, especially if you have multiple ages and grades.
8. Lifestyle: Homeschooling is more than what you do, it is who you are in the sense that you are focused on the most important people in your life and the education of their hearts, their minds, and their souls. It is the greatest job you will ever have.
9. Not About You: Yeah, I said it – homeschooling is not what the kids are or are not doing. It is not a hobby. It is a full-time commitment. It is not for the faint-hearted. When the kids misbehave or do not get their work done it is not personal, and it does not reflect on you – you are not at fault unless you are a permissive or threatening repeating parent with no follow-through. Sorry. This was me at one time and I fell hard for the fact that I could not blame the teacher, because I was the teacher. So I took charge and the rest is 30+ years of homeschooling. Was all of it perfect. No but I do not regret it at all.
10. Ideal Learning Environment: This is one that fosters your child’s innate curiosity about the world around them. If your children are interested in the topic they will want to learn more about it, and that naturally builds and builds until they are studying various subjects within the framework of a topic. For example: Learning to plant a garden includes many different disciplines, soil, nutrition, reading, science – seasons, weather, discipline, patience, etc.
11. Curriculum: There are way too many choices, so what you do is figure out A. How you want to teach and B. How your kids will learn best. If you are starting out you will definitely want to have something done for you, such as an Abeka or Bob Jones if you are looking for Christian based curriculum. I do not recommend (but I am not the parent) totally online schools, but online learning for a class or two is great. And while you are learning the ropes of juggling home, school, and having the kids around 24/7 you can branch out into other things. If you are a hands-on, do-it-yourselfer, then sure pick and choose your own books. You can check out the Media Angels curriculum at MediaAngels.com/store and MediaAngels.com/books
12. Different learning levels: Kids do not fit neatly into grade-level boxes. Some are great students and will have no problem academically no matter what book or curriculum you use, and others may struggle. Reading is key and many kids need some type of reading remediation. Starting with the phonetic sounds and building on this helps. There are Facebook groups such as one I’m a member of and participate as a curriculum provider: Top Picks Homeschool Curriculum.  There are many different knowledgeable people in the group that can help you.
13. Work together in one room whenever possible. Sure, some kids may be distracted by talking or working with another child. But, sending younger kids to their own rooms is a recipe for disaster, and walking out of the room is another one!
14. Stay off your phones and social media during school time – this means everyone. It will suck your time and ruin your mood. Leave research for a lunch-time or after-school activity.
15. Research: If you get on the computer to research something, set a timer. Give yourself thirty minutes and that is it. Also, research websites without the kids around. Even with safe settings, it is amazing that the suggested ads on websites, even with good information are often inappropriate ads. There is an ad setting on websites that is family-friendly but whatever they deem family-friendly is not what I think it is therefore my websites do not contain third-party automated ads. Any ads or sponsors we have vetted.
16. Tests: This is something you may choose or not chose to do. I didn’t give a lot of tests but my college kids complained about this when they were in college and had to deal with all types of exams. They said they wish I had given them more – so there you have it.
17. Motivated Kids: I had a child who asked for a Trigenotry book for a summer project. He was thinking of going into engineering and did not feel like the Algebra II class he took the previous year covered it well enough. So, we ordered a book and he went through it and the video tutorial himself.
18. Letting Kids Work On Their Own Pace: Especially if your child is highly motivated. It is not unheard of to complete two grades in one subject area in one year. Or only half a grade.
19. To Push Or Not To Push: Working your children right below (not at or above) but below frustration level pushes them to learn. If a child is frustrated that means that they are not getting a concept or something is too difficult at this time. Does that mean you don’t push – no, but understanding your child is part of the homeschool journey.
20. Evaluation vs. Standardized Tests: I prefer evaluations especially in the lower grades. The teacher can give you key points to work on and help you with any questions or concerns you may have. Get good resources before beginning.
21. Making excuses: Look at the root cause of bad behavior. Is it for attention, it is to push attention to someone else, etc. Do not make excuses for children who act poorly but get to the root of the problem.
22. Households can be divided into parts: Budget/Paying Bills, Cooking, Cleaning, Laundry, Yardwork. This is an area to divide and conquer. Who is good at what? That is their job. I am terrible at budgets, but I can pay bills, cook, clean and do laundry. I do not do yard work. When the kids were little I tried assigning jobs and taught them to do all of the various jobs, but once they had the experience I let them chose, and guess what? Doing chores was not a hassle. If they tired of a chore they could trade or enlist me for help. It worked so much better than just assigning jobs.
23. Kids should help. Kids that help around the house are responsible. My first two did not do much in the way of chores, but the last three did – and I mean they really helped out. I had more energy, time, and help with my two oldest but not with my three youngest.
24. Family Unity: We are a family, we are in this together, we work hard and we all enjoy the fruits of our labor. This is something my kids learned early on, if there is infighting everyone has to hear it and it makes for a miserable life. Teaching children the importance of getting along and having punishments that fit the crime goes a long way in helping.
25. Family Mission statement: What is it that your family stands for? Write it down, have the kids learn it. Write down a family prayer and say it every night before bed.

Last Thoughts:

There are going to be days that are horrible and days that are amazing. Through it all, you can thrive with a close network of people that will give you the encouragement that we provide on our social media accounts. We have this page specifically for you the homeschool mom and dad.

A Special Thank You to Our Network Sponsor:  Show Me The Father Movie

The Kendrick Brothers, creators of WAR ROOM and FIREPROOF, have some exciting news to share: they have TWO films coming to theaters this fall—SHOW ME THE FATHER on September 10 and COURAGEOUS Legacy on September 24.

Featuring a variety of amazing, true stories, the Kendrick Brothers’ new feature film SHOW ME THE FATHER takes audiences on an inspiring and emotional cinematic journey. Their first documentary film has something for everyone and invites you to think differently about how you view your earthly father’s story and also how you personally relate to God.

Check out the trailer here!

15 Stress-Free Homeschool Tips Episode 301

Homeschooling is wonderful, but homeschooling can be stressful. Here are 15 stress-free homeschool tips. In this month’s series, we are discussing stress busters … and one of the things in busting stress and having a stress free home is really looking at your homeschool and figuring out what stresses you!

Some of us can work with clutter surrounding us, focus and get the job done. Others can not move until everything is in it’s place. One of my children says he can’t think when it is messy and truthfully that is me!  Just the thought of cleaning up the clutter can stress us. I’ve learned some tried and true ideas and ways to keep the stress level down as well as some amazing tips that can help you in your homeschool some on a daily basis.

Remember friends, one of the reasons to homeschool is to experience and really dive into subjects that matter to you and your children. It is a chance for your children to learn at their own pace. For two of my children that meant taking two years to finish one highschool math text, for another of my children, it meant writing three adventure novels that I published through my Media Angels company and for another two it meant dual enrollment credits before highschool and one of those entered college at 18 as a Junior!

It is not a one size fits all – or as my kids say – one size fits most! It is a time to enjoy your children use what works and tweak until you find out what works best for you and your family!

I recorded a podcast on learning what stresses you and how you can analyze and remove these. In addition, these 15 stress-free homeschool tips will help you in your journey. These are my favorite tips from all of my years of homeschooling. In order to continue with our vision and purpose for homeschooling we often look to things to help us, and in this way, I pray this podcast is helpful to you!

15 stress-free homeschool tips – see if you can add to this list.

1. Look around. Clutter leads to stress.
2. Personal dry erase boards – for those kids that need to doodle or draw on everything.
3. Electric pencil sharpener. This is a must.
4. Pencil erasers and hand erasers.
5. Each kid has their own colored pencils, crayons and markers.
6. Individual totes/ bins/ desks
7. Shelf your books in subjects – then in the books you will use this coming year. If you get all your books ahead of time, it is so easy to walk to the shelf.
8. Keep notebooks of a sampling of completed work – do this each week.
9. Plan educational movie days
10. Extracurricular – sports and lessons
11. Listen to the podcasts on UHRN – Homeschool Sanity, Hal and Melanie Young, Peaceful Mom Talk, and of course this show!
12. Backup plan –  I had a folder of printables just for times when I needed something to keep a child busy when I finished with someone else. If you have different grade levels you’ll need to keep several folders.
13. Support group – IRL – in real life
14. Field trips
15. Teacher planning days

Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Change is in the Air Movie

This story embraces the imperfections that make us human, offers a way to set ourselves free and asks us all to take a good, long look at the wild birds in the sky.

Watch the trailer here!

Can you truly have peaceful homeschooling when you are dealing with kids daily? I’m here to say, yes, it’s possible! In this episode, I’ll share the reality of homeschooling through the years.

Welcome to Vintage Homeschool Moms, the podcast where we believe homeschooling can be a blessing, not a battleground—no rainbows or perfectly run household promises, just real talk. I’m your host, Felice Gerwitz—yes, the mom who’s been there with coffee stains on my shirt and a prayer on my lips. Today, we’re diving into peaceful homeschooling because, parents, God didn’t call us to this to feel like we’re without a rudder in a storm. So, grab your coffee—or your Bible—and talk about five tips to bring some calm into your homeschool life. Spoiler alert: No bribing the kids with chocolate is required. Let’s get started!

Peaceful Homeschooling ~ Episode 553

Friends, I know that your life is hectic. After homeschooling for many years, I finally got into a rhythm, but each year, something always changed. I think part of the reason we have stressful days is because we have expectations we can’t keep. In this session, we are going to look at some of the mistakes I’ve made through the years, and hopefully, you’ll find something you can use in your homeschool.

Tip #1: Set a Rhythm, Not a Bootcamp Schedule. You’ve seen those Pinterest timetables—”8:00 AM: Memorize Latin verbs.” But here’s the truth: Kids aren’t robots, and neither are you. A rhythm is like a schedule with grace built in—it flows. Maybe mornings are for math and Bible reading, afternoons for crafts, or staring out the window praising God for His creation. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Don’t turn your home into a drill sergeant’s dream. Maybe one day is pajamas day; that’s not a crisis—that’s a gift of flexibility. Less stress means more room for God’s peace.

Tip #2: Create a Calming Space—for Everyone. You need a spot where chaos takes a backseat. For the kids, maybe a beanbag with a Bible storybook and a ‘No Sibling Zone’ sign. For you? The kitchen table with a candle and a quick prayer—because locking the bathroom door isn’t always an option. Make these spaces holy ground. Tell the kids, ‘This is where we go to find quiet and hear God’s voice.” Bonus points for a cross on the wall—because nothing says peace like a reminder of Jesus’ love.

Tip #3: Embrace the Idea of Humor. Homeschooling isn’t about perfection—it’s about growing in faith, relationships, and knowledge, and that’s messy. When your 8-year-old spills paint on the dog, or your teenager writes an essay titled “Why Fractions Are a Test of Faith,” laugh it off. Say, “Okay, okay, let’s try that again!” Humor is a gift from God. If you can’t laugh, you’re missing the joy. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” So, lean into the mess. The dog’s blue? Call it a testimony of creativity.”

Tip #4: Limit the Screen-Time Battles. Devices can be a blessing—think Bible apps, learning games, and YouTube. But they’re also tantrum traps when it’s time to unplug. Set clear boundaries upfront: We watch one episode of The Creation Series; then it’s math time. And be firm. Don’t negotiate. Kids will try your patience. If they’re begging for more video games, smile and remind them that it’s easier to listen and move on. When they grumble, just know they will survive—God’s grace covers that too. I remind them at another time that when they argue, they don’t win, so it is easier to be obedient, and everyone is happier.

Finally, Tip #5: Celebrate the Small Wins—With Snacks. Peace isn’t just avoiding fights; it’s rejoicing in progress. Did your kid finish a worksheet without tears? Have a mini praise party. Did you make it through a day without shouting, “Lord, give me strength!?” Break out the cookies. Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Rewards keep us going. Homeschooling is hard—capital H Hard—but you’re not just teaching math; you’re raising disciples. That’s worth celebrating with a snack and a ‘Thank you, Jesus.’”

So, there you have it, friends: Five tips to make your homeschool less like a wrestling match and more like a sanctuary. Set a rhythm, carve out calm spaces, use humor and laugh, tame the screens, and celebrate with snacks. You’ve got this—because God’s got you, even on days when it feels like you’ve accomplished nothing. Thanks for tuning in and sharing this podcast with a friend, your co-op or homeschool group, or a Facebook group. Stay faithful, parents! Take care, and God bless!

🎓 Resources from Media Angels: Go deeper with the complete Creation Science for Homeschoolers guide — or explore the Creation Science Bundle.