This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Helping Teens to Be Wise in Troubled Times.

Helping Teens to Be Wise in Troubled Times

Vicki works with teens and adults in her counseling practice. She has learned that in our world of current events, times can get people stressed out, anxious, and worried. Then, it’s sometimes hard to be wise and maintain a Christ-like character.

However, we want to be wise. We want to maintain a Christlike character and give our teens the tools to do that.

Let’s talk about some spiritual and practical tools for being wise and Christlike during troubled times.

Here are a few ideas:

Proverbs 1:6 tells us that the fear (reverence or awe) of God is the beginning of knowledge. (Wisdom belongs to people who fear God, those who despise it are fools.)

So, during troubled times, our teens (and we adults) will be wiser if we are spending more energy on finding the ways to show reverence to God or experience His awe. (One beautiful way to experience awe is to go outside for a walk, or take a nature field trip. Look for beautiful things God created, such as the sky, clouds, birds, trees. Express some gratitude. You will find awe.)

What would Jesus do?

Probably not act out angrily, argue with difficult people at holiday dinners. Not only that, we probably would not be doing what Jesus would do if we allow ourselves to become swallowed with fear about the situations in politics or the world. Remember, God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Model for your teens how to pray, then let go and let God when they feel afraid.

Grow in the fruit of the spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 says that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self control.

So, if fruit of the spirit is growing from our spirit, and flowing out of our mouths, we can model that fruit for our teens. When we are our teens about the fruit of the spirit, then we can go through troubling times in a way that keeps us in line with God. AND maybe even might lead people to Christ who watch us.

Pray

One of the best gifts a parent can give a teen during these troubled times is the gift of prayer and listening to God (rather than constantly listening to the news).

I have found it useful to help my teens pray for the nation. One way to pray for our country is asking God to bring 2 Chronicles 7: 14 alive in Christians’ lives:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This is a promise that God gave to the Israelites back in the day. We can still see tbis “healing of the land” happen occasionally. People of faith have occasionally humbled themselves. and prayed together and sought God’s face and turned from their own wicked ways (you know, own meanness, selfishness, crankiness…).

Then God in those times has heard from heaven and forgiven their sins. And for a period of time has healed their land. There were great revivals. (Look up the story of the 1904 revival that swept the globe.)

There’s also 2 Timothy 2:1-2

 I exhort therefore, first of all, That supplications, prayers, intercession, giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.

So your teens (and you) can start with praying for the world. Then pray for everybody you know, pray for everybody in leadership, anybody in authority- in fact, mention “all men”. It will help your teens learn to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Doesn’t that sound good?

Practical tips for being wise during troubled times

There are so many simple ways to stay in a healthy place even in crazy times.

Ask, “Who is making a profit on my anger, attention or fear?”

When teens are feeling anger or fear while watching news or social media influencers, help them to ask themselves:

Who is profiting from the news that they see?

For instance, who is making money off of your viewer time? News outlets make money off of advertising. Social media influencers make money off of advertising. .

Teens need to learn that when news is making them very angry or very scared to be aware of somebody’s making money off of that. When we are angry or scared, we tend to keep clicking and watching and watching and watching And getting more and more. And so that’s more ads.

Sometimes politicians or influencers are working on the kind of profiting that might not be directly money, but it is a currency of power.  There’s somebody behind it who is making money or getting power off of it and to be wise with that.

What can you do?

You can go right back to those scriptures. If my people are called by my name, humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways or praying for all men, especially those in authority that we can live a quiet and peaceable life. The prayer matters.

God is more powerful and real than the nonsense in the world.

The first thing to do after praying is to do some deep breathing

When we feel angry or sad or scared, our bodies are being flooded with cortisol, which is a stress hormone. And when that happens, we are getting ready to fight, flight or freeze. If our body is getting ready to fight, flight or freeze, it does not need the logic system.

It does not need to think clearly. It does not need to make rational decisions. It needs to fight, flight, or freeze.

Instead, we handle it in the only way to get rid of cortisol. That way is to increase oxygen. You can do that by deep breathing or by going for a walk or working out at the gym.

Just breathe in through your nose. Nice and deep. Count to five, then purse your lips and breathe out. Slow count to seven. If you do that about three times, you will probably notice the difference.

Here is a progressive relaxation exercise that I do every day before I go to sleep.

Learn some digital discernment skills

And so one of the things that I found useful is the News Literacy Project and their Rumor Guard emails. Teens learn to recognize AI and other fake photos and articles.

Also, it is good to subscribe to Ground News. It takes several trending news items of the day and shows what different news sources have said about that same thing. It helps teens develop perspective-taking skills.

Take an apologetics course

7SistersHomeschool has a free apologetics course. It’s from Dr. Gerald Coley, who is our 7Sisters Sabrina and Allison’s dad. He is a professor emeritus at the University of Delaware and a popular local apologetics teacher.

Write elected officials

Not kidding, one of the best life skills a teen can learn is to write their elected officials. So some issues are kind of local, and so they can write like their state representative or senator. Then when things  are of national or international interest to write their U. S. representative, their U. S. senators, the president, and/or the vice president.

We overcome evil with good

And if teens have that tool, they can do so much in life and live so wisely and so Christ like. So let’s think about some ways to overcome evil with good. So let’s say that they’re all anxious or angry or nervous about a current event and they did all the other things and they are still feeling “some kind of way”.

Teach teens that any good deed is overcoming that evil in some kind of way. If you think in God’s economy, God runs his spiritual economy in a different way than we do. So any good deed counts. Service is a good way to build a transcript while something better in the world.

And then what happens? Then they can become the people who are making a culture changers and creators in the world.

Thanks to Seth Tillman for editing this episode. And please join the 7SistersHomeschool Facebook group because you can ask questions and get wisdom from your seventh sisters.

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The post Helping Teens to Be Wise in Troubled Times appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Grace for Holiday Family Gatherings- Special Replay.

Grace for Holiday Family Gatherings

We love having homeschooling siblings to journey along with and have adventures with and learn from. We all learn from each other and discuss all of the things that can be a part of the homeschool high school experience. Every family is different, so embrace what we say all the time: there is not just one right way to homeschool. There are so many right ways to homeschool high school- especially during the holidays! 

A big piece of what we are doing in high school is preparing our teens for adulting. They are going to have a life after graduation. Yes, it may be hard to believe it sometimes, but they are. That is a big piece of what we want those high school years to be doing. And building character, communication skills and relational skills is very important, though it sometimes gets overlooked from high school. 

Did you know there are different kinds of social situations that can be really great character-building experiences for our teens? And since the holidays are upon us, holiday family gatherings are likely in your near future. Here are some ways to equip your teens for these kinds of situations as well as monitor our own character during family gatherings or extended family get-togethers or even just social settings we all have been a part of from time to time.

Building Grace For the Holiday Family Gatherings

Because of national health issues, getting together, especially during the holidays, has been tougher than ever. And it is so vitally important that we be with other people and find ways to gather, to build relationships, celebrate with, communicate with, share a meal, and all those wonderful things. Oh, sharing a meal is such powerful stuff! 

But we have to do it where people have varied degrees of comfort with how close they are to other people. It can be very tricky. So let’s help our teens and ourselves learn how to build grace into our character while approaching these gatherings intentionally, with a level of sensitivity, while we navigate the room with extra people in it.

Tips To Build Grace For the Holidays

When you get together with family, especially extended family, you usually have different versions of what is the right thing to do. In a gathering, is not it funny how we can share a lot of DNA and have very different opinions? 

That should be navigated graciously rather than trying to fix the difficult people that are around you and make them “do it right” or “think it right.” Instead, model Christ-like behavior.

1. Check yourself on your assumptions about people.

We think we know all about our family before these extended gatherings since we’ve known them our whole lives, right? So we think we already know what’s going on with them and know how they can be. It’s like we have a backstory about each person in our minds.

One quote comes to mind:

But there’s nothing worse than knowing that you know just to prove that you know absolutely nothing. – Unknown

In reality, you actually have no idea what is going on in somebody else’s head or in their private life, especially if you don’t see them very often. But you think you know them, and you judge them the moment they do something that you don’t agree with. 

To form gracious assumptions is to take a moment before the gathering and tell yourself:

I am going to assume there’s a good reason for whatever anybody does at this gathering. Perhaps there’s a good reason I know nothing about it.  And if I need to ask about it because I actually need that information, I will do that respectfully. But I will not allow myself to fill in all the blanks in that person’s story because I don’t really know what they’re going through.

So before you even go to the event, agree to intentionally not make assumptions about the other people there.

2. Give them grace even if you think they’re wrong.

So how do we behave when people are not doing it right? One of the things that is our natural response when people are not thinking the right way (because clearly we are the right ones – we are always right) is to let our blood pressure rise while getting an angry face, an irritated posture and start correcting.

We can talk to our teens and model the plan ahead. That is, when people do not do something right, we must still behave with grace towards them.

De-escalate the nonverbals during this time, which will teach your teens how to do that by mirroring your behavior. Have your teen lower their voice while talking a bit more deeper. Then have them bring their shoulders down as well, not up to their ears. See if they can practice a calm exterior. 

3. Practice redirection.

Redirection is a beautiful tool. When things are awkward, just redirect the conversation towards a different topic. 

You could bring humor into the conversation by making a silly little joke at your own expense, such as saying something funny about yourself or making fun of yourself in a funny way. And before you know it, the uncomfortable or awkward topic is gone. Whatever it was that was a problem is a problem no longer. 

Just never aim that “funny expense” at others!

4. Know what your mean face looks like!

In other situations, humans have mirror neurons, so they tend to mimic what they see on other people’s faces. And it happens before you think. For example, when somebody says something kind of stupid and they have their mean face on, your face is going to want to do a mean face too. But if you already know what your calm face is, you can intentionally put on your calm face.

And then people can pick up on their mirror neurons, your calmness, and they will feel some calm too. 

It also helped to look in the mirror. They can say:

When I am really mad, this is my face. And when I’m putting on my game face, I’m putting my game face on for the relatives. It’s my calm face. 

Therefore, while your teens are in the moment, they can do that and behave gracefully towards them.

5. Stay calm.

Sometimes you might witness a person’s behavior crossing the line into abuse. For example, you see someone in one generation who is cornering someone in the younger generation. This is bullying. 

When you need to step in, you can step in very calmly. You might want to start off with saying, “Hey, you can’t talk to them like that. Listen to yourself. You’re being a bully,” even if it is true and honest, but don’t. Unfortunately, it is not going to be very helpful to diffuse the situation. 

Instead, handle things calmer and with the redirection skill we mentioned earlier. Say something like:

• How about we take a break and see what’s left on the appetizer table? Cause this isn’t really making anybody feel festive.
• Let’s take a break. How about we do something else for a while?

But you may need to intervene in a situation that is not good, and if so, you can do it without getting upset yourself by projecting calm. This occurs when you stay calm during a heated moment and extends the illusion of authority by being the calmer person.

What may also help a heated situation to add grace for holiday family gatherings is talking in a calm voice with the calm nonverbals. This makes you the one that’s the power broker, since being calm is actually power. You will be stepping in and doing a calm rescue, which will likely cause the bullying person to feel a bit lost or embarrassed. Regardless,  they will go settle themselves down somewhere else.

6. Take a deep breath.

Know that all of this calmness comes from a place of taking a deep breath. It may not fix absolutely everything in the universe, but it is fundamental to being gracious, to behaving graciously, and even to thinking graciously. Because if you are breathing shallowly with a tight chest and throat, you’re not getting enough oxygen for your brain to even be functioning at its best.

Take huge, deep breaths before you respond in any way to anybody.

7. Engage in something positive.

Find a new activity even for just a minute to save the grace for holiday family gatherings! In fact, if you can plan ahead before you go to your get-together.

Your kids can make pleasant, engaging conversations with the older family members by asking them to tell their life stories. What was it like in the old days?

By doing this, your teens could log this down as history too! Engage the older ones in storytelling or bring some cards and play a card game. Do things that keep people from just sitting down. This will help lessen any anxiety in the air, and it will create positive engagement experiences.

8. Understand that relationships are more important than opinions.

It helps us grow in grace when we recognize relationships are more important than opinions. God has those beautiful, strong relationships in place, and family is vitally important. Therefore, recognize those relationships are not worth losing over opinions, even over opinions that you hold very dearly. 

Simply agree to disagree – you’re going to be family at the end of the day. You can overlook lots of other things and still respect them as an individual.

9. God and grace.

God and grace brings it all home. You can tell your teens:

Sometimes in life, you’re going to need to intentionally do something to facilitate relationships being protected and strengthened. And it is worth it. It’s worth it every time. 

Having grace for holiday family gatherings is a good time for your kids to learn life skills, which as we said, you can even log as a couple history hours while you’re at it! 

BTW- If you want to keep up some of the homeschooling during the holidays, check this post.

Thanks to Richie Soares with Homeschool and Humor for transcribing this episode.

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Social Language Arts with Dachelle McVey.

Social Language Arts with Dachelle McVey

In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of homeschooling, finding fresh ways to engage high schoolers in language arts can feel like searching for the Holy Grail. Teens often face a range of challenges when it comes to literature: finding the material relevant, staying engaged, and, let’s be real, battling the lure of screen time. 

This week Vicki chats with our friend Dachelle McVey, the visionary behind Literary Adventures for Kids. Her approach has not only redefined how we think about language arts but has also transformed it from a solitary, often isolating subject into an exciting, social experience. Listen to Dachelle’s story about social language arts. It’s a game-changer for homeschool families everywhere!

About Dachelle McVey

Dachelle McVey’s journey into the world of innovative homeschooling started in the most relatable way possible: necessity. 

As a homeschooling mom herself, she noticed something troubling—her teens, who once devoured books, were beginning to see literature as a chore. The spark that once lit up their eyes when cracking open a new story was dimming, and she was not about to let it fizzle out.

Traditional language arts curricula were missing the mark for her family. The rigid structure, uninspired materials, and lack of connection were not meeting her teens’ needs. So, like many determined homeschooling parents, she took matters into her own hands. 

She began crafting her own curriculum—one that blended creativity, community, and literature. This passion project grew into Literary Adventures for Kids, a comprehensive interactive language arts curriculum that does not just teach, it invites learners to explore, connect, and rediscover the joy of stories.

One of the cornerstones of Dachelle’s philosophy is flexibility

As we 7Sisters always say: There’s not ONE right way to homeschool, and Dachelle exemplifies that in her own family. 

Each year, when planning their homeschool year her family reassesses their educational goals, deciding what is best for each child. Sometimes that means continuing to homeschool; other times, it means incorporating traditional schooling. 

This willingness to adapt ensures that her children’s education is always tailored to their unique needs—a vital takeaway for parents navigating their own homeschooling journey.

What is Social Language Arts?

At the heart of Dachelle’s program is the concept of socializing language arts, and honestly, this idea is brilliant. 

It all started when her daughter expressed the need for more social interaction while homeschooling. That simple request sparked a movement—one that would eventually redefine how her family, and countless others, approached language arts.

Dachelle began creating book clubs for her daughter and her friends

At the book clubs the kids could come together, dive into stories, and discuss them in a relaxed, engaging way. 

It was not long before she realized that this model could work for other homeschool families as well. Thus, the idea of incorporating book clubs and interactive activities into her curriculum was born.

Book clubs became the centerpiece of Literary Adventures for Kids. These are not your typical, stuffy book discussions either. Dachelle’s book clubs bring stories to life through activities, projects, and discussions that connect learners with the material on a deeper level. 

It’s not just about reading; it’s about experiencing literature. Students might compare themes from a classic novel to modern movies or explore poetry through creative projects. The result? Kids who might otherwise groan at the thought of analyzing Shakespeare are suddenly debating Hamlet’s decisions with genuine enthusiasm!

Reimagining High School Literature

Dachelle did not stop at making an interactive language arts curriculum fun for younger students—she also tackled the often-daunting world of high school literature. For teens, classic works can sometimes feel irrelevant or out of touch with their world. 

Recognizing this, Dachelle developed high school book clubs and courses that bridge the gap between traditional literature and modern media, making the book clubs the social aspect in her social language arts curriculum.

Imagine pairing Pride and Prejudice with a contemporary romantic comedy or using popular movies to unpack the themes of a classic play. By weaving in elements of pop culture, Dachelle makes classic literature feel fresh and relatable. 

Her interactive courses challenge students to think critically about the stories they read while keeping the process engaging and enjoyable. The goal isn’t just to teach; it’s to spark curiosity and help students see literature as something alive and dynamic, not just words on a page.

Why an Interactive Language Arts Curriculum Works

What makes Dachelle’s approach so impactful is the communal element she has introduced into a traditionally solo activity. 

Reading is often a personal experience, but by adding a social component, she has created a space where students can share ideas, challenge each other, and build a sense of camaraderie. 

It’s no longer just about finishing the book, it’s about engaging with the story and the people discussing it.

Dachelle’s approach creates opportunities for meaningful interaction and shared experiences, making learning more holistic and fulfilling.

Social Language Arts with Dachelle McVey

Dachelle McVey’s thoughtful approach to homeschooling demonstrates that language arts can be both educational and enjoyable. Through her thoughtful integration of social interaction, creativity, and flexibility, she has made reading exciting again for countless families. Her story is a testament to the power of creativity and flexibility in homeschooling, offering valuable insights for parents seeking to inspire a love for learning in their children.

Join Vicki and Dachelle and be inspire with social language arts ideas!

Thank you for Seth Tillman for editing this podcast and for Richie Soares with Homeschool and Humor for writing this blog post!

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This week on Create a Great Transcript Using Levels in 7Sisters Curriculum Special Replay.

Create a Great Transcript Using Levels in 7Sisters Curriculum

You’ve probably noticed that there is a LOT of difference in homeschool high schoolers. They have different:

• Interests
• Abilities
• Goals

Teens have different goals:

• Teens who are headed to competitive colleges or state universities, need competitive transcripts.
• Those who are headed to community colleges or smaller, less competitive colleges need solid transcripts.
• Teens who are headed into the workforce need life and career preparation more than competitive core classes.
• Those who needed remedial work needed to concentrate on that.

We also know that our teens have different interests. We need to put emphasis on the areas they want to explore by increasing the levels of their interest courses. Your teens probably cannot manage Level 5 every interest area, but you can choose some. Talk to your teen!

You can tailor the homeschool transcript to meet each individual needs by teaching courses at the “level” of your teen’s needs.

This doesn’t mean that you haven’t allowed them to face challenges. It simply means you are wise enough to find your teen’s sweet spot in education to have a well-rounded transcript with challenges in the appropriate areas for them. If you haven’t listened to Episode 116: What Are Levels on the Homeschool Transcript, be sure to catch up!

7Sisters Literature Guides include instructions for enjoying our popular Literature Guides at Level 1 (Remedial), Level 2 (Average), Level 3 (College Prep), Level 4 (Advanced), Level 5 (Honors). Each guide covers only one or two literature themes so we don’t kill the book. There is also vocabulary, a little background information, comprehension and inferential questions. Use higher levels for college bound teens who are English, Communications, History, Humanities majors. Use Level 2 for a workforce-bound teen, adapt by using questions as discussion rather than writing (see each Literature Guide for more Level 2 information). Level 1 (Remedial) is for teens with learning difficulties, so do the guides together choosing which questions and vocabulary are useful to them; also use adaptive technology for listening and writing.

Here is a complete list of electives from 7SistersHomeschool

Arts

A Successful Approach to Teaching Acting and Directing

Fine Arts for Non-artsy People

How to Direct a Homeschool Drama Camp

Lyric Writing

Career Choices

Early Childhood Education

Health and Fitness

Foundations of Physical Fitness

High School Health for the Whole Person

• Syllabus for High School Health for the Whole Person

Humanities

Philosophy in Four Questions

• Suggested Syllabus for Philosophy in Four Questions

Life Preparation

Career Exploration Textbook

• Syllabus for Career Exploration

Financial Literacy

• Syllabus for Financial Literacy

Speech 1: Public Speaking and Practical Life Skills

• Speech 1 Student Workbook (for co-op and group class students)
• Speech 1 Lesson Plans (for co-op and group class teachers)

Religion

Apologetics 101 (the first of sixteen free presentations)

• Syllabus for Apologetics
• Here’s more on why you should consider Christian Apologetics for your teen

Social Sciences

History and Philosophy of the Western World

• Suggested syllabus for History and Philosophy of the Western World

Human Development from a Christian Worldview

• Syllabus for Human Development
• Human Development Lesson Plans (for co-op and group class teachers)

Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective

• Syllabus for Introduction to Psychology
• Lesson Plans

Want some more ideas? Check out these:

• Big List of Electives
• Electives You Probably Never Thought of
• History Electives
• Career Exploration Electives
• Five Must-Include Types of Electives
• How to Choose the Best Electives for Homeschool High Schoolers
• How to Create Social Studies Electives
• Turn a Cinematography Interest into an Elective Credit

Check out Cathy Duffy’s Review of American History Literature Bundle. It is in-depth and helpful.

Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for more details than you can capture in words here! Also, enjoy these posts:

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Create a Great Transcript Using Levels in 7Sisters Curriculum

The post Create a Great Transcript Using Levels in 7Sisters Curriculum- Special Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Stress Management for the Holidays with Natalie Mack.

Stress Management for the Holidays with Natalie Mack

We know that stress can be a big issue, especially during the holidays, but even after the holidays, anxiety, depression, and the winter blues can creep in. Let’s talk about ways to manage these feelings and create a calm and enjoyable atmosphere for our families. Our friend and Cousin Natalie Mack shares tips for stress management for the holidays.

About Natalie Mack

Natalie has been a homeschooling mom for twenty-two years with five children, four have graduated from college while one is still homeschooling high school!

She is a retired Navy chaplain spouse and has a Master’s Degree in Education and Counseling. Natalie has worked in various fields such as drug and alcohol abuse, social work, and marriage and family therapy. Recently, Natalie has been leading the military outreach program for HSLDA. She also shares her wisdom at Natalie-Mack.com, where she offers some helpful freebies for homeschooling families.

Tip #1: Slowing Down and Embracing Fun

Homeschooling through the holidays can look completely different from “work, work work”! You can slow down with the schoolwork during the holidays and focus on creating fun experiences with your children. While it may be tempting to push through and maintain a rigorous academic schedule, remember that the academics will always be there. Take the time to enjoy holiday activities, bond as a family, and create lasting memories.

(Here’s a fun writing project about creating a Holiday Family Narrative, instead of typical academics.)

The picture-perfect moments we often see on social media or in magazines are not the reality of everyday life. Instead of striving for perfection, try embracing the joyful imperfections that come with family gatherings.

Remember the quote from GK Chesterton: 

Anything worth doing is worth doing badly. 

Learning happens in many different ways (including the developing a growth mindset during the ups and downs of imperfect celebrations).

Breathe and Relax

It may sound simple, but taking deep breaths and focusing on our breath can do wonders for managing stress. When we are feeling overwhelmed, our bodies flood with stress hormones, but the antidote is right there in the air. 

So, whenever you can, take a moment to pause, take a deep breath in, and slowly exhale. It helps chip away at those stress hormones and calms our nervous system. You can teach this technique to your teens as well!

Make Time for Field Trips

Take advantage of the unique field trip opportunities available during the holiday season. Many places offer special events and attractions during the holidays. 

Whether it’s visiting nature gardens with beautiful lights or driving along the boardwalk to see Christmas decorations, these experiences create lasting memories and provide valuable learning opportunities for your kids. Plus, they are just a lot of fun!

Field trips during the holidays are a fantastic way to bond as a family and create positive memories. Education an happen anywhere, and these experiences enrich our lives in so many ways.

Enjoy Holiday Books

Holiday-themed picture books are a great way to create a cozy and magical atmosphere during the season. They have a way of bringing joy and warmth to our hearts. Snuggling up together and reading these books aloud fosters a sense of togetherness and creates cherished memories. 

Explore book lists from resources like Read Aloud Revival and 7Sisters Homeschool to discover wonderful holiday reads. Visit your local library and pick up some holiday-themed picture books. Make it a tradition to read holiday books with your loved ones and let the joy and laughter fill your home.

7SistersHomeschool has a Literature Study Guide for A Christmas Carol. Not only that, we offer a Cinema Studies for Literature Learning Guide for A Christmas Carol, as well. This is a meaningful way to sneak in some no-busywork, meaningful education.

Organizational Tips

Organization can make a big difference in reducing stress during the holidays. (Hey, it’s okay if organization is not your strong suit.) You can learn the value of organization, especially during the holidays, from others, such as from our 7th Sister, Allison, who is a master at event planning. We turned her planning skills into a unit study for planning the Thanksgiving meal.

Some organizational tips from Allison:

Consider the flow of activities, such as setting up a buffet with silverware and napkins placed at the end to avoid juggling them while serving food. These small organizational adjustments can make a significant difference in reducing stress levels.

Do what you can to prioritize your to-do lists and let go of unnecessary tasks. Recognize that it’s impossible to do everything perfectly, and some things can be dropped without major consequences. 

Focus on what truly matters and be intentional about allocating your time and energy to activities that bring joy and fulfillment. Good holiday event planning is about finding what works for you and creating a sense of calmness amidst the busyness!

Stress Management for the Holidays with Natalie Mack

The holiday season should be a time of joy, togetherness, and relaxation. Follow these stress management tips for the holidays and then let us know how they helped you!

Find Natalie Mack at Natalie-Mack.com and lots of places through Linktree.

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday season filled with beautiful memories!

Thank you to Seth Tillman for editing and Richie Soares with Homeschool & Humor for writing this blog post!

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Why Teach Human Development in Homeschool High School? Special replay.

Why Teach Human Development in Homeschool High School?

When Vicki was in graduate school for counseling, she specialized Human Development. She loved it so much because as a mom, she was watching Human Development develop in her own kids! After all Human Development is the study of how people grown and change from womb to old age.

So, when her kids started to homeschool high school, she wanted them to have a Human Development course for their homeschool transcripts. She felt like it would be great life preparation, since it is likely that they would interact with people the rest of their lives and understand why people at different ages do different things would be helpful. It would help them understand their baby brother learning object permanence or their grandfather who always told the same stories over and over.

Unfortunately for Vicki, there was no high school Human Development text available to homeschool high schoolers, especially one from a Christian worldview. SO, what to do? In typical 7SistersHomeschool fashion, Vicki wrote her own text! Also in typical 7SistersHomeschool fashion, she wrote 7Sisters Human Development from a Christian Worldview text to cover the necessary scope and sequence but with no-busywork and readable (and enjoyable) by an average teen. Then, in typical 7SistersHomeschool fashion, she included instructions for leveling up to Honors credit in a meaningful way for the college-bound teens.

What is Human Development in Homeschool High School?

The study of the physical, cognitive, emotional and social changes that people experience as they grow from womb to old age.

• Human Development can be a Social Science credit (something that many college-bound teens will need for their homeschool transcript).
  • HD is a stand-out course (because so few teens take it) so it gives transcripts that “sparkle” that college admissions officers often like to see!
• Or Human Development can be a Life Skills elective for their homeschool transcript. (It is a great life prep course. Teens can actually use the things they learn throughout life!)

For instance, adolescents go through a cognitive process called metacognition. Metacognition is the ability to think about thinking. Metacognitive teens think about who they are, what they feel, what the believe and why things are what they are. When teens learn from their Human Development course that the metacognitive process they are experiencing is natural and normal, they can enjoy the process!

Also, Human Development learn their two-year-old siblings (or the kids they are babysitting) are stomping their feet and saying, “NO!” (Toddlers are going through the early stages of finding out they are individuals. They find out where their personhood “stops” by testing out “No!”

They also learn about why their parents push them to accomplish stuff (middle-aged parents are in the “generative stage”- needing to be productive).

Is Human Development a good course for homeschool co-op?

It sure is! Human Development can be a blast! Not only do homeschool high schoolers have the chance to learn and discuss what they are learning and experiencing in their own families, but there are so many fun things that can be done in the co-op setting.

For instance, homeschool co-ops can:

• Invite moms to bring their babies to class and discuss their pregnancies, delivery process (a favorite story of our local teens is our 7Sister Kym telling the story about finding out she was having twins when the twins were born!)
• Watch the babies and see how they interact and guess what they are learning and doing.
• Invite toddlers to class, provide them homemade clay or blocks and watch them play.
• Invite kindergarteners to class and do fun exercises together like walking on chalk lines or hop on one foot. Give them crayons and watch them draw.
• Invite grandparents to come and talk about their lives: adventures, parenting their own kids, what they are doing now.

Homeschool co-ops are also a wonderful place to allow teens to present projects they have done related to things that interest them about Human Development.

Hey, did you know that we will provide a homeschool co-op discount for Human Development from a Christian Worldview and all our texts?

Also, you can find lesson plans for co-op teachers and a suggested syllabus for your homeschool co-op classes.

Is 7SistersHomeschool’s Human Development from a Christian Worldview a preachy text?

No way! Teens do not need to be preached at! However, the idea that God created people is implied through the text.

Join Vicki for an informative chat about her favorite subject: Human Development!

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Soft Skills and Leadership Training with Ignite4Impact.

Soft Skills and Leadership Training with Ignite4Impact

Want to give your teens some biblically based soft skills that build compassion and leadership skills? Join Vicki and Michelle Koles of Ignite 4 Impact to discuss ways her program equips them to be the world-changers of the next generation.

Vicki met Michelle Koles at the digital Homeschooling Teen Successfully Summit and was excited to find someone who had a full program  that develops social skills, compassion skills and leadership skills. These are ALL vital skills that our teens need for their own success personally. Not only that, homeschoolers need these skills so that they can fully take their place in the world after they graduate.

About Michelle Koles of Ignite4Impact

Michelle holds a Master’s in Education, Special Education Leadership and Teaching. She has been in education for twenty-five years. She has done lots of things in education over the years. For instance, she ran a Montessori school when her oldest child was young and taught college classes.

Her oldest child

Michelle’s first born was bright and curious, so at two years old, she started teaching him at home, reading and, and letters and different things. They also loved going on field trips together. This gave Michelle an early taste of homeschooling!

The next two children changed the story

Then Michelle and her husband adopted two kids. One of these children had medical problems and fetal alcohol syndrome. He was having a big struggle in middle school, made worse by his medical problems affecting his learning and abilities.

Finally, Michelle said, “enough is enough. We can’t do this anymore. I’m just gonna homeschool him!”

Homeschooling has been going great for Michelle and her son! Like many of us homeschooling parents, we find that our teens can get a lot done! Not only that, but he’s learning so much and at a much (as many people realize) at a much faster and easier pace.

Now, her son your son goes with her when she teaches at a local homeschool organization. So homeschooling and homeschool-community involvement kind of just happened. As Michelle says, “you know, like God directing your path!”

Michelle’s program, Ignite4Impact

Ignite 4 Impact came out of work she was doing with her son and the local homeschool community. She saw the need for soft skills compassion skills and leadership skills not only with her son and his friends but also, her husband saw deficits in these skills in the young college students he was hiring at his job.

Michelle noticed that it is not difficult teach young people how to do the job. However, it is harder to teach them skills like:

• being flexible
• being on time
• time management
• working together as a team
• problem solving
• thinking on your feet

In fact, research shows that “85% of job success is related to having well-developed soft skills and people skills”. (Cambridge University)

When young people loose their jobs in the first eighteen months of employment, it is not usually because they cannot handle the actual job. Rather, it is because they are coming in late, making excuses for things, not working together well with colleagues.

So, during Covid lockdown, Michelle took the courses she was teaching her son and the local homeschoolers and created a digital program to teach, from a biblical viewpoint, about soft skills, compassion and leadership skills.

Soft skills and compassion skills in action

During Covid lockdown, Michelle and her son practiced soft skills and compassion skills in several ways:

They helped out their community by running errands for neighbors.

They brought coffee and snacks to overworked hospital staff. Because the hospital cafeterias were closed, so the staff did not have access to like snacks and coffee. So Michelle and her son did a fundraiser and with the help of a local coffee distributor and a local farm, dropped off goodies that helped keep the staff going during those hard times.

To celebrate her son’s sixteenth birthday, he wanted to host his own charity game tournament. So, he had these local mom pop businesses supporting his idea along with individuals who donated to the cause. Then, participants played the game all day long and learn how that whole process worked, learn how to talk to adults. He donated the proceeds to a special education program and the local food bank.

Ignite4Impact is born

Thus, with her (and her son’s) love and passion for service she created an online organization. Check out their mission statement:

Ignite4Impact helps young people learn and apply valuable soft skills to build a strong foundation for success. We provide lessons, activities and guides that will help your teens discover these skills. Our program gets teens into amazing team building lessons as they learn these skills to become effective teammates as they create and run project to make an impact on themselves and the world.

When they did the first big global program, eleven countries were represented

The teens in that first program were joined by experts from around the world. The young people learned soft skills as they were developing a meaningful project to make an impact. These teens created projects like:

• Helping communities that had a lack of electricity
• Creating sustainable composting to their community

The group program is now online and includes twelve modules

Each module has a different soft skill to develop.

• Teens start with a journal writing prompt with a Bible verse connection, followed by a discussion.
  • Teens learn that they are part of one body in Christ, how to be a leader and how to work with their heart.
  • Ignite 4 Impact’s key verse reminds teens that they are to be a light on the hill. To illustrate this idea, their logo is a candle light on the hill.
    • (In fact, Michelle’s fifteen year old and a friend designed Ignite 4 Impact’s entire brand package.)
• Next, teens in a group have fun with an icebreaker.
  • This is a game that they play that where they are learning the soft skill.
• Then, there is a discussion about what they learned
• Next, teens practice their soft skills as they work on building their service project from scratch.
• They also take a skills assessment and work on their spiritual gifts.
• At the end project the teens get together as a team or individuals to do a reflection.
  • They learn about how to do an effective reflection- they quickly reflect on what happened and discuss changes they would do next time

Click here for more information on the twelve-module program from Ignite4Impact.

Ignite4Impact has freebie activities to download!

Teens learn soft skills with these free, engaging activities! Michelle also has activities for younger children.

You can contact Michelle Koles

• at [email protected]
• Check out her Facebook page: Ignite4Impact

Give your teens some biblically-based, soft skills, compassion skills and leadership skills!

If you are looking for simple social skills for elementary-aged children, also check out 7SistersHomeschool’s Social Skills for Children.

Thanks to Seth Tillman for editing this episode!

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The post Soft Skills and Leadership Training with Ignite4Impact appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Financial Literacy for Homeschool High Schoolers.

Financial Literacy for Homeschool High Schoolers

How do you go about preparing homeschool high schoolers for managing money throughout their lives? Financial Literacy is a life skills math credit that many teens will use WAY more often than their high school math. Join Sabrina, Vicki, Kym and Eagle, the Seeing Eye puppy for a fun discussion of Financial Literacy curriculum.

Back in 2008, when the economy crashed, some economists believed that poor training in personal financial management (including too much mortgage debt) was part of the problem. In reaction to this, many state education departments began to require that high school transcripts include Consumer Math so that teen could have at least basic money management skills.

But Consumer Math might not be enough for many teens. If they want real-life preparation for not just money, but for making financial decisions, for planning and for other financial considerations, teens need more. They need Financial Literacy.

So, what is the difference between Consumer Math and Financial Literacy?

• Consumer Math covers the basics such as creating a budget and balancing a checkbook.
• Financial Literacy covers Consumer Math PLUS planning for the future, finding the right insurances, banking, credit and more.

Why Financial Literacy in homeschool high school?

Financial Literacy involves a ton of life skills! You have seen memes on social media:

At tax time, nobody wants to know whether you can balance an algebra equation!

However, it IS important to how to fill out your 1040! Not only that, teens are wise to learn how create a budget, purchase the right kind of insurances, as well as understand how to invest in the future with savings and investment accounts. That’s what financial literacy is about. It is not plain math. It is math that your teen will actually use.

There are several good financial training courses

We, of course, like 7Sisters’ Financial Literacy because it covers all the bases of Financial Literacy courses but also trains students on how to find information (and where to avoid information).

7Sisters Financial Literacy from a Christian Perspective helps prepare teens for life in an interactive but no-busywork way!

This course takes homeschool high schoolers through an interactive course where they:

• learn how to search the internet for the important financial information
• how to engage that important information about financial literacy
• and ways to apply it to their lives

Teens finish the course with a life plan and a current budget and lifestyle decisions for their present and future!

When they finish their course, they have honed internet skills such research and data gathering and how to apply it… not just read it.

This is a powerful contrast to simply reading a Consumer Math or Financial Literacy textbook and taking the chapter tests. So many teens feel bored as they work through a classic textbook. However, when they interact with the curriculum and make plans that affect their current lives, they feel empowered and engaged. That is what we want from life skills training!

As soon as 7Sisters’ published our Financial Literacy course, our teens began using it and teaching it in our local homeschool co-op and umbrella-school classes. The curriculum was vetted by the teens, who gave valuable feedback on how they learn best. Those teens are now adults and still using the skills they learned from their Financial Literacy course.

Your teens will benefit from taking Financial Literacy, but don’t take our word for it.

Check out these posts from 7Sister Sara’s sons Luke and Joel. You’ll also enjoy this Dollars and Cents Podcast episode on How to Teach Kids about Managing Money.

So, download 7SistersHomeschool’s Financial Literacy from a Christian Perspective for your teens and help them be prepared for finances in adulthood. While you are at it, take a look at these related articles and resources to enrich your teen’s Financial Literacy experiences:

• Excerpt from Financial Literacy from a Christian Perspective: Table of Contents
• Excerpt from Financial Literacy from a Christian Perspective: A look inside the text
• Excerpt from Financial Literacy from a Christian Perspective: A look at the chapter tests
• Worksheet sample from the text: What is the REAL Cost?
• Free downloadable syllabus for Financial Literacy.  with Answer Key
• 7 Engaging Activities for Using Financial Literacy in Homeschool Co-op
• Homeschool Highschool Podcast episode: Financial Literacy for Homeschool Highschoolers
• Financial Literacy and Young Entrepreneurs

BTW- We’re 7SistersHomeschool.There are six of us: Vicki, Sabrina, Kym, Marilyn, Allison and Sara. So, WHO is the 7th Sister? YOU are!

Join ALL your other 7th Sisters over at our 7SistersHomeschool Facebook group, where you can ask questions and share ideas.

Interactive Financial Literacy Course: Why it is Awesome & How to Use it

Financial Literacy for Homeschool High Schoolers

The post Financial Literacy for Homeschool High Schoolers- Special Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week we will discuss: Training Teens to be Civil in an Uncivil World- Special Replay

Training Teens to be Civil in an Uncivil World

In our opinion, this is one of the most important episodes we have ever recorded. We replay it periodically, please join us for a listen.

Join Sabrina, Kym and Vicki for an important discussion about civility. Our world is increasingly unkind and uncivil. Teens are surrounded by political figures on the news who are crude, rude and unkind. Social media is full of ugly, unkind behavior. Civility seems to be going out of style.

This is so contradictory to the love of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control. There is no room for unkindness there. If we are wise, we will train our teens to be civil in this uncivil world.

What is the difference between kindness, niceness and civility?

• Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. The fruit grows in us as we grow in the Lord. It is a spiritual outgrowth of our love for God.
• Niceness can be not-good. When someone acts “nice” but is actually a manipulative trickster who is trying to get you to do something you do not want to do.
  • So-called “nice people” can include abusive or manipulative friends, family or others (who always do what you want, until they explode).
• Civil behavior, on the other hand,  is very intentionally good and wants what is best for the other.
  • Civility is not necessarily a natural process.
  • Civility has to be trained into our teens.

Why do we care that the world is an uncivil place?

Because we are all broken, so we can have compassion on other broken people.

When we operate in incivility we tend to emotionally eat each other up. Remember the book Millions of Cats? A peasant with a million cats found that they were a cranky and jealous bunch who got into such a big fight that they ate each other up. Here’s a video of that classic book.

• We humans tend to take differences and make them a thing of hatred.

What are steps we can use to train our teens to be civil?

Remember: Hurt people hurt people.

• The first thing you can do when you are about to fight back is to stop long enough to remember that this is a broken person who is acting out of that brokenness. This gives you a chance to calm down.
  • When you are suddenly angry or afraid, neural cortisol floods your brain for six seconds preparing you for fight, flight or freeze.
  • If you wait ten seconds, the cortisol flood will pass on by.
  • If you breathe during that ten seconds, it is even better.
• Remember when your parents taught you to stop and count to ten? They were right!
• Beware: The social media negativity feeding frenzy in this dog-eat-dog world.
• Teach: your teens to ask themselves is there something they can feed themselves with, instead of negativity?
• Draw emotional sustenance from:
• Remembering: We are friends together
  • What are our good memories?
  • What are our common goals?
• In the big picture we are actually on the same page, we are not actually on different teams after all, really.

Do not attack the person. Wrestle with the concept or idea but not the person.

• Avoid ad hominem attacks. (Attacks on the person to deflect poor skills.)
• Beware of HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.
  • Nothing good can come of your communication if you are in HALT.
  • Take care of these needs and then come back to the issue.
• Look to your deportment.
  • Look to how you are carrying yourself.
  • If you are about to snap, flatten yourself (take a breath, flatten your facial expressions).
  • Walk away before you hit send or enter. Do not type your angry comment in the comments, type it onto blank document.

How often do you mishear the meaning when a speaker is needed?

• We sometimes misunderstand non-verbals.
  • Tone of voice
  • The body language
  • Do reflective listening:
• Ask: Am I understanding what you are saying: repeat what you think you heard, non-judgmentally.
  • They can answer with a tweak of information so that you both are on the same page.

Teens do not come to these skills on their own. They need parents to:

• Role model
• Teach teens
• Help them practice
• Mom-shaming

There’s not ONE right way to do most of life. Do not judge others. Monitor your own self and emotions.

• When someone hurts us, they have been listening to some other hurtful voices.
  • We can ask what hurtful voices they were listening to.
• In the same token, what hurtful voices are we listening to.
  • Sit down with your teens and have some conversations about civility.
• These conversations with your teens will train teens to be civil in an uncivil world.
• Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for this fun and inspirational discussion.
• While you are investing in your teens’ soft skills, here are some more resources:
• Training your teens to create a welcoming culture. Listen to this Homeschool Highschool Podcast episode on this important, Christlike skill.
• Training your teens to be culture creators. Here’s a 7SistersHomeschool.com post.

Here’s another Homeschool Highschool Podcast episode on training your teens to become cultural influencers.

Or check out this post where teens explain how 7Sisters Great Christian Writers course was powerful for their character development.

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Training Teens to be Civil in an Uncivil World

The post Training Teens to be Civil in an Uncivil World- Special Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Harmonious Homeschools with Teresa Wiedrick.

Harmonious Homeschools with Teresa Wiedrick

Homeschooling is a rewarding but often chaotic journey. If you are feeling the pressure, especially around October when the honeymoon phase of the school year starts to wear off, you are not alone. The idea of a “harmonious homeschool” might seem like a distant dream when the kids are arguing, the curriculum feels overwhelming, and you are running low on patience. The good news is that finding peace in your homeschool is not only possible but essential for long-term success in finding a relaxed homeschooling lifestyle!

Six Tips For Having A Calm Homeschooling Lifestyle

Let’s dive into some practical tips that can help transform your homeschool into a more harmonious environment for both you and your children. These ideas come from the experience and wisdom of Teresa Wiedrick, our dear friend and Cousin, as well as homeschool mama self-care coach at Capturing the Charmed Life.

Also, check out her fun interviews with Homeschool Highschool Podcast about homeschooling in Canada and how to engage high schoolers.

1. Start with You: Emotional Regulation is Key

One of the most valuable lessons in creating a harmonious homeschool is recognizing that it starts with you. As Teresa highlights,

“We set the precedent by being what we’re hoping our children will be.” 

In other words, how you manage your own emotions and reactions has a significant impact on your children. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, chances are that tension will spill over into your homeschool.

Before diving into the day’s lessons, take a moment to check in with yourself. Ask,

“How am I feeling right now? What do I need?” 

Addressing your own emotional needs sets an example for your children and creates an environment where they, too, can learn how to manage their emotions. 

Remember, your kids are watching and learning from you, even on your tough days.

2. Adjust Your Expectations

Unrealistic expectations are one of the biggest stressors for homeschool moms. Teresa recalls her early years of homeschooling when she had a vision of the perfect homeschool day: 

“I had this idea that we should look like the cover of a homeschooling magazine—kids all smiling around the table with their books open, and everything going smoothly.” 

But let’s be real – homeschooling rarely looks like that!

The key is to embrace imperfection and adjust your expectations.

It’s okay if the day doesn’t go as planned. It’s okay if you don’t finish the entire curriculum. 

Learning happens in a variety of ways, and sometimes the most valuable lessons come from unplanned moments. Be flexible and recognize that every day won’t be perfect – and that’s perfectly okay. That’s what realistic expectations can do for us!

3. Recognize and Manage Burnout

Around October, many homeschool moms start to feel the strain. The initial excitement of the new school year fades, and the reality of day-to-day homeschooling sets in. 

Burnout is real, but it does not have to be the end of your homeschooling journey. 

Take time to reflect on what’s causing your stress. Are your expectations too high? Are you feeling isolated or overwhelmed? 

Once you identify the source, you can start taking small steps to address it. Whether it’s incorporating more breaks into your day, seeking support from a homeschool community, or simply giving yourself permission to slow down, managing burnout is essential for creating harmonious homeschools.

4. Flexibility is Your Friend

Homeschooling is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Every family is different, and what works one year might not work the next. It’s okay to adapt and change. There’s no perfect way to homeschool.

Some years, you might thrive on a structured schedule; other years, you might lean more toward unschooling or a more relaxed approach. 

The key is to remain open to change and adopt a growth mindset.

5. Build a Routine, But Stay Open to Spontaneity

Having a routine provides structure, but do not be afraid to leave room for spontaneous learning experiences. While your family may eventually find a rhythm that works for everyone, be sure to also allow for flexibility. 

Some days, educational activities might flow seamlessly, while other days require a break or a shift in focus. It’s all about finding a balance that works for your family.

6. Embrace Self-Compassion

As homeschool moms, we often hold ourselves to impossibly high standards. But remember, you are human. Teresa encourages moms to practice self-compassion, especially on the tough days. 

We are not always going to have amazing days, but our goal is to do our best and trust the process.

Give yourself grace, acknowledge that not every day will go perfectly, and celebrate the small wins along the way.

Harmonious Homeschools with Teresa Wiedrick

Calm homeschooling does not mean a perfect homeschool. It means creating an environment where both you and your children can thrive, even amid challenges. Start by regulating your own emotions, adjusting expectations, and allowing room for flexibility. Recognize that getting weary is normal but manageable, and most importantly, be kind to yourself throughout the process. 

Homeschooling is a journey, and by focusing on harmony rather than perfection, you can create a more peaceful and fulfilling experience for your family. It is not about creating a picture-perfect experience, either. It’s about nurturing your children’s love for learning while maintaining your own well-being. 

Join Vicki and Teresa as they talk about giving yourself permission to adapt, grow, and find joy in the imperfections.

Check out Teresa Wiedrick at:

• Capturing the Charmed Life
• Homeschool Mama Self-Care Facebook page and Homeschool Mama Support Group
• Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast
• Lessons on Being a Homeschool Mom

Thank you for Seth Tillman for editing this podcast and for Richie Soares with Homeschool and Humor for writing this blog post!

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The post Harmonious Homeschools with Teresa Wiedrick appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Teens Who Become Entrepreneurs with Leigh Nguyen.

Teens Who Become Entrepreneurs with Leigh Nguyen

Teens have the potential to be anything they want to be and do anything they want to do. It’s incredible how many opportunities are available for homeschool high schoolers in today’s age. One popular path many young adults are taking nowadays is entrepreneurship.

Leigh Nguyen, of the Little by Little Homeschool podcast, is a homeschool mom who’s raising entrepreneurial teens. Leigh joins Vicki to not only share her experience homeschooling her children but also the remarkable journey of her son. He turned a simple lawn mowing gig into a thriving business. Leigh’s story will encourage you to embrace their individuality and help you to guide your them on their unique paths!

About Leigh Nguyen

Leigh Nguyen’s homeschool journey began, as many do, unexpectedly. She did not initially plan to homeschool her children. Like most of us, she thought the public school route was a given. 

However, halfway through her daughter’s 2nd grade year, Leigh felt a calling, a nudge from God, encouraging her to homeschool. What started as a leap of faith led to years of dedication, growth, and some incredible achievements, including raising teens with a passion for entrepreneurship. 

Leigh’s story highlights that homeschool is not just about academics, it’s about nurturing your child’s unique gifts and potential… even if that means stepping into the unknown world of entrepreneurship.

Leigh’s homeschool high school entrepreneur

Leigh’s 19-year-old son, who once ran a humble firewood stand, now owns a full-fledged landscaping business with multiple employees, trucks, and a snow-plowing operation. 

His entrepreneurial spark was first noticed when he expressed a desire to split and sell firewood. Fast forward to today, and that small venture has grown into something much bigger, fueled by his interest in business and the freedom that homeschooling allows.

Homeschooling gave Leigh’s son the time and flexibility to pursue his interests, even incorporating business principles into his elective credits. By weaving entrepreneurship into his homeschool curriculum, he pursued his passion while ensuring he met academic requirements. 

Business books, hands-on learning, and mentorship all counted toward his education, and as Leigh wisely notes, “We learn best by failure.”

Leigh believes in giving kids room to fail, encouraging them to learn from mistakes without the fear of drastic consequences. It’s this balance of guidance and freedom that has allowed her son to grow into a confident and capable young entrepreneur.

Tips For Raising Teenage Entrepreneurs

For homeschool moms looking to foster entrepreneurial minds in their teens, Leigh offers a few key insights. 

Allow Them To Make Mistakes

Encourage them to pursue their passions by allowing room for mistakes, provide opportunities to learn through real-world experience, and find mentors who can guide them. 

Entrepreneurship helps start a business, yes, but it also involves cultivating soft skills like resilience, networking, and problem-solving. By doing this, Leigh has helped her son—and now her younger children—turn their interests into potential careers.

Use Entrepreneurship as Elective Credits

One of the unique opportunities in homeschooling high schoolers who are pursuing entrepreneurial ventures is capturing these experiences as elective Career Exploration credits on a transcript. Leigh found creative ways to do this by blending traditional courses, like accounting, with practical business experience. 

Her son took online accounting courses and read business books to help him better understand his company’s finances. These studies, combined with hours spent running his business, counted toward elective credits in his homeschool curriculum.

Leigh emphasizes the importance of finding balance. Her son may not be on a college track, but that does not mean his education lacks depth or rigor. He is fulfilling state requirements for graduation while gaining real-world business experience. After all, as we always say:

There’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school…we help our teens develop their interests and goals in the way the is right for each unique capability.

For other homeschool moms, Leigh suggests naming courses creatively. If your child is passionate about entrepreneurship, credits could be given in areas like business management, finance, or marketing. 

The beauty of homeschooling is the flexibility to tailor education to your homeschool high schooler’s interests and gifts.

Encouraging Future Entrepreneurs

Leigh’s younger son is also showing signs of entrepreneurial ambition, though his interests are entirely different. He is currently working on getting his drone pilot license, a passion that started years ago with a small toy drone. 

Leigh’s approach with her youngest is similar to how she guided her older son: 

1. Encourage curiosity
2. Provide resources
3. Let them lead

Whether it’s mowing lawns, selling firewood, or piloting drones, homeschooling offers the flexibility to nurture these unique interests, allowing teens to grow into entrepreneurs in their own right.

Teens Who Become Entrepreneurs with Leigh Nguyen

Leigh’s journey with her children reminds us that homeschooling is about more than textbooks and tests – it’s about fostering independence, creativity, and self-confidence. Her teens are not following the traditional college path. Rather, they are fulfilling their potentials and interests as they are gaining skills and experiences that will serve them for a lifetime.

For all the homeschool moms out there, remember this:

Your teen’s education is a journey, and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

Whether your teen is destined to be an entrepreneur or follow a more conventional path, homeschooling gives you the freedom to help them become who they were meant to be – little by little.

Hear more from Leigh Nguyen: check out her podcast, Little by Little Homeschool, where she shares practical tips for homeschooling moms, encouraging us all to embrace this unique and rewarding journey.

For more from homeschool high school entrepreneurs, check out these Homeschool Highschool Podcast episodes:

• How to be a Homeschool High School Entrepreneur: Samantha Shank
• Homeschool Graduate and Entrepreneur: Lydia Smith
• Homeschool Grad Becomes Entrepreneur: Suzanna Fitzgerald

Thank you for Seth Tillman for editing this podcast and for Richie Soares with Homeschool and Humor for writing this blog post!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO HSHSP VIA COMPUTER

1. Follow this link to our iTunes page.
2. IMPORTANT STEP: Under our Homeschool Highschool Podcast logo, click on View in iTunes
3. This will take you to iTunes and our own podcast page.
4. Click SUBSCRIBE.
5. Click RATINGS AND REVIEW. (Please take a minute and do this. It helps others find us. Thanks!)
6. Thanks!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE VIA iPHONE

1. Tap the purple Podcast icon on your phone
2. Tap the search icon on the bottom-right of your screen
3. In the search bar type: Homeschool Highschool Podcast
4. Tap the Homeschool Highschool Podcast icon
5. Tap *Subscribe*
6. Please tap *Ratings and Review* and give us some stars and a comment to help others find us more easily.
7. Thanks!

The post Teens Who Become Entrepreneurs with Leigh Nguyen appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.