Many public schools offer open enrollment, allowing kids to attend charter, magnet, and schools outside their local district.

But what about homeschools? Can School Choice help homeschoolers get financial relief? Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss state funding options on their podcast.

Show Notes:

Today, we are talking about School Choice and what it means for homeschoolers.

Remember - these options vary from state to state. Check your state’s status before you make any presumptions.

Private and homeschool options:

Vouchers are state-funded scholarships to pay tuition at private or homeschools.

• They may be targeted at students from low-income families.
• Or with special needs
• Or are currently attending a failing public school.

Vouchers are available in at least 10 states and the District of Columbia.

Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs)

ESA programs create personal accounts that store a child’s state Education Dollars, making a child’s education truly customizable.

Education dollars pay for:

• School tuition, textbooks, and fees
• Tutoring and special therapies
• Other approved expenses

ESAs are available in at least 18 states.

Scholarship Tax Credit Programs

Corporations and individuals make private donations to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships to eligible children. In return, the corporations and individuals receive a state income tax credit.

There are at least 21 scholarship tax credit programs operating across the country,

Individual tuition tax credits

Individual tuition tax credits give parents a state income tax credit for their child’s approved educational expenses.

They are available in about half a dozen states.

Drawbacks

Many homeschoolers oppose ANY government contributions to their homeschool. Their concern is that "with government shekels come government shackles". A valid concern—let’s address it.

Remember, Shackles can be imposed even without subsidies. States with education choice policies tend to respect homeschooling autonomy more than those without, but homeschoolers still have to stay awake and aware. We Catholics need to partner with Christian homeschoolers and let our state reps know we are watching them.

States without school choice policies— including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island—are among the worst for burdensome regulations on homeschool families. They tend to be ruled by teachers’ unions.

States with school choice policies—including Iowa, Indiana, and Oklahoma — have few homeschool regulations and liberal education-choice policies. Note: In 2023, Ohio lawmakers passed both universal school choice and a reduction in homeschool regulations.

There is no school choice policy that requires a family or a private school to participate. All are free to reject the government goodies, but many families could really use the help. All families and schools can evaluate the costs versus the benefits and then decide.

❤️ Homeschooling Resources

• Seton Home Study School
• Seton Testing Services

Homeschoolers are uniquely positioned to keep Advent in the way the Church encourages, bringing back traditions to deepen our faith as we prepare for the coming of Our Savior.

Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny bring home the message that, despite what the big-box store says, Christmas does not begin when Halloween ends. Here’s what your family can do.

Show Notes:

In recent years, the practice of observing Advent has grown lukewarm.

Many forget that the Christmas season begins on December 24th with the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Nativity.

Homeschoolers are uniquely positioned to lead the way and keep Advent, one of the richest and most beautiful of liturgical seasons, in the way the Church encourages.

If you are called to bring back traditions that deepen our faith as we prepare for the coming of Our Savior, here’s how:

An easy observance: The Advent wreath

· Three purple and one rose-colored candle

· Light the candles, adding one each week, at dinner time.

· You can find lots of Advent wreath prayers online.

How to Make Observing “Little Lent” Fun

This is a penitential season, often called “Little Lent.”

Children are very visual - explain the meaning of the season's colors.

• Purple for the Penitential season
• Rose colored Gaudete Sunday.
• Christmas is gold and white.

Ask them to notice:

• The Gloria is removed from Mass, just as it is in Lent.
• But the Alleluia is kept because we are anticipating a joyful birth.

Use an Advent calendar or a paper chain to count down the days.

If you make a paper chain:

• Use purple paper
• One pink chain link for Guadete Sunday

Celebrate Catholic New Year’s

• The Saturday night before the first Sunday in Advent
• This year – 12/29/25
• Make a special dinner.
• Have party hats and noisemakers
• Sparkling apple juice to toast the new liturgical year

Put out a Nativity set.

• Leave out the infant Jesus for now.
• Keep a jar or basket of straw nearby.
• When the children make a sacrifice or penance, have them place a straw in the manger to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus.
• Enthrone Baby Jesus after midnight on December 24

Celebrate the Saints

Because Advent contains both penance and joy, we can celebrate the many feast days throughout the season.

• December 4th, the feast of St. Barbara, patroness of architects, you might build a graham cracker house.
• December 9th, for St. Juan Diego’s feast, make a brown paper tilma and serve tacos.
• December 12th, to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, create paper roses and enjoy Mexican hot cocoa.

Observe Ember Days and O Antiphons. These lesser-known liturgical observances of the Church are beautiful.

2025 Advent Activities for Catholic Homeschoolers has over 200 activities, crafts, and recipes for Advent.

2025 Advent Activities for Catholic Homeschoolers are Available for purchase.

2025 Advent Activities for Catholic Homeschoolers

Free Download

Homeschooling Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton Testing Services

Want to be the hero of your homeschool week? Pull out a game board!

In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen share how to “gamify” your homeschooling—turning lessons into fun challenges that build motivation, confidence, and joy in learning. Discover how games activate the brain’s reward system, sneak in skill-building, and bring your family closer together (while making Mom look like a genius).

Show Notes:

• Activating the brain’s reward system releases dopamine—making learning pleasurable.
• A perfect boost for memorizing math facts, Latin declensions, and more.
• Board games and gamified lessons can be your best-kept homeschool secret.

Playing Games vs. Gamifying Lessons

Playing Games = Using an existing board, card, or online game to reinforce skills.
Gamifying Lessons = Adding game-style elements—points, levels, challenges—to regular schoolwork.

Gamification makes learning feel like play by adding:

• Friendly competition
• Small rewards
• Visible achievements

The focus is still on learning, but the experience feels like a game!

How to Gamify Your Homeschool

• Award points or badges for completed tasks.
• Allow badges to be traded for privileges (screen time, outings, desserts).
• Laugh about it—yes, it’s a little like potty-training bribery, but it works!

Examples:

• Each handwriting sheet = 5 minutes of tablet time.
• A near-perfect math lesson = 10 extra minutes before bedtime.
• “Beat the clock” challenges for spelling or Latin drills.
• 100-day streak = family outing or prize.

Learning Through Play

Games aren’t just fun—they teach life lessons:

• Taking turns and waiting patiently
• Losing gracefully and trying again
• Congratulating others on success
• Counting, reading, strategy, and critical thinking

Favorite Educational Games

Try these family favorites for skill-building and fun:

• Scrabble – spelling and vocabulary
• Bird Bingo – nature and observation
• Yahtzee – math and probability
• Count Your Chickens (Peaceable Kingdom) – teamwork for younger kids
• Kerplunk – logic and planning
• Memory games – recall and focus
• Monopoly – money management
• Math Bingo or Flashcard War – fast-paced review

Bottom Line: Whether you’re playing a classic game or creating your own, the goal is joyful learning. Sometimes the lesson is math or spelling—sometimes it’s simply family togetherness.

❤️ Homeschooling Resources

• Seton Home Study School
• Seton Testing Services