Smart tech, apps, and AI tools that make homeschooling easier — from a former computer programmer and veteran homeschool mom. Meryl van der Merwe helps families use technology with confidence and wisdom: the best apps and online tools, AI for planning and learning (used safely), and practical tips that fit real homeschool days — no jargon, no overwhelm. For homeschool parents who want future-ready kids without feeling behind on tech. Follow the show for a new tip every week.

Tips for Completing the FAFSA: What Parents Need to Know

Tips for completing the FAFSA - What homeschool families need to know

392: Tips for Completing the FAFSA: What Parents Need to Know

Completing the FAFSA can feel intimidating, but the process has become much simpler than it used to be. In this episode, Meryl talks with Robert Farrington, founder of The College Investor, about what families need to know when completing the FAFSA.

Robert explains why almost every college-bound student should complete the FAFSA—even families who assume they won’t qualify for federal aid. The FAFSA can also be required for state aid, college scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities.

Robert also shares how the FAFSA has changed. Much of the information is now imported directly from your tax return, and the form uses smart logic to ask only the questions relevant to your family. The average completion time is now around 12 minutes.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Why almost every college-bound student should complete the FAFSA
  • How the FAFSA can unlock federal, state, and university financial aid
  • Why students and parents each need a StudentAid.gov login
  • Why families should aim to complete the FAFSA by Thanksgiving
  • Common FAFSA mistakes when reporting assets
  • Assets you generally do not report, including your primary residence and retirement accounts
  • Changes affecting family-owned businesses and farms
  • How 529 plans can affect FAFSA calculations
  • Why joint bank accounts with children or aging parents can create problems
  • What happens after you submit the FAFSA
  • Understanding the Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • When families may also need to complete the CSS Profile

Robert recommends completing the FAFSA early because some state and college financial aid programs operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

He also shares planning strategies families can consider before their children reach college age, including where assets are held and how 529 plans are treated for financial aid purposes.

After submitting the FAFSA, students should watch for their Student Aid Index (SAI) and check whether any colleges on their list also require the CSS Profile.

Resources

The College Investor
thecollegeinvestor.com

Look for Robert’s article: “The 2027–28 FAFSA Is Now Open to Every Family.”

StudentAid.gov
Use this site to create student and parent accounts and complete the FAFSA.

Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Birthday Giveaway

Find the giveaway here

Where to find Robert

Website: http://thecollegeinvestor.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thecollegeinvestor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollegeinvestor/
Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/thecollegeinvestor


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode.

Tips for completing the FAFSA - What homeschool families need to know

Sweet 13 Bonus: My Teen Is Using AI

Homeschooling with Technology - Sweet 13 Bonus episode

 

Meryl has been tracking what technology does to a homeschool since before most of us were paying attention. That is why she gets this question.

For the network’s thirteenth birthday, every host answers one real question from a homeschool parent. Here is hers.

Her question: “Your teenager is using AI to do their schoolwork, and you have no idea whether to ban it or teach it.”

Her answer is the analogy that makes it click: adults use AI like an intern — a junior one, whose work you check. Teens do not see an assistant. They see a replacement, a shortcut, a brain double. We do not use it as a crutch; we use it to help us, and that is what your teen has to learn. The clip comes from Creating an AI Policy for Your Homeschool.

Also in this episode: Felice Gerwitz on whether to homeschool at all · Hal and Melanie Young on boys who will not sit still · Dr. Melanie Wilson on why you are already behind · the 7Sisters on the high school transcript · Sue Myers on a fever and a two-year-old · Meredith Curtis on getting the joy back · Lisa Nehring on life skills before they launch.

🎂 The Sweet 13 Giveaway is open. More than $1,500 in prizes, four drawings across October, and a free party favor for everyone who enters. Enter at ultimateradioshow.com/sweet-13 — October 1 through 29. No purchase necessary, US residents 18+, official rules here.

Presented by Eden’s Table. Use code EDEN13.

Cool History Games

Cool history games - free online

391: Cool History Games

Meryl shares a free website that makes practicing history quick and fun: Cool History Games.

The site includes several daily history games that work well as a short family activity, a homeschool warm-up, or a transition between subjects. Everything can be played directly in the browser, with no login required.

Meryl highlights five daily games:

  • Chronology – Put six historical events in the correct chronological order.
  • Plot Twist – A history-themed version of Two Truths and a Lie. Choose which statement is historically inaccurate, then read the explanation.
  • Speech Match – Match historical quotations with the people who said them.
  • Threads – A Connections-style game where you group historical people, places, and terms that belong together.
  • Portrait – Identify a historical figure as clues are gradually revealed.

She also explores Time Trek, a longer choose-your-own-adventure-style history game. Players travel through different historical eras, make decisions, and earn attributes such as health, gold, knowledge, and fame along the way.

These games are a simple way to reinforce history knowledge, introduce unfamiliar historical topics, and give students an opportunity to interact with history rather than simply read about it.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode.

 

Cool history games - free online

How Homeschool Families Can Use Airtable

A podcast episode explaining how homeschool families can use Airtable

390: How Homeschool Families Can Use Airtable

Have you heard of Airtable but aren’t quite sure what it is—or why a homeschool family might want to use it?

In this episode, Gina Steffy from the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network explains how Airtable can help homeschool families organize information, keep records, and create searchable collections of resources.

Gina explains that Airtable is essentially a database with a user-friendly interface. Unlike a traditional spreadsheet, it allows you to organize the same information in different ways, attach files and images, create forms, filter records, and easily find what you need later.

We also brainstorm plenty of practical ways homeschool families could use Airtable.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • What Airtable is and how it differs from Google Sheets or Excel
  • Why Airtable works well for information you want to sort, filter, and search
  • Using templates to get started quickly
  • What is included in Airtable’s free plan
  • Creating a family reading log or book database
  • Organizing field trip ideas by age, location, price, or time required
  • Keeping records of student projects and attaching photos or written work
  • Creating searchable lists of homeschool resources
  • Tracking LEGO creations and other hands-on projects
  • Organizing activity or storage bins
  • Using Airtable for recipes and other family information
  • Why learning to classify and organize information develops critical-thinking skills
  • How Airtable experience can be useful for teens preparing for college and employment
  • Airtable certifications and the value of building technology skills
  • How quickly beginners can create their first useful Airtable
  • Using Airtable tutorials, YouTube, and AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude to learn the software

Gina also shares an Airtable Homeschool Starter Guide printable that walks you through creating a simple book list—an easy first Airtable project for your homeschool.

A simple project for your teen

Instead of learning new software without a purpose, give your teen a real project. Ask them to create an Airtable database your family can actually use. They could organize your books, recipes, field trips, homeschool resources, or another collection of information.

They’ll gain practical digital-literacy skills while creating something useful for the whole family.

Resources mentioned

If your homeschool information currently lives in a mixture of spreadsheets, screenshots, notes, papers, and files, Airtable may be worth exploring.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode.

A podcast episode explaining how homeschool families can use Airtable

Best College Application Resources for Homeschoolers

Best Free Online College Application Resources for Homeschoolers

389: Best College Application Resources for Homeschoolers

College applications can feel overwhelming, especially once senior year arrives. In this episode, I share several useful websites that can help homeschool families choose colleges, understand the application process, work through essays and recommendations, and make sense of what happens after applications are submitted.

These resources are useful for seniors, but many are worth exploring much earlier. Starting in middle or early high school gives students more time to think about what they want in a college and helps reduce stress later.

Resources mentioned in this episode

FAFSA
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

If your student may apply for financial aid or scholarships, be sure to complete the FAFSA. Parents and students will each need the appropriate accounts, so it is helpful to get those set up before the FAFSA opens.

College Scorecard
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

College Scorecard is a helpful place to start comparing colleges. You can filter schools by factors such as:

  • Location
  • Annual cost
  • Degree or major
  • Test scores
  • Urban or rural setting
  • Religious affiliation

You can also compare information such as graduation rates, average annual cost, and median earnings after graduation.

Appily
https://www.appily.com/

Appily offers college search tools, virtual college tours, scholarship information, and quizzes designed to help students think about possible majors and what type of college might be a good fit.

Students can also explore factors such as campus culture, demographics, clubs, and other aspects of college life.

Common App Resources
https://www.commonapp.org/apply/first-year-students

This provides a video walkthrough of the Common App.

https://www.commonapp.org/apply/fy-toolkit

The First-Year Toolkit also covers topics such as:

  • Common App terminology
  • Testing information
  • Recommendation letters
  • Family and teacher brag sheets
  • Application fees and fee waivers
  • Financial aid
  • Resources for international applicants

BigFuture by College Board
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/apply-to-college

BigFuture includes information about scholarships, college planning, and the application process.

Resources include:

  • A 12th-grade college application timeline
  • What to do after applying
  • Early Action and Early Decision
  • College placement tests
  • General college admission guidance

BigFuture also has a College Planning for Homeschoolers FAQ, which answers questions specifically relevant to homeschool applicants, including questions about high school codes and account setup.

College Essay Guy
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/college-application-hub

The College Essay Guy’s resources extend well beyond the main Common App essay.

You can find information on:

  • Creating a college list
  • Early Action vs. Early Decision
  • Personal statements
  • Supplemental essays
  • Recommendation letters
  • College interviews
  • Financial aid
  • Understanding financial aid award letters
  • Appealing financial aid decisions

There are also free resources for international students, first-generation students, and low-income students.

Start collecting resources early

Even if your child is not yet a senior, consider creating a digital folder where you can save useful college application information. When application season arrives, you will already have resources available rather than starting from scratch.

You can also search the FundaFunda Academy blog for additional articles about college applications, scholarships, and scholarship websites

 


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

Best Free Online College Application Resources for Homeschoolers

 

 

Alternatives to Google search

Alternatives to Google search

388: Alternatives to Google search with Jo Ebisujima

Google Search has changed significantly with the addition of AI-generated summaries at the top of search results. For students especially, this can make it tempting to accept an AI-generated answer without ever visiting the original source or checking whether the information is accurate.

In this episode, I talk with veteran homeschooler and educator, Jo Ebisujima, about alternatives to Google Search and why homeschoolers should teach their children to think more carefully about how they search for information online.

Jo shares a variety of search engines and browsers families can explore, including options that emphasize privacy, reduce tracking and advertising, or allow users to search without automatically receiving AI-generated answers.

We discuss:

  • Why Google’s AI summaries can be problematic for students
  • Why students need to learn to check original sources
  • How different search engines handle privacy, advertising, and AI
  • Alternatives including Startpage, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, UDM14, Mojeek, Dogpile, Brave, Vivaldi, Bing, and Kagi
  • Search tools for deeper research
  • Why students should understand how a free search engine makes money
  • How parents can turn comparing search engines into a media literacy activity
  • How to help teens recognize more reliable online sources
  • Why Reddit, blogs, and other user-generated content should be evaluated carefully rather than automatically trusted

One simple activity Jo recommends is giving your children several questions for which you already know the answers. Have them search for the same information using different search engines and compare what they find.

Ask your children:

  • Which search engine gave the most useful results?
  • Were the results noticeably different?
  • Was AI automatically included?
  • Were there advertisements?
  • Does the search engine track users?
  • How does the company make money?
  • Which sources appeared near the top?
  • Which search engine would they choose for future research, and why?

This is an easy way to introduce discussions about online research, digital privacy, source evaluation, and AI literacy.

Be sure to check out Jo’s blog post on this topic, where you can find links to the sites she mentions.

 

Where to find Jo Ebisujima online

193 Little Adventures Club site – I create geography and culture packs – https://193littleadventures.com/
 

Show sponsor FundaFunda Academy

For online classes for homeschool students, including Computer Applications, AI for Teens, computer science, and other electives, visit the Computer page on FundaFunda Academy.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

Alternative search engines to Google

How to Homeschool for Free: A Sample Homeschool Day

How to Homeschool for Free" A sample day homeschooling wth free resources

387: How to Homeschool for Free: A Sample Homeschool Day Using Free Resources

Can you really homeschool for free?

Yes — but free curriculum usually requires more work from the parent. In this episode, I walk through what a homeschool day could look like using completely free resources for math, English, foreign language, science, history, geography, art, and music.

Rather than giving you dozens of websites to sort through, I focus on a manageable number of resources that can work across multiple subjects and age levels.

Free homeschool resources mentioned

Math

  • Zearn — especially useful for elementary and middle school math
  • All-in-One High School — free Christian high school curriculum covering multiple subjects
  • OpenStax — free textbooks and course materials, particularly helpful for high school
  • Khan Academy — math plus many other subjects
  • CK-12 — free online textbooks and learning resources, especially for middle and high school

English

  • Khan Academy English language resources
  • Vocabulary.com
  • Your local library for literature, reading lists, audiobooks, and ebooks
  • Libby for borrowing ebooks and audiobooks through participating libraries

Foreign Language

  • Duolingo — a good free starting point for language learning
  • Mango Languages — often available free through public libraries

Science

  • CK-12
  • OpenStax
  • Science Friday Educate — science lessons that can be filtered by grade level and topic
  • Library books for additional science reading and experiment ideas

History

  • The Daily Bellringer on YouTube — short history videos organized into playlists on topics such as medieval history and World War II

Use a video as the starting point, then expand the topic with library books, research projects, posters, LEGO builds, games, or other hands-on activities.

Geography, Art & Music

These subjects don’t necessarily need to be covered every day, so they can easily be rotated throughout the week.

The catch with free homeschool curriculum

Free resources can provide excellent content, but parents often need to decide what to use, put lessons into a logical sequence, add supplementary material, provide accountability, and give students feedback.

That takes time.

Paid curriculum and online classes often save parents time because someone else has already organized and sequenced the material. But you certainly don’t need to outsource every subject. Working alongside your children is one of the advantages of homeschooling.

Using AI to plan free homeschool curriculum

AI can also make using free resources much easier.

For example, you could ask AI to help you map out a year of science for an eight-year-old and suggest topics and resources. You can then review the plan, check the resources, and use it as a framework for your homeschool year.

Using AI as a planning assistant can significantly reduce the time required to piece free curriculum together.

Free States of Matter Unit Study

FundaFunda Academy also has a free States of Matter mini unit study available when you join our newsletter. You’ll also receive access to our library of other free homeschool resources.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episodeHow to Homeschool for Free" A sample day homeschooling wth free resources

How to prepare teens for their first social media accounts

for their first social media account

386: How to prepare teens for their first social media accounts

Giving a teen their first social media account can feel a little like handing them the keys to a car. We wouldn’t expect a brand-new driver to figure everything out without preparation, and social media deserves the same kind of intentional teaching.

In this episode, I’m joined by Stephanie Simoes of Critikid for a conversation about what teens need to understand before they start using social media.

We discuss six important areas parents should consider:

  • Platform safety – Understanding the specific risks and safety settings of the platforms your teen wants to use.
  • Readiness and maturity – Thinking about whether your teen is ready to handle comparison, social pressure, and other challenges that come with social media.
  • How social media platforms work – Helping teens understand algorithms, engagement, attention, and why platforms are designed to keep them scrolling.
  • Online safety – Teaching teens about scams, privacy, location sharing, digital footprints, and unsafe contact with strangers.
  • Critical thinking and media literacy – Recognizing logical fallacies, evaluating claims, checking sources, and identifying misleading statistics and graphs.
  • What to do when something feels wrong – Making sure teens know when and how to involve a trusted adult.

We also talk about practical ways parents can prepare their teens, including modeling healthy social media habits, discussing questionable posts together, and creating a social media agreement before giving them an account.

Resources Mentioned

Kids Safe GPT
A tool parents can use to learn about potential safety concerns related to apps, platforms, games, and other online activities.
https://smarterx.ai/kid-safe-gpt

How Social Media Platforms Work – Reel
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZVUXadtdJL/

Interview with Fareedah on Online Safety
https://critikid.com/online-safety

Be Internet Awesome – Google
Free resources for families covering online safety and digital citizenship, including family guides, activities, and the Interland game.
https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/families

Social Media TestDrive
Interactive simulations that allow students to practice making decisions in realistic social media situations. Topics include digital footprints, privacy, breaking news, online identities, advertising, and healthy social media habits.
https://socialmediatestdrive.org/

Critikid Social Media Simulator
A safe, simulated social media feed that helps children and teens identify problems such as emotional manipulation, unsupported claims, unsafe trends, clickbait, misleading data, scams, and privacy risks.
https://critikid.com/courses/social-media-simulator

Critikid Media Literacy Resources
Lessons and worksheets that help students develop critical thinking and media literacy skills.
https://critikid.com/worksheets/media-literacy

Or buy both together in the Media Literacy Bundle: https://critikid.com/bundles/media-literacy-bundle

Free media literacy resources:
https://critikid.com/resources (scroll to bottom)

Critical Thinking in a Digital Age
A half-credit course for students in grades 7 and up created by Critikid and FundaFunda Academy.
https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/product/critical-thinking-for-the-digital-age/

FundaFunda Academy Computer Applications
This course teaches students practical computer skills while also covering digital literacy, online safety, scams, strong passwords, and responsible technology use.
https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/product/computer-fundamentals/

One Important Takeaway

Teens need practice navigating social media before they are expected to manage it independently. Talk through examples with them, teach them what warning signs to watch for, and make sure they know they can come to you when something online makes them uncomfortable.

If you know a family with a teen who is getting close to opening a first social media account, share this episode with them.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

How to prepare teens for their first social media account

Is AI Helping Your Teen Learn—or Doing the Learning for Them?

Is AI Helping your Teen learn or doing the learning for them

385:  Is AI Helping Your Teen Learn—or Doing the Learning for Them?

 

AI can be an incredibly useful learning tool for teens—but only when they use it in ways that support their own thinking and skill development.

In this episode, I share a framework parents can use to help teens decide when AI is appropriate for schoolwork. The key question teens need to ask is: Will using AI help me learn something, or will it help me avoid learning it?

We look at situations where teens should not use AI, including:

  • Writing assignments designed to develop their own thinking and writing skills
  • Questions asking for their personal knowledge or opinions
  • Math, science, coding, or other problems they haven’t genuinely attempted first
  • Avoiding assigned reading
  • Submitting answers or language they don’t understand
  • Allowing AI to make decisions for them
  • Any assignment where the teacher has prohibited AI use

I also share productive ways teens can use AI. It can re-explain a difficult concept, generate extra practice questions, provide feedback on a draft without rewriting it, help brainstorm ideas, identify gaps in understanding, practice for an interview or oral exam, and suggest search terms or resources for research.

Finally, I give teens four questions they can ask themselves before using AI for schoolwork:

  1. Am I allowed to use AI?
  2. What am I losing by using AI?
  3. What am I gaining by using AI?
  4. Will I be able to explain the final result?

These questions can help homeschool parents move the conversation beyond simply telling teens whether AI is “good” or “bad” and teach them to make thoughtful decisions about how they use it.

Resources Mentioned

AI for Teens class at FundaFunda Academy
Students learn how AI works, explore useful AI tools, and learn how to use AI while preserving their own thinking, ideas, and creativity.

NotebookLM
An AI tool that can help students engage with material in different ways, including alternative explanations and learning formats.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

 

Is AI Helping your Teen learn or doing the learning for them

 

A Student’s Perspective on Essential Tech Skills for High School

A students perspective on essential tech skills

384: A Student’s Perspective on Essential Tech Skills for High School

In this episode, Meryl talks with high school senior Ada Anderson about the technology skills she has found most useful throughout her high school years.Ada shares the tools she uses regularly for school, scholarships, personal projects, and staying organized. She also talks about some of the tech skills students are often expected to know even though no one has actually taught them how to use them well.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The tech tools Ada uses most often, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Canva
  • How she learned her technology skills through trial and error and formal classes
  • Why learning these skills before high school can make later classes easier
  • How often high school classes require students to create presentations, posters, and videos
  • Why knowing more than the basics of Google Sheets can be especially valuable
  • Why learning how to figure out unfamiliar technology may be as important as learning individual tools
  • How Ada uses Google Sheets to organize scholarship applications
  • How Canva and video creation skills can be useful when applying for scholarships
  • Tech skills that high school students are often assumed to know but may never have been taught

One important takeaway from Ada’s experience is that students benefit from learning technology skills before they urgently need them. By the time they reach high school, they may be expected to collaborate in Google Docs, analyze information in spreadsheets, make presentations, create videos, and learn unfamiliar digital tools independently.

Resources mentioned

FundaFunda Academy Computer Applications – This full-year course introduces students to a wide range of practical technology skills. Students can choose the instructor-graded asynchronous version with weekly deadlines and opportunities for online collaboration, or a self-paced, parent-graded version that families can reuse with multiple children.The course is available for students from 7th grade up and is designed to help students become comfortable learning and using new technology independently.

Free High School Tracker –  This Google Sheet helps families keep track of information students may need later for college and scholarship applications, including courses, GPA, activities, and volunteer hours.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

A students perspective on essential tech skills for high school