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
✔ 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!
👉 Get 50% Off (Homeschool Discount)
👉 Start Your Free Trial

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

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:

• 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

You planned the perfect first week — and by day three it was already falling apart. What actually torches the start of a homeschool year has nothing to do with school supplies, curriculum, or the color-coded spreadsheet you built in July. It's your expectations. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith, an education and parenting expert with over 20 years of experience, walks through the seven mindset shifts that make setting up your homeschool year sustainable instead of soul-crushing.

🎁 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 everything is hard at the beginning — even in year 15 — and the three-things rule that keeps week one from burying you
• Why the first weeks of school are the worst possible time to teach brand-new content
• How to prep before day one so your kids aren't learning new systems and new material at the same time
• Why your July and August plan is supposed to fall apart — and the documented brain glitch behind it
• How much margin to build into every single slot in your homeschool schedule
• Why there's no "teacher hat" to put on, and what changes when you teach as yourself
• Why you were always the variable, not the curriculum box
• Why that bone-deep week-one exhaustion is proof your brain is doing hard, honest work

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:

• Free Sample Homeschool Schedules — Christy-Faith's real schedules for every age and stage, PK through 12th: Get the Schedules
• Free Curriculum Recommendations — The vetted list, by subject, with zero paid placements: Free Download
• New to Homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: Learn More

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) - The Day That Fell Apart

You've researched the curriculum, built the schedule, and made the plan — so why do you still lie awake wondering if you're doing enough? In this rare, behind-the-scenes episode, homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with the mentors of Thrive Homeschool Community to talk about why even devoted homeschool moms keep second-guessing their decisions — and how to finally trust that you're the right one to make the call for your kids.

🎁 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 three questions that keep homeschool moms up at night: "Am I doing enough? Am I doing too much? Are these the right things?"
• Why more information hasn't made homeschooling easier — and how too many "experts" fuel the second-guessing
• Where real homeschool confidence actually comes from (hint: it's not a perfect curriculum)
• What the Accelerator group is and how it walks new members through Christy-Faith's core frameworks
• Why "Finding Your Why" becomes the North Star for every curriculum and scheduling decision
• How office hours, DMs, and mentor support give you an objective second set of eyes — not more forum noise
• Why competence breeds confidence — and why every family's homeschool plan should look different
• What makes a values-aligned support community different from a free Facebook group

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 for Homeschool Families

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:

• Thrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith's training and support community for homeschool moms: christy-faith.com/thrive
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.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) - Introduction: A Rare Look Inside Thrive

Should you still be reading aloud to your kids after they can read on their own? It turns out this is one of the most settled questions in all of education — and the answer has been sitting in a government report since 1985. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith walks through what the research actually says about reading aloud to kids, why it never expires, and why the book on your couch may outrank half of what's on your lesson plan.

🎁 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 reading aloud to kids is called the single most important activity for building a reader
• What the million word gap study found about read-alouds before kindergarten
• Why the rare words in books almost never show up in everyday conversation
• What MRI scans revealed about a child's brain during a read-aloud
• How animated screens do the imagining that a book leaves to your child
• Why reading aloud to older kids does NOT make them lazy readers
• The difference between constrained and unconstrained reading skills
• What kids themselves say they want most from being read to

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 — or purchase with the homeschool discount

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:

• Free Quote of the Week Notecard — the Emilie Buchwald quote from this episode, ready to print
• My Curriculum Recommendations — the free list, by subject
• All of Christy-Faith's free homeschool resources
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers
• Thrive Homeschool Community
• Homeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's book

Related episodes:

• Ep. 107 — How to Reduce Screen Time for Kids
• Ep. 61 — Are Schools Killing a Love of Learning?
• Ep. 92 — Behind the Screen (Part 1/6) — the start of Christy-Faith's vulnerability series

⭐ New to Homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.

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) - Should You Be Reading Aloud to Your Kids?

You've said "sit down, please" about twenty thousand times this week — and it's starting to feel personal. It isn't. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith unpacks what's actually happening in your child's brain, why the wiggling may be how the learning gets in, and the small shifts that make the morning stop being a fight.

🎁 Free Resource: 20 Questions to Kickstart Your Deschooling Adventure
Twenty honest questions that help you spot the school-shaped rules you're still carrying — so you can put them down, one at a time.
👉 Free Download

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The attention-span rule of thumb every homeschool mom should know — a few minutes per year of age on a grown-up-chosen task
• Why a 45-minute lesson is quietly asking your six-year-old to hold on three times longer than they can
• The three expectations strangling your homeschool mornings — and permission to put all three down
• What 54 studies and nearly 30,000 kids revealed about movement and learning
• How to shorten and split lessons without falling behind
• Why doing the hard subjects first changes the whole back half of your day
• How to rescue your read-alouds — a still body was never the point
• Loop scheduling and trimming your list so a lighter day actually gets finished
• How to build the focus muscle one minute at a time
• How to tell the difference between a kid being a kid and something worth investigating

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
✔ My favorite online math program — a real teacher walks them through every lesson
✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace
✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!
👉 Free Trial
👉 Get 50% Off for Homeschool Families

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:

• 20 Questions to Kickstart Your Deschooling Adventure — Spot the school-shaped rules you're still carrying
• Sample Homeschool Schedules — Real, doable rhythms you can borrow, including loop schedules
• Quote of the Week Notecard — A free printable of this episode's quote
• Homeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's book, including the chapter on deschooling
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: Get on the waitlist
• All of Christy-Faith's free resources

Related episodes:

• Ep. 82 — How Long Should a Homeschool Day Really Be?
• Ep. 64 — Overwhelmed by Homeschooling? How to Make It Manageable

⭐ New to Homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.

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) - The "Sit Down, Please" Morning

Homeschooling can feel wonderful and lonely at the very same time — especially when there's no co-op nearby, or the ones around you just don't fit. Here's the good news: real community is absolutely possible without one. In this Throwback Thursday favorite, homeschool expert Christy-Faith busts the socialization myth and shares 8 natural ways to find your people, whether you're an extrovert or a shy park-bench introvert.

🎁 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).
👉 christy-faith.com/download-free-curriculum-recommendations

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why homeschooling without a co-op does NOT mean your kids are missing out
• The truth about homeschool socialization — and why school-style socializing was never the gold standard
• 8 natural ways to build real community: faith groups, volunteering, playgroups, libraries, museums, neighbors, and more
• How everyday errands and conversations grow your child's emotional intelligence and confidence
• Simple scripts to break the ice with new homeschool families — even if you're shy
• Why the depth of your friendships matters far more than the number
• 3 doable action steps to start finding your people this week

Sponsors:

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Resources mentioned:

• Homeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's book; see Chapter 7 for the healthy-socialization checklist
• How to Find the Best Homeschool Co-Op (And When to Walk Away)
• 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) - Introduction