military homeschoolers Archives

Homeschooling High School: A Mission Worth Taking for Military Families

Homeschooling High School: A Mission Worth Taking for Military Families

Homeschooling high school can sound intimidating—especially for military families who already juggle deployments, PCS moves, and ever-changing routines. But in this encouraging episode of the Military Homeschool Moms Podcast, host Crystal Niehoff shares how homeschooling high school can actually be one of the most rewarding and freeing decisions for military parents and their teens.

Crystal explains how the flexibility of homeschooling fits perfectly with the unpredictable rhythm of military life. From overseas assignments to homecomings, homeschooling allows families to maintain consistency, no matter where duty calls. Teens can take their education anywhere, adjust schedules around deployments, and even turn travel experiences into hands-on learning opportunities.

Listeners will also hear how homeschooling provides academic freedom and personalized learning, letting parents shape education around their teen’s strengths, interests, and faith. Crystal discusses how homeschoolers thrive in college and the workforce thanks to their adaptability, independence, and critical thinking skills—qualities that come naturally to military kids!

Crystal then shares about Venus and Serena Williams, two world-renowned athletes who were homeschooled throughout their high school years. Their parents chose homeschooling so the girls could focus on both academics and tennis training while maintaining strong family values. That decision not only gave them flexibility but also helped shape their discipline, confidence, and focus—qualities that made them champions both on and off the court.

Listeners will come away reminded that homeschooling high school isn’t just about academics—it’s about building character, faith, and family bonds that will last a lifetime.

Resources Mentioned

HSLDA Military Homeschool Resources
Schoolhouseteachers.com – Complete Christian curriculum for all grades, easily portable
Military Child Education Coalition

🎧 Tune in to hear why homeschooling high school as a military family isn’t a burden—it’s a blessing! Subscribe and share this episode to encourage another military mom who might be wondering if she can do it too.

Homeschooling Children with Unique Needs – Part One (Replay)

Episode #18 – Unique needs may be remedial, gifted, illness, and everything in between. During this two-part series, homeschool mom and former teacher Felice Gerwitz, who holds a degree in Elementary Education, Learning Disabilities, and Early Childhood Education, talks about homeschooling children with a variety of learning styles and unique needs.

Thanks to our sponsor! NowPrograms.com – visit the website for more information.

Realizing that she was taught to teach to a child’s strengths but never how to work with their weaknesses, Felice saw that the public school system was failing students with needs that didn’t fit with the norm. Then as her own children grew older and she saw they had unique needs of their own, Felice sought a better way to help each of them educationally.

Sharing from her special education background and over 35 years of homeschooling, part one of this two-part series touches on the unique needs of each of her four children and her journey to finding methods to meet those needs. Her children are now grown and productive, successful adults. Listen in to find out how she thought outside the box to accommodate her children’s learning needs and how you, too, can teach a unique learner.

Felice Gerwitz is a creative, energetic, outside-of-the-box thinker. She is an author, hosts several podcasts, and is the founder of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network and the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Felice is a life-long Catholic Christian who loves and serves the Lord Jesus Christ. A graduate of Florida Southern College, she is a former teacher with a degree in Elementary Education, Learning Disabilities, and Early Childhood Education.

Listen to Part Two

Recommended Card Games:

Set – Visual Perception Game
Set Junior
Quiddler – Short word game
Word Spiel

Other Resources:

Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Ultimate Christian Podcast Network

Media Angels, INC

Vintage Homeschool Moms Podcast

Sponsor:

Upper Iowa University is committed to providing quality, affordable education to service members and their families. Service members, spouses and dependents qualify for tuition savings with their Military Family Grant on undergraduate and graduate degrees. UIU programs are available online, on campus and at one of their learning centers across the country. Work one-on-one with an advisor to reach your educational goals. Learn more at UIU.EDU/MilitaryHomeSchool

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or Stitcher
Subscribe on your favorite podcast listening app
Or listen right here (just scroll down)

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at militaryhomeschoolpodcast@gmail.com or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!