The Christy-Faith Show

Is your teenager shutting the bedroom door, sleeping until ten, and tuning out every reminder — while you quietly wonder if you’re losing them? In Part 3 of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith explains what’s really happening in the teen brain and how teen homeschooling can build real independence without losing connection.

🎁 Free Resource: 15 Questions to Ask Before You Join a Homeschool Co-Op
Save yourself the time and misery of joining the wrong co-op. Grab my free guide and find the right fit for your family.
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep — and why it’s okay to start school at 9 or 10
• Attention span by age: what to expect from 12–14 vs. 15–18 year olds
• Executive function in teens: why knowing and doing run on different hardware
• Scaffolding that isn’t you: checklists, timers, and outside deadlines
• What the research says about teen moods, conflict, and family time
• How much independent work to expect in 7th–8th, 9th–10th, and 11th–12th grade
• The ladder of ownership: handing over the school day one rung at a time
• What to do when your teen says “I want to go to real school” — and how to repair a strained relationship

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans and Savings

Resources mentioned:

• Smooth Homeschool Days Part 1 (Ep. 137) — The early years: pre-K to 2nd grade
• Smooth Homeschool Days Part 2 (Ep. 138) — The elementary years: 3rd to 6th grade
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providers
• Thrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool moms
• ⭐ New to homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Welcome to Smooth Homeschool Days Part 3

Your child did long division perfectly on Monday — so why are they staring at the same problems like they’re written in a foreign language today? In Part 2 of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith explains what kids in 3rd through 6th grade are really ready for, how much independence they can handle, and how to raise the bar without losing the relationship.

🎁 Free Resource: Sample Homeschool Schedules
Wondering how much school is really enough? See what real homeschool days look like with my free sample schedules.
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What’s developing in the brain between ages 8 and 11 — and why abstract math can feel impossible
• Attention span by age for assigned work (and the video game myth)
• How much independent work is realistic at ages 8–9 vs. 10–11
• Why skills seem to vanish overnight — and why unevenness is not regression
• The math anxiety loop: how worry freezes working memory
• The golden rule for frustrating lessons: two explanations, then stop
• The 3 academic hinges of the elementary years and grade-by-grade expectations
• The correction-to-connection ratio and how to batch your corrections

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family’s needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

LearningRx
✔ Backed by 35 years of research
✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia
✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and math
Use code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment
👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills Assessment

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans and Savings

Resources mentioned:

• Smooth Homeschool Days Part 1 (Ep. 137) — The early years: pre-K to 2nd grade
• Homeschool Rising — Christy-Faith’s book, including the chapter on deschooling
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providers
• Thrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool moms
• ⭐ New to homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Welcome to Smooth Homeschool Days Part 2

Is your five-year-old refusing to do their letters, or is your seven-year-old melting down over a single phonics page? In Part 1 of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith explains why most of what looks like a behavior problem in kids ages 4 to 7 is really brain development — and how to homeschool pre-K to 2nd grade without constant battles.

🎁 Free Resource: Sample Homeschool Schedules
Wondering how much school is really enough? See what real homeschool days look like with my free sample schedules.
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most “behavior problems” in kids ages 4–7 are really brain development
• Attention span by age — how long young kids can really focus on assigned work
• Why a 4-year-old can only hold about two pieces of information at once (and how to give instructions that stick)
• The “yesterday vs. today” problem — and what’s really behind it
• Why young kids need to move while they learn, plus the “upside-down kid” test
• Co-regulation: why young kids can’t calm themselves down yet
• Refusal vs. meltdown — a 60-second protocol and the 3 types of meltdowns
• How long to homeschool each day from pre-K to 2nd grade

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family’s needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

LearningRx
✔ Backed by 35 years of research
✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia
✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and math
Use code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment
👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills Assessment

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans and Savings

Resources mentioned:

• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providers
• Thrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool moms
• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University — Research on executive function, including attention, working memory, and self-control
• Wiley Blevins — Early literacy expert and author of A Fresh Look at Phonics
• ⭐ New to homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Welcome to the Smooth Homeschool Days Series

Why do so many Christian marriages struggle even when both spouses truly love each other? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with licensed professional counselor Debra Fileta to talk about her new book, Relationship Skills, and the four seasons every marriage passes through. Healthy marriages aren't found — they're built.

🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum Recommendations
I spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Christian marriages struggle from a lack of skill, not a lack of love
• The difference between a difficult, dysfunctional, and toxic relationship — and when to get professional help
• The four seasons of marriage: spring, summer, fall, and winter
• Why the goal of Christian marriage isn't just longevity — it's transformation
• How to change old patterns by starting with what you bring to the table
• The 90-second hack for building emotional intimacy in marriage
• How to apologize to your spouse in 3 steps: own it, validate, and share your plan for change
• Why marriage repair after conflict can make you stronger — and why there's hope even in winter

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

LearningRx
✔ Backed by 35 years of research
✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia
✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and math
Use code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment
👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills Assessment

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans & Savings

Resources mentioned:

• Relationship Skills by Debra Fileta — Debra's newest book on the four seasons of relationships
• People Skills by Debra Fileta — a great relationship-skills book for homeschool families
• Relationship Skills Quiz — free quiz to find which skills your relationship needs in this season
• Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast
• Debra Fileta Counselors Network — faith-forward, clinically trained counselors
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers
• Thrive Homeschool Community

About our guest:

Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the Debra Fileta Counselors Network. She is the bestselling author of ten books, including RESET, Soul Care, and her newest book, Relationship Skills. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show Talk To Me, where she facilitates on-air, authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders.
👉 DebraFileta.com
👉 @DebraFileta on Instagram

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Introduction

What is a homeschool dad actually supposed to do when his wife is the one teaching? Most homeschool content is written for moms, so dads are left guessing — supportive, but unsure where they fit. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Dr. Joe O'Tool, a board-certified functional neurologist and second-generation homeschooler, to answer the question directly: what every homeschool dad needs to know.

🎁 Free Resource: The New Homeschooler's Roadmap
Your free step-by-step companion to this whole journey — all 8 steps, all the links, plus episode playlists organized by your biggest worries. Save it to your desktop — it's your command center.
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What the dad's role in homeschooling actually is when mom is the primary teacher
• Why the best homeschool dads lead without micromanaging the day-to-day
• What to say to your wife when she has taught the same concept five times and hit a wall
• Why a dad's criticism is usually fear talking — and what to do with that fear
• The one action step Dr. Joe gives every nervous homeschool dad
• Why deschooling matters just as much for dads as it does for moms
• The skill that predicts academic success better than intelligence does
• How to explain your family's homeschooling to coworkers and friends without apologizing

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans & Savings

Resources mentioned:

• The Stinks — Dr. Joe O'Tool's children's book about getting outside and getting the stink off
• Lifestream Clinic — Dr. Joe's functional neurology practice in Ankeny, Iowa
• Homeschool Iowa — the state organization Dr. Joe serves on the board of
• Homeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's book, including the chapter on deschooling
• Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein — the book Dr. Joe references on struggle and long-term learning
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community

About our guest:

Dr. Joe O'Tool is a board-certified functional neurologist practicing in Ankeny, Iowa, where he works daily with children facing learning, behavior, and development concerns, and with patients experiencing concussion, vertigo, brain fog, and dizziness. He is a second-generation homeschooler who grew up in a family of nine children, and he and his wife, Angie, homeschool their own kids today. He serves on the board of Homeschool Iowa and is the author of the children's book The Stinks. His personal motto is: "Step Up. Change Lives. Inspire Hope."
👉 lifestreamclinic.com
👉 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Introduction

Can homeschool graduates actually join the military — and is enlisting the only way in? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Natalie Mack, M.Ed., a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and retired military spouse with more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, to map every pathway to service. Enlistment, ROTC, service academies, military colleges, the Guard and Reserves — plus the tier rule that quietly decided how homeschoolers were treated for years.

🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum Recommendations
I spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The five military pathways open to homeschool graduates, not just enlistment
• Why homeschool graduates are now tier one — and what to do if a recruiter says otherwise
• What the ASVAB actually measures, and why it isn't only for future service members
• How the free ASVAB Career Exploration Program works for any student in 10th grade and up
• The option that keeps your student's test scores out of a recruiter's hands
• How ROTC scholarships work, and the service obligation that can come with them
• What a service academy application really demands, and why you start before ninth grade
• Why applying early decision can quietly disqualify a service academy candidate

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

LearningRx
✔ Backed by 35 years of research
✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia
✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and math
👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills Assessment — use code HOME50

True North Homeschool Academy
✔ Cognia-accredited live online and self-paced courses for grades 6–12
✔ Dual degree track or tech & trades diploma
✔ Small classes, college-ready rigor, faith-friendly environment
👉 Explore Courses & Get Started

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans & Savings

Resources mentioned:

• March to Success — free ASVAB prep from the U.S. Army: march2success.com
• Natalie Mack's website: natalie-mack.com
• High School Decisions Bootcamp — use code CHRISTY for a listener discount: natalie-mack.com/high-school-decisions-bootcamp
• Natalie's homeschool courses and masterclasses: natalie-mack.com/masterclass
• 101 Tips for Homeschoolers — Natalie's book: Get the book on Amazon
• The Impact of Homeschooling — Natalie's TEDx talk: Watch the TEDx talk
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive

⭐ This is Part 4, the final episode of a 4-part series with Natalie Mack on homeschooling high school.
Part 1 — How to Homeschool High School With Confidence
Part 2 — Can Homeschoolers Play College Sports? NCAA Eligibility Explained
Part 3 — How to Prepare Your Homeschooler for College
Part 4 — Homeschool to Military (this episode)

About our guest:

Natalie Mack, M.Ed. is the founder of Homeschool Natalie Mack, and a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of 101 Tips for Homeschoolers. With more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, she helps families confidently navigate high school, transcripts, college admissions, military service, and other postsecondary pathways. Natalie is passionate about equipping parents with practical guidance so they can make informed decisions.
👉 natalie-mack.com
👉 Instagram: @homeschoolnataliemack
👉 TikTok: @homeschoolnataliemack
👉 Facebook: Homeschool Natalie Mack
👉 YouTube: @homeschoolnataliemack

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Introduction

How do you prepare a homeschooler for college — and do you have to do the traditional four years to get there? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Natalie Mack, M.Ed., a homeschool consultant and TEDx speaker with more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, to walk through every college-bound pathway open to homeschool families. Dual enrollment, community college, dual degree programs, and the traditional four-year route — plus the transfer trap that quietly costs families thousands.

🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum Recommendations
I spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The four college-bound pathways available to homeschool families, laid out side by side
• When community college during high school is a smart move — and when it isn't
• How dual enrollment works, and why one semester course can equal a full high school year
• Why some dual credit classes never transfer, and the residency requirement behind it
• The exact question to ask a college registrar before your teen enrolls in anything
• What dual degree programs are, and which students they actually fit
• How the college application process differs for homeschool students (and how much it doesn't)
• Why colleges actively recruit homeschool students for the skills they bring

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans & Savings

Resources mentioned:

• Natalie Mack's website — home of her free downloadable extracurricular activity resume for tracking leadership, service, and volunteer work: natalie-mack.com
• High School Decisions Bootcamp — use code CHRISTY for a listener discount: natalie-mack.com/high-school-decisions-bootcamp
• Natalie's homeschool courses and masterclasses: natalie-mack.com/masterclass
• 101 Tips for Homeschoolers — Natalie's book: Get the book on Amazon
• The Impact of Homeschooling — Natalie's TEDx talk: Watch the TEDx talk
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive

⭐ This is Part 3 of a 4-part series with Natalie Mack on homeschooling high school.
Part 1 — How to Homeschool High School With Confidence
Part 2 — Can Homeschoolers Play College Sports? NCAA Eligibility Explained
Part 3 — How to Prepare Your Homeschooler for College (this episode)
Part 4 — From homeschool to military service: enlistment, ROTC, and service academies

About our guest:

Natalie Mack, M.Ed. is the founder of Homeschool Natalie Mack, and a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of 101 Tips for Homeschoolers. With more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, she helps families confidently navigate high school, transcripts, college admissions, military service, and other postsecondary pathways. Natalie is passionate about equipping parents with practical guidance so they can make informed decisions.
👉 natalie-mack.com
👉 Instagram: @homeschoolnataliemack
👉 TikTok: @homeschoolnataliemack
👉 Facebook: Homeschool Natalie Mack
👉 YouTube: @homeschoolnataliemack

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Introduction and Where We Are in the Series

Can homeschoolers actually play college sports? If your athlete has ever said "I want to play in college," there is a separate process running alongside college admissions that most homeschool families never hear about until it's too late. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Natalie Mack, M.Ed., to walk through exactly how NCAA eligibility works when you're the one wearing the guidance counselor hat.

🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum Recommendations
I spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Whether homeschool students can compete in NCAA athletics just like traditionally schooled students
• Where to find the NCAA Eligibility Center's homeschool toolkit and why it's the document to follow
• How the 16 core courses and the 10/7 rule actually work
• What a Core Course Worksheet (CCW) is and when a parent has to fill one out
• When the eligibility clock starts and why 9th grade is already late to begin planning
• How dual enrollment, co-op classes, and online courses count toward eligibility
• The real difference between Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 requirements
• The most common mistakes that quietly create eligibility problems for homeschool athletes

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

LearningRx
✔ Backed by 35 years of research
✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia
✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and math
👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills Assessment — use code HOME50

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans & Savings

Resources mentioned:

• Natalie Mack's website — free high school planning checklist for grades 9–12, the high school decisions workshop, and her homeschool courses
• High School Decisions Bootcamp — use code CHRISTY for a listener discount
• Natalie's homeschool courses — cross-cultural American literature and model diplomacy global affairs simulation
• 101 Tips for Homeschoolers — Natalie's book
• The Impact of Homeschooling — Natalie's TEDx talk
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive

⭐ This is Part 2 of a 4-part series with Natalie Mack on homeschooling high school.
Part 1 — How to Homeschool High School With Confidence
Part 3 — the college-bound path, including community college and dual enrollment
Part 4 — from homeschool to military service: enlistment, ROTC, and service academies

About our guest:

Natalie Mack, M.Ed., is the founder of Homeschool Natalie Mack, and a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of 101 Tips for Homeschoolers. With more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, she helps families confidently navigate high school, transcripts, college admissions, military service, and other postsecondary pathways. Natalie is passionate about equipping parents with practical guidance so they can make informed decisions.
👉 natalie-mack.com

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Introduction and why this series got split into four episodes

Your student is heading into ninth grade and suddenly everything feels like it counts. Credits, transcripts, graduation requirements, college, and a hundred decisions you're not sure you're qualified to make. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Natalie Mack, M.Ed., to answer the question that keeps homeschool moms up at night: how do you homeschool high school without living in a pressure cooker?

This is Part 1 of a four-part high school series.

🎁 Free Resource: Sample Homeschool Schedules
See how real homeschool families actually structure their days — then take what works and leave the rest.
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What actually changes when you move from homeschooling middle school into high school
• Why Natalie calls high school a blank canvas — and why there's no single right way through it
• The five core subject areas that build a sound high school foundation
• How many credits a homeschool high schooler needs each year, and what a credit really represents
• Why every student needs a homeschool transcript — even the ones who say they're not going to college
• When to start the transcript and why it stays a draft document for years
• How to set your own graduation requirements and where state law comes into it
• The biggest mistake homeschool parents make in high school planning — and how fear drives it
• The truth about the all-AP myth, straight from a College Board parent advisory council member
• How to choose between dual enrollment, AP, CLEP, and online classes using four fit filters
• The dual credit mistake that costs families real money when credits don't transfer

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs
✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in
✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level
👉 View Samples

CTC Math
✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off

Summit Healthshare
✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance
✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips
✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans
👉 View Health Plans & Savings

Resources mentioned:

• Natalie Mack's website — free high school planning checklist for grades 9–12, the high school decisions workshop, and her homeschool courses: natalie-mack.com
• High School Decisions Bootcamp — use code CHRISTY for a listener discount: High School Decisions Bootcamp
• Natalie's homeschool courses — cross-cultural American literature and model diplomacy global affairs simulation: Natalie's Courses
• 101 Tips for Homeschoolers — Natalie's book: 101 Tips for Homeschoolers
• The Impact of Homeschooling — Natalie's TEDx talk: Watch the TEDx talk
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive

About our guest:

Natalie Mack, M.Ed., is the founder of Homeschool Natalie Mack, and a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of 101 Tips for Homeschoolers. With more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, she helps families confidently navigate high school, transcripts, college admissions, military service, and other postsecondary pathways. Natalie is passionate about equipping parents with practical guidance so they can make informed decisions.
👉 natalie-mack.com

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschool
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Meet Natalie Mack

It's 8 AM on the first day of school — pencils sharpened, kids ready — and the website won't load, a password is wrong, and the whole morning unravels before it starts. In Part 2 of How to Set Up Your Homeschool Year, homeschool expert Christy-Faith — author of Homeschool Rising with over 20 years of experience in education — moves from mindset to the nuts and bolts: the 7 systems she sets up every summer so her homeschool runs at a clip instead of starting in overwhelm.

🎁 Free Resource: Sample Homeschool Schedules
Curious what other homeschool moms' schedules actually look like? Grab free sample schedules by age and stage — Christy-Faith's own included.
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the worst time to teach a new chore system is September — and when to train it instead
• How a simple printed schedule lowers your kids' stress hormones (clinicians have measured it)
• Why you don't need a dedicated schoolroom — and the "everything has a home" rule that keeps your house tidy
• The unglamorous tech-and-passwords setup that saves your first day of school
• How to teach kids exactly what to do when mom gets pulled away mid-lesson
• The prep work Christy-Faith does every summer before she opens a single curriculum
• How to layer subjects in slowly so the year starts calm instead of like a tidal wave

Sponsors:

BJU Press Homeschool
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True North Homeschool Academy
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Summit Healthshare
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Resources mentioned:

• Free Sample Homeschool Schedules — by age and stage: christy-faith.com/download-free-sample-homeschool-schedules
• How to Set Up Your Homeschool Year (Part 1) — start here first: Listen to Part 1
• Homeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's book (deschooling chapter): Homeschool Rising
• The Christy-Faith List — find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschool
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - Welcome to Part 2 — Building Your Year by Hand