Time Boosters for the Busy Homeschool Moms

May 25, 2026 by Ultimate Homeschool Leave a Comment

🧮 This episode is proudly sponsored by CTCMath — an online math program designed to help homeschool families build confidence and mastery, one lesson at a time.

Try CTCMath →

📚 Part of our guide: Homeschool Burnout

Time Boosters for the Busy Homeschool Mom: Simple Productivity Tips That Actually Work

Are you constantly overwhelmed by your homeschool schedule, household responsibilities, and endless to-do lists? In this encouraging episode of Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network’s Vintage Homeschool Moms, host Felice Gerwitz shares practical and faith-filled strategies to help busy homeschool moms reclaim their time, reduce stress, and focus on what truly matters.

Sponsored by CTCMath, this episode offers realistic productivity advice for homeschool families who feel like there are never enough hours in the day.

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Feeling Overwhelmed? You’re Not Alone

Do you ever feel like:

Your homeschool schedule is impossible to keep up with?
Your to-do list never gets shorter?
You’re constantly busy but not accomplishing what matters most?
You end each day exhausted and discouraged?

Felice reminds homeschool moms that the problem often isn’t laziness or failure—it’s unrealistic expectations, poor prioritization, and trying to do too much at once.

In this episode, she shares simple mindset shifts and practical systems that helped her balance homeschooling, parenting, business ownership, podcasting, and family life more peacefully and effectively.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. Take Time to Recharge Spiritually

One of the biggest productivity boosters isn’t another planner—it’s spending intentional time with God.

Felice encourages moms to:

Begin the day with prayer and Scripture
Create quiet moments throughout the day
Invite children into a peaceful, faith-filled atmosphere
Focus on spiritual renewal instead of constant hustle

She reminds listeners that an empty vessel cannot continue pouring into others.

2. Identify What’s Stealing Your Time

Sometimes the biggest time-wasters are habits we don’t even notice:

Constant phone interruptions
Checking emails at the wrong times
Starting unnecessary tasks before leaving the house
Overcommitting daily schedules
Procrastination disguised as productivity

Learning to recognize these patterns can dramatically improve your homeschool day.

3. Create a Simple Planning System

Felice shares an easy A-B-C-D-E planning method for organizing:

Daily priorities
Weekly responsibilities
Monthly goals

Her system helps moms:

Delegate responsibilities
Identify tasks only they can do
Prioritize effectively
Reduce mental overload
Stop feeling guilty about unfinished lists

4. Focus on What Truly Matters

At the heart of this episode is an important reminder:

If there was only one thing you could accomplish today, what would matter most?

For Felice, it’s making sure her children and family know they are loved.

This episode challenges homeschool moms to:

Reevaluate priorities
Let go of perfectionism
Focus on relationships over performance
Build a peaceful homeschool atmosphere

Mentioned in This Episode

Goodbye Survival Mode by Crystal Paine
Flourish at Home by Mary Jo Tate
Media Angels resources and online classes
American History and Government courses from Media Angels

Encouragement for Homeschool Moms

Homeschooling isn’t about accomplishing every task perfectly. It’s about building relationships, nurturing faith, and creating a home centered on what matters most.

If you’ve been feeling burned out, discouraged, or behind, this episode will encourage you to slow down, simplify, and take back control of your time with grace and purpose.

Listen to More Encouraging Homeschool Podcasts

Discover more homeschool encouragement, parenting advice, and practical tips at:

Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

You’ll also enjoy:

Sponsor

Today’s episode is sponsored by CTCMath — an online math curriculum designed to help students truly understand math concepts through engaging video lessons and flexible learning tools.

Learn more at:

CTCMath

Handout:

TimeBoosters_Handout_VintageHomeschoolMoms

Electronics and Temptation: Christian Parenting in a Digital World

April 1, 2026 by Ultimate Homeschool Leave a Comment

🧮 This episode is proudly sponsored by CTCMath — an online math program designed to help homeschool families build confidence and mastery, one lesson at a time.

Try CTCMath →

Electronics and Temptation: Christian Parenting in a Digital World

Technology is part of everyday life—but that doesn’t mean families should approach it casually.

In this episode of Making Biblical Family Life Practical, Hal and Melanie Young discuss how Christian families can think wisely about electronics, internet access, gaming, and digital temptation. From internet safety and screen habits to accountability and discernment, this conversation helps parents navigate technology with both wisdom and grace.

If you’ve ever wondered how to set healthy boundaries around devices while preparing your children for the real world, this episode offers practical perspective and biblical encouragement.

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Making Biblical Family Life Practical is part of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network, where homeschool families find trusted encouragement, practical help, and real-life wisdom for every stage of family life. From parenting and discipleship to homeschooling, high school, and healthy home rhythms, UHPN helps families learn, grow, and stay encouraged.

This episode kindly sponsored by CTCMath.com

This episode is a replay of an earlier episode, but the content has proven more valuable with time and we’re happy to share it again.

In This Episode

In this conversation, Hal and Melanie Young discuss:

how technology affects family life
practical internet safety for kids and teens
wise boundaries for devices and screen time
gaming, temptation, and digital accountability
helping teens develop discernment online
how Christian parents can guide—not just restrict—technology use

This episode is especially helpful for families raising older children and teens in a digital world.

Why Christian Families Need a Thoughtful Approach to Technology

Technology itself is not the enemy—but unexamined technology use can shape habits, priorities, and values in powerful ways. Christian parents need more than fear or frustration. They need a thoughtful, biblical framework for helping their children use technology wisely, safely, and responsibly.

This episode helps parents think beyond simple rules and move toward intentional discipleship in the digital age.

More Episodes on Parenting, Technology, and Homeschool Family Life

Looking for more encouragement on parenting, screen time, technology boundaries, and raising teens in today’s world? Explore more episodes across the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network for practical help, biblical encouragement, and real-life homeschool family support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should Christian parents handle technology?
Christian parents can approach technology with wisdom by setting clear boundaries, teaching discernment, and helping children use devices responsibly.

How do you set screen time boundaries for teens?
Healthy screen time boundaries often include accountability, time limits, family expectations, and ongoing conversations about wise use.

What are healthy technology rules for homeschool families?
Many homeschool families create rules around device access, internet safety, gaming, and when screens are appropriate during the day.

How can parents help kids use the internet wisely?
Parents can help by teaching digital discernment, modeling healthy habits, using accountability tools, and keeping communication open.

Looking for More Encouragement for Parenting and Homeschool Life?

Explore more family-focused episodes across the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network for practical help, biblical encouragement, and support for every season of homeschooling and family life.

If this episode encouraged you, you may also enjoy:

parenting episodes from Making Biblical Family Life Practical
practical encouragement from The Homeschool Sanity Show
more family-focused homeschool resources across the network

Filed Under: Making Biblical Family Life Practical, Ultimate Radio Shows Tagged With: Christian parenting and technology, Hal & Melanie Young, help for homeschool moms, internet addiction, internet purity, parenting, protecting children internet, raising boys in a digital world, video game addiction, video-gaming

Teaching Geopolitics and World Affairs to Teens

April 1, 2026 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

366: Teaching Geopolitics and World Affairs to Teens

Teaching teens about geopolitics and world affairs can feel intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Homeschooling with Technology, Meryl van der Merwe shares practical tools and creative ideas for helping homeschool students understand current events, global conflict, geography, and media literacy in ways that feel engaging and age-appropriate. If you’ve ever wondered how to teach world affairs in your homeschool high school, this episode is a great place to start.

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Understanding what’s happening in the world is a life skill — it shapes how your teens will vote, travel, and navigate adult conversations. And for college-bound students, being able to speak to current events in scholarship and admissions interviews is a real advantage. In this episode, I share several tech tools for making world affairs come alive in your homeschool, using the Iran conflict as a timely example.

Homeschooling with Technology is part of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network, where homeschool families find practical help, encouragement, and trusted resources for every stage of learning. From homeschool high school and parenting to technology, current events, and future-ready skills, UHPN brings together podcasts designed to support families in real life.

If you want to make current events, geography, and global conflict more understandable for your teen, these tools can help bring world affairs to life in a much more visual and engaging way.

Tools and Resources Mentioned

Ground News — (also available as an app and on Instagram) A solid starting point for current events. Free at the basic level. Headlines are summarized and labeled by political lean (left, center, right), making it a natural fit for media literacy alongside geopolitics.

Google Earth — Better than Google Maps for geopolitics because it shows geographic features — mountains, waterways, terrain — that explain why certain locations matter strategically.

VesselFinder — Track real-time ship movement around the world. Right now you can watch the dramatic drop in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz (from over 100 ships per day to around five or six). Give each student a different ship to track and check back at mealtimes.

FlightRadar24 — flightradar24.com Watch how airlines are rerouting around Iranian airspace in real time. A great visual for understanding how conflict ripples into everyday life — and a reminder of how a volcanic eruption in Iceland once grounded flights across Europe.

AI (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) Instead of a broad internet search, have your teens prompt an AI with targeted questions — Iran’s economy, its allies, its neighbors, why oil prices in the US are affected by events in the Middle East. The real advantage: follow-up questions stay in the same conversation, so learning goes deeper without starting over.

Nation States — nationstates.net A free browser-based simulation where students build and run their own country. No email required. Daily events force real governing decisions — and there’s an alliance system that mirrors actual geopolitical dynamics. Forums are present, so preview for your family first.

Politics and War — politicsandwar.com A more in-depth nation-building simulation. Similar concept, more complexity. Also free, also has community forums — same caution applies.

FundaFunda Academy Fantasy Geography Contest Think fantasy sports drafting — but with countries. Runs April 1–30. Students draft a team of countries and track how world events affect their scores. Prizes: $10, $25, and $50 Amazon gift cards. Entry is $10 (covers the Fanschool platform). Includes a free South America unit study (adaptable for older students). Find the link at fundafundaacademy.com under Contests.

Why This Matters in Homeschool High School

Understanding world affairs helps teens build more than just knowledge. It helps them develop:

critical thinking
media literacy
geography awareness
informed citizenship
confidence in conversations, essays, and interviews

For homeschool high school students, current events can become a meaningful part of:

Previous Episodes Referenced

If you use any of these resources, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you teach geopolitics to teens?

A great way to teach geopolitics to teens is through current events, maps, simulations, and visual tools that help students understand how geography, politics, economics, and global conflict connect.

Why should homeschoolers study world affairs?

Studying world affairs helps homeschool students build critical thinking, media literacy, and a better understanding of the world they’re growing up in.

Is geopolitics appropriate for homeschool high school?

Yes — geopolitics can be a valuable part of homeschool high school, especially in social studies, government, geography, writing, and current events discussions.

Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: current events for homeschool high school, help for homeschool moms, Homeschool with Technology Podcast, homeschooling high school, how to teach geopolitics to teens, how to teach world affairs in homeschool, Meryl van der Merwe

How to Stay Consistent in Your Homeschool — Even When Life Gets Crazy

March 16, 2026 by Ultimate Homeschool Leave a Comment

🧮 This episode is proudly sponsored by CTCMath — an online math program designed to help homeschool families build confidence and mastery, one lesson at a time.

Try CTCMath →

📚 Part of our guide: Homeschool Organization

Vintage Homeschool Moms: Discover Your Passion

Feeling like there’s never enough time to do homeschool “right”?

Feeling like it’s hard to get started… or stay consistent in your homeschool?

You’re not alone. Sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t curriculum—it’s simply finding your rhythm and knowing when it’s time to lean in and begin again.

This encouraging episode will help you rethink what really matters, create space for meaningful learning, and give your child room to discover what lights them up.

🎧 Listen to This Episode

Need encouragement while you fold laundry, prep dinner, or reset your homeschool plans? Press play here.

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New Here?

If you’re looking for practical homeschool encouragement, start here:

Keep Listening

A Special Replay Episode

We’re excited to bring you this replay of a beloved episode from the Vintage Homeschool Moms archives! Whether you’re new to our show or revisiting this valuable conversation, we hope you’ll find fresh inspiration and practical wisdom for your homeschool journey. This timeless discussion about helping children discover their passions and making the most of your homeschool time is just as relevant today as when it first aired.

This Episode Is Especially Helpful If…

you feel behind in your homeschool
you’re worried your child hasn’t “found their thing”
your days feel too rushed or too reactive
you want to make space for meaningful learning
you need permission to slow down a little

Episode Overview

Do you feel like you don’t have enough time to give your kids the education you dream of? In this encouraging episode, host Felice Gerwitz challenges one of the biggest myths in homeschooling: the idea that we don’t have enough time. The truth? You have all the time in the world—because YOU are in charge of your schedule!

Key Takeaways

Breaking Free from the School Model

Your homeschool doesn’t need to mimic public or private schools
The goal is creating a love of learning, not covering every subject daily
Teaching children HOW to research and find answers is more valuable than rote memorization

You ARE the Giver of Time

You control your homeschool schedule
Even college-bound students can have time for passion exploration
Start small: 15-20 minutes before lunch or dinner

What Does Passion Look Like? When children discover their passion, they:

Get excited and want to share with others
Show enthusiasm naturally
Return to activities repeatedly
Want to learn more and go deeper

Practical Ideas for Younger Children

The Creativity Box – Collect Recyclables:

Toilet paper and paper towel rolls
Sturdy plastic yogurt containers
String, balloons, and straws
Tape (kids love tape!)
Paper cups and baggies

Simple Science Activities:

Balloon rockets on string ziplines
Baking soda and vinegar experiments
Magnifying glass exploration (outside!)
Paper towel roll marble runs

Building and Creating:

Blocks and bricks (Legos, Duplos)
Fort-building with blankets and chairs
Open-ended construction materials

Tips for Encouraging Discovery

Be Encouraging and Enthusiastic – Even when things get messy!
Ask “Tell Me About It” – Instead of “What is that?” which can discourage children
Listen Patiently – Give children time to explain their creations and ideas
Provide Resources – Start simple and gradually add complexity
Offer Hands-On Learning – Let children explore topics in their own way (videos, projects, presentations)
Model Creativity Yourself – Children catch what they see, not just what we teach

For Older Children

Electronics and Technology:

Consider waiting before introducing electronic devices
Use monitoring tools like Covenant Eyes for internet safety
Allow time for learning video editing, stop-motion animation, and other digital skills

Micro Businesses:

Encourage entrepreneurial projects for high school credit
Examples from Felice’s children:
- Small engine and electronics repair business
- Stop-motion LEGO video creation (Brick Films)
- Homemade fudge-making business with shipping experiments

The Power of Self-Directed Learning: Michael’s stop-motion video story illustrates how children can:

Research independently
Problem-solve without constant adult intervention
Create impressive projects when given time and space
Develop marketable skills through passion projects

Important Reminders

Schedule It In – If free exploration time isn’t on the schedule, it won’t happen. Be intentional about protecting this time.

Manage Expectations – Some children haven’t found their passion yet; others have too many interests. Both are normal!

Respect Boundaries – If you tend to be “too helpy,” learn to step back and let children own their projects.

The Spiritual Dimension – Quiet, unstructured time also gives children space to hear God’s still, small voice.

Resources Mentioned

Media Angels – Over 65 products including books, novels, and downloadable classes at MediaAngels.com
CTC Math – Comprehensive K-12 math curriculum with engaging video tutorials at ctcmath.com
Truth Seekers Mystery Series – Christ-centered novels that teach about God’s creation
Covenant Eyes – Internet monitoring for family device safety
Dollars and Cents Podcast – By Carol Topp on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network, great for micro business ideas

Connect with Felice

Website: MediaAngels.com
Visit: TheVintageHomeschoolMoms.com
Find show notes and links for each episode
Rate and review on iTunes to help others discover the show!

Final Thought

By giving your children time to think, explore, and create, you’re not just developing their passions—you’re teaching them to slow down, listen, and be present with the Lord. In our busy world, this might be one of the greatest gifts we can offer.

Vintage Homeschool Moms is a production of the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network

Sponsored by CTC Math and Media Angels Publishing

See: Blog Post here including the video I discussed in the audio – Mike’s LEGO brick video (in progress).

See the Blog Post for the Printable – 11 Steps to Creating a Brick Film

Games That Teach (Part 1): Brain Training Games for Homeschool Learning + Special Needs Support

January 12, 2026 by Ultimate Homeschool Leave a Comment

Looking for educational games that build real skills—not just keep kids busy? In Part 1 of this two-part series, host Felice Gerwitz talks with Tara Jenner of The Brain Trainers about games that teach—including simple car games, on-the-go learning games, and card games that strengthen memory, processing speed, auditory processing, visual processing, language retrieval, and executive function skills.

Tara shares how families can use games as practical “brain training” tools—especially helpful for kids who struggle with multi-step directions, working memory, or word-finding.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

✅ Why educational games work (and how to make them “transfer” to real life)

Tara explains that games are far more effective when kids can name the skill they’re practicing and learn to apply it outside the game—socially and academically.

✅ Easy “games on the go” for homeschool families

These quick, no-prep games can be played in the car, in line, or during errands:

The Mailbox Game (Analogies + Associations)
One item “goes into the mailbox,” and something connected by one trait comes out. Great for analogy thinking, flexible reasoning, and verbal explanation.
What Are We Having for Dinner? (Categorization + Emotional Language)
Kids sort items into “tasty,” “nasty,” or “aww” (soft fuzzy empathy items). Builds categorization, quick responses, and expressive language.
Rapid Naming Game (Vocabulary Retrieval + Processing Speed)
Fast category naming (like groceries, sports team names, etc.), using visualization strategies to improve speed and accuracy.

✅ Grocery store brain games that double as life skills

Felice shares a fun “theme scavenger hunt” style game using science connections (like Mars bars = planets or Milky Way = space), boosting creative associations and attention.

Tara adds a smart extension: teach kids to notice marketing placement—what’s at eye level, on end caps, and why—while also building visual awareness.

Featured Game Resource Mentioned

Name 5 (Endless Games)

A category-prompt game Tara uses to support rapid naming, vocabulary growth, and research prompts when kids get stuck on categories.

Q&A: “My son can’t follow more than one direction at a time—how do we do this?”

Tara breaks down practical strategies for kids who struggle with following multi-step directions, including:

teaching directions one step at a time
having the child repeat the step back
using visualization (“see yourself doing it”)
helping kids connect the “missing steps” in a sequence

This section is especially helpful for parents supporting kids with auditory processing challenges or working memory limitations.

Card Games That Teach (and What Skills They Build)

Tara recommends several high-impact educational card games and explains how to use them for skill-building (even before playing the “official” rules):

SET

Builds pattern recognition, logic, sorting, visual discrimination, and multi-feature processing. Tara also shares pre-game exercises (sorting by color/shape/number/shading) to reduce overwhelm and build mastery.

Blink

Fast-paced matching by shape, color, or number—great for processing speed and flexible thinking. Tara recommends starting with open-hand play and emphasizing skill before speed.

7-8-9

A mental math card game using quick +/– calculations. Great for strengthening math fluency (when kids are ready).

Spot It! (and variations)

Strengthens visual processing, scanning, and attention by finding the one matching symbol between cards. Tara shares strategies like elimination by color to narrow focus.

About Today’s Guest: Tara Jenner

Tara Jenner is a homeschool mom and brain training specialist who works with families and students to strengthen cognitive skills through practical exercises and targeted support.

Find Tara here:

TheBrain-Trainers.com

What’s Coming in Part 2

In Games That Teach (Part 2), Felice and Tara will move into board games and additional strategies for building memory skills through play.

Listen + Subscribe

You can listen to this episode at TheVintageHomeschoolMoms.com and follow the show on your favorite podcast app.

Stress-Free Holidays Are Possible: Here’s How (Holiday Replay)

December 8, 2025 by Ultimate Homeschool Leave a Comment

Short Cuts – Hints & Holiday Tips by Felice Gerwitz

Discover tips for stress free holidays with careful planning and creative entertaining ideas that wow your guests every time.

How does Felice Gerwitz tirelessly entertain 20+ guests of all ages, use real dishes, cloth tablecloths & napkins with home-made napkin rings, and still remain sane after the last guests have left? With some careful planning, cooking ahead and getting some amazing deals and after holiday sales, Felice pulls off the Martha Steward look year after year.

Learn how to create a wish list and look for deals, bake ahead and freeze, enlist help from your family members and guests, make fresh flower centerpieces that look like you’ve slaved for hours and other tips that Felice has learned during the years. She enjoys baking and entertaining but most of all rejoicing in God and celebrating the special ties between family and friends.

Here is a handout along with a free printable to hang on your wall! Vintage Handouts Stress Free Holidays

Recommended Resources from Media Angels

Introducing the Christmas Planning Printables from Media Angels – your ultimate toolkit for a joy-filled and organized holiday season! This 3-pack bundle includes three essential printables: the Christmas Planner, the Christmas Kids Activity Planner, and the Christmas Week Planner, each thoughtfully designed to elevate your festive preparations.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: a radio show for homeschool moms, Christian parenting, Education, Felice Gerwitz, help for homeschool moms, holiday, holiday tips, homeschool podcasts, homeschool radio, homeschooling, parenting, radio show for Christian familes, thanksgiving, thanksgiving holiday tips, thanksgiving podcast with holiday tips

Make It Count: How to Turn Homeschool Extracurriculars into High School Credit

October 27, 2025 by Ultimate Homeschool 1 Comment

Extracurriculars That Count: Turning Passions Into High School Credit

Wondering how to fit electives, sports, and real-life experiences into your teen’s transcript—without losing your family’s mission (or your mind)?

In this episode, Felice Gerwitz, host of the Vintage Homeschool Moms podcast shares practical, faith-first ways to weave extracurriculars into high school for credit. From shadowing professionals and Toastmasters to ministry, sports, entrepreneurship, and even scuba, Felice shows how prayer, purpose, and planning turn interests into intentional education. You’ll also hear how Media Angels, Truth Seekers Mystery Series, and the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network were born from this same “follow the Lord + make it count” mindset.

What You’ll Learn

Pray first, plan second: Why prayer frames every decision about electives and activities.
Start with mission: How family core values and a simple mission statement guide what “counts.”
Make it credit-worthy: Finding course codes, setting objectives, and documenting hours for legit high-school credit.
Career exploration that matters: Job-shadowing (reporter, doctor, lawyer) to clarify direction—then transcript it.
Communication confidence: Toastmasters, podcasting, and speaking as real credits for shy or reluctant teens.
Service as a transcript line: Pro-life outreach, Habitat for Humanity, youth ministry, local missions—how to log it all.
Sports & sanity: The surprising academic benefits (focus, time management, character) and navigating team politics.
Entrepreneurship in high school: Microbusiness ideas (small engine repair, lawn equipment) and how teens price work.
Research → writing → opportunities: The Truth Seekers fiction series led to archaeology research and a real dinosaur dig invite!
Protect margin: Why unhurried time helps teens think, pray, and hear God’s call.

Quick Ideas You Can Use This Week

Write or refresh your Family Mission Statement (include Scripture that anchors your “why”).
Pick one interest and ask: “What standards/objectives would make this a course?” Then find the state course code (or build your own scope & sequence).
Schedule one shadow day for your teen. Debrief and log hours.
Join or start a youth Toastmasters/speech club—track speeches, roles, and evaluations for credit.
Convert current service (church nursery, food pantry, roofing with Habitat, etc.) into a documented Service Learning credit.

Favorite Quotes

“Prayer is the beginning and the end of everything we think, say, or do as a Christian.” —Felice
“Don’t do activities just to be busy—make them serve the mission God gave your family.”
“If the opportunity is from the Lord, He will provide a way.”

Mentioned in This Episode

Media Angels – Creation science curriculum; writing/publishing resources; Truth Seekers Mystery Series.
Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network – Free shows for homeschool families.
Vintage Homeschool Moms – Felice’s show (find it on Apple Podcasts/Android apps).
Current Issues & the Constitution – Civics through current events (Felice moderates with her brother-in-law).
Micro Business for Teens (podcast/ideas) – Turning skills into income and elective credit.
Toastmasters (youth/speech club) – Communication credit option.
Habitat for Humanity – Local service that can count toward community service hours.

How to Award Credit for Electives (Cheat Sheet)

Define the course: “Speech & Communication,” “Career Exploration,” “Service Learning,” “Photography,” “Sports Conditioning,” etc.
Objectives: 4–6 clear outcomes (skills/knowledge).
Hours: 120–150 hours = 1.0 credit; ~60–90 hours = 0.5 credit.
Assessments/Evidence: Project list, reflection journals, supervisor signatures, portfolio (photos, audio files, logs).
Description (for transcript): 1–2 sentences describing scope & outcomes.

Encourage Your Teen

Try things, tell the truth about what you liked/didn’t, and keep moving. That clarity is progress.
Protect thinking time—faith and calling grow in quiet.

Connect with Felice

Website: MediaAngels.com
Show: TheVintageHomeschoolMoms.com

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: Christian parenting, electives, faith-based homeschooling, Felice Gerwitz, help for homeschool moms, High School, homeschool electives ideas, homeschool extracurriculars for high school credit, homeschool high school transcript, homeschool moms, Homeschool tips, homeschooling high school, job shadowing homeschool, parenting, service learning homeschool, Toastmasters for teens

Sound Strategies: Boosting Academic Success with Auditory Processing

July 22, 2024 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

📚 Part of our guide: Homeschooling with Dyslexia

Sound Strategies: Boosting Academic Success with Auditory Processing

In this episode of the Vintage Homeschool Moms podcast, Felice Gerwitz is joined by special guest Terra Jenner to look into the critical role of auditory training in education. Terra shares invaluable insights on how auditory processing can significantly impact reading, spelling, and comprehension skills.

This episode sponsored by CTC Math.

Special Guest: Terra Jenner

Host: Felice Gerwitz

Episode Highlights:

The Sound-to-Code Connection: Discover how the English language operates as a sound-to-code system and what this means for learners.
Understanding English Sounds: Learn about the number of sounds in the English language and their significance.
Demystifying Dyslexia: Terra explains what dyslexia really is and why it’s often mistakenly associated with letter reversals.
The Link Between Auditory and Written Language: Uncover the surprising connection between auditory skills and written language proficiency.
Practical Tips and Fun Games: Get practical advice on how to teach individual sounds and engage children with fun and educational auditory games.

Do you have a child who struggles academically?

This episode is packed with practical tips and insights that can help improve your child’s learning experience through auditory processing training. Terra Jenner’s expertise will provide you with new strategies to support your child’s academic journey.

Tune in to this episode to unlock the potential of auditory processing in your homeschool curriculum.

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: a radio show for homeschool moms, auditory and reading, auditory processing and comprehension, auditory processing and reading, auditory processing and spelling, auditory processings, Cognitive Training, help for homeschool moms, homeschool moms, Homeschooling special needs., Learning tips for struggling learners, special needs, Tara Jenner, The Brain Trainers

Science Labs on a Budget: Hands-On Learning at Home

June 3, 2024 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

📚 Part of our guide: Homeschool Science

Science Labs on a Shoestring Budget

Want to do science at home? Tried and true science labs are finally easy to do at home. With labs on a shoe-string budget, you will find the information you need to stock your science lab at home.

What is contained in a tried and true science lab?

All purpose science kit.

Biology Kit

Chemistry Kit

Physics Kit

Tips on keeping all of your materials organized.

Where to purchase “real” science equipment.

Science labs depend on good equipment but also a good curriculum. This book has hundreds of recommended books and many are available in libraries.

Tried and true lab sheets!

An added bonus to this book contains blank science experiment sheets – we’ve used these over the years with our children and hundreds of children have used them in science labs I’ve hosted. These lab sheets will keep the kid’s notes organized and are great for science lab notebooks.

Author and publisher, Felice Gerwitz of Media Angels, Inc. will discuss tried and true science labs to incorporate science labs within the home – this presentation is taken from her book, Teaching Science and Having Fun.

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: a radio show for homeschool moms, Education, Felice Gerwitz, help for homeschool moms, help for weary moms, holiday, holiday tips, homeschool podcasts, homeschool radio, homeschooling, Jesus in Christmas, Jesus is the reason for the season, Keeping Christ Centered Family Celebrations, radio show for Christian familes, tried and true science labs, weary homeschool moms need refreshment

10 Things Your Child Must Know About the Origins Debate

April 1, 2024 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

Equip your kids to defend their Creation Position! 10 Must Know Points.

Here she goes again! If you didn’t already know, Felice has a passion for teaching kids (and their parents) about the wonders of God’s Creation…but it goes one step further. Felice’s passion turned into a book series (selected by Cathy Duffy in her 100 and now 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum).

Can you prove it? Can you prove evolution? Listen in and bring your kids (Mrs. Gerwitz says this counts as school 🙂 ) and learn the TOP 10 things your kids should know about the creation and evolution debate.

Discover the Curriculum from Cathy Duffy’s Top Picks

Our science curriculum books focus on topics that teach your children the truth about God’s glorious Creation. And ways to defend it! This level includes all our creation curriculum classes and everything in the eBook bundle.

Now! Immediate access to online classes. Felice Gerwitz teaches your children online creation based upon award winning science curriculum designed to ground your family in a Christian worldview.

About Our Books:

Why should you teach your children about Creation? Because everything else they read that is remotely science related teaches evolution as FACT. Shouldn’t your children learn there is more than one side to the story? Do you want your child to be informed? We do and we consider this our mission at Media Angels.

About the Study Guides:

These study guides include a readable outline of the main points in the Creation vs. evolution discussion, the major talking points you should know and ways to educate the children in these points with hands-on activities and experiments. This series isn’t a read-it-one-time and forget it! This series will be repeated again and again and is for K-12th!

If you want a course in Creation Apologetics for kids, this is it!

Additional Resources

Activity Packs for each of the study guides which contain hands on activities you can photo copy for your family.

Creation Kids Classes: On Demand

-Six weeks worth of classes — one per week for ages K-8th grade (high school if you’ve never studied Creation).
-Audio Recordings
-Handouts and Websites to visit
-Further research
-Bonus interviews

Order here:

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: a radio show for homeschool moms, creation, Creation Science, Five Steps to Homeschool success, help for homeschool moms, homeschool moms

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Equip your kids to defend their Creation Position! 10 Must Know Points.

Discover the Curriculum from Cathy Duffy’s Top Picks

About Our Books:

About the Study Guides:

Additional Resources

Creation Kids Classes: On Demand