The Christy-Faith Show

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 RecommendationsI 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 DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:The four college-bound pathways available to homeschool families, laid out side by sideWhen community college during high school is a smart move — and when it isn'tHow dual enrollment works, and why one semester course can equal a full high school yearWhy some dual credit classes never transfer, and the residency requirement behind itThe exact question to ask a college registrar before your teen enrolls in anythingWhat dual degree programs are, and which students they actually fitHow the college application process differs for homeschool students (and how much it doesn't)Why colleges actively recruit homeschool students for the skills they bringSponsors: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 SamplesCTC 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% OffSummit 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 & SavingsResources mentioned:Natalie Mack's website — home of her free downloadable extracurricular activity resume for tracking leadership, service, and volunteer work: natalie-mack.comHigh School Decisions Bootcamp — use code CHRISTY for a listener discount: natalie-mack.com/high-school-decisions-bootcampNatalie's homeschool courses and masterclasses: natalie-mack.com/masterclass101 Tips for Homeschoolers — Natalie's book: Get the book on AmazonThe Impact of Homeschooling — Natalie's TEDx talk: Watch the TEDx talkThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.comThrive 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 ConfidencePart 2 — Can Homeschoolers Play College Sports? NCAA Eligibility ExplainedPart 3 — How to Prepare Your Homeschooler for College (this episode)Part 4 — From homeschool to military service: enlistment, ROTC, and service academiesAbout 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: @homeschoolnataliemackConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: 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 (01:14) - Meet Natalie Mack (03:06) - Demystifying Homeschooling High School (04:39) - You're Not Neglecting Them — You're Supporting Them (05:14) - Should Homeschoolers Use Community College? (06:19) - Lower Stakes, Lower Cost, Real College Experience (07:32) - When Community College Isn't the Right Fit (08:30) - How Dual Enrollment Actually Works (09:04) - One Semester Course Equals One Full High School Year (13:10) - The College-Bound Pathways, Laid Out (14:22) - What Dual Degree Programs Are (15:20) - Why Families Are Rethinking the Four-Year Price Tag (19:38) - The Dual Credit Transfer Trap (20:42) - Residency Requirements and Why Colleges Protect Their Brand (21:46) - How to Find Out What Actually Transfers (23:00) - Getting Buy-In From Your Student (24:34) - When Pushback Is Really Overwhelm (30:16) - Building Confidence and a Love of Learning (31:34) - Should Your Teen Sit In on the Consultation? (34:28) - The Shift From Teacher to Facilitator (36:49) - Why the Mental Health Piece Matters in High School (43:38) - The Traditional Four-Year Application Process (45:15) - Transcripts, Activity Resumes, and the Common App (46:14) - Wearing Two Hats: Mom and Guidance Counselor (48:48) - Why Colleges Actively Recruit Homeschool Students (51:21) - Skills, Character, and What Employers Want Now (52:29) - Don't Apologize for Homeschooling (53:35) - Where to Find Natalie Mack

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 SchedulesSee how real homeschool families actually structure their days — then take what works and leave the rest.👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:What actually changes when you move from homeschooling middle school into high schoolWhy Natalie calls high school a blank canvas — and why there's no single right way through itThe five core subject areas that build a sound high school foundationHow many credits a homeschool high schooler needs each year, and what a credit really representsWhy every student needs a homeschool transcript — even the ones who say they're not going to collegeWhen to start the transcript and why it stays a draft document for yearsHow to set your own graduation requirements and where state law comes into itThe biggest mistake homeschool parents make in high school planning — and how fear drives itThe truth about the all-AP myth, straight from a College Board parent advisory council memberHow to choose between dual enrollment, AP, CLEP, and online classes using four fit filtersThe dual credit mistake that costs families real money when credits don't transferSponsors: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 SamplesCTC 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% OffSummit 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 & SavingsResources 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.comHigh School Decisions Bootcamp — use code CHRISTY for a listener discount: High School Decisions BootcampNatalie's homeschool courses — cross-cultural American literature and model diplomacy global affairs simulation: Natalie's Courses101 Tips for Homeschoolers — Natalie's book: 101 Tips for HomeschoolersThe Impact of Homeschooling — Natalie's TEDx talk: Watch the TEDx talkThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.comThrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thriveAbout 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.comConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschoolTikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: 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 (02:15) - What's Coming in This 4-Part Series (05:30) - Natalie's Five Kids and Their Different Paths (09:20) - What Actually Changes in High School (10:30) - High School Is a Blank Canvas (16:33) - Why 14-Year-Olds Shouldn't Have to Decide Forever (18:25) - Homeschooling Is the Flex (21:00) - Trust the Process and Calm It Down (26:00) - Credits, Transcripts, and the Five Core Subjects (28:00) - How Many Credits Per Year (29:30) - Why Every Student Needs a Transcript (31:20) - Graduation Requirements and the Diploma (36:55) - The Biggest Mistake: Planning From Fear (40:15) - Dual Enrollment, AP, CLEP, or Online (43:00) - The Dual Credit Transfer Trap (45:25) - How Early Should Families Start Planning? (49:05) - Where to Find Natalie Mack

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 RecommendationsI 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 DownloadIn 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 youWhy the first weeks of school are the worst possible time to teach brand-new contentHow to prep before day one so your kids aren't learning new systems and new material at the same timeWhy your July and August plan is supposed to fall apart — and the documented brain glitch behind itHow much margin to build into every single slot in your homeschool scheduleWhy there's no "teacher hat" to put on, and what changes when you teach as yourselfWhy you were always the variable, not the curriculum boxWhy that bone-deep week-one exhaustion is proof your brain is doing hard, honest workSponsors: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 SamplesCTC 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% OffLearningRx✔ 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 AssessmentSummit 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 & SavingsResources mentioned:Free Sample Homeschool Schedules — Christy-Faith's real schedules for every age and stage, PK through 12th: Get the SchedulesFree Curriculum Recommendations — The vetted list, by subject, with zero paid placements: Free DownloadNew to Homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to beginThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.comThrive Homeschool Community: Learn MoreConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschoolTikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: 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 (02:07) - Why I Threw the First Draft in the Trash (03:41) - Expectations vs. Systems — What Part 1 Covers (05:20) - Mindset 1: Everything Is Hard at the Beginning (06:11) - The Three-Things Rule (07:36) - Mindset 2: The Worst Possible Time to Teach New Content (09:20) - Start Prepping Before Day One (12:51) - Mindset 3: Your July Plan Is Supposed to Fall Apart (13:35) - The Planning Fallacy (14:55) - Why Every Schedule Needs Margin (15:46) - Mindset 4: There Are No Hats (17:00) - Mindset 5: You Were Always the Variable, Not the Box (19:40) - Mindset 6: Go Easy on Your Kids Too (24:04) - Mindset 7: Why Week One Levels You (25:47) - Your Expectations Weigh More Than Your Curriculum (27:01) - The Recap — and What’s Coming in Part 2

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 RecommendationsI 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 DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:Why reading aloud to kids is called the single most important activity for building a readerWhat the million word gap study found about read-alouds before kindergartenWhy the rare words in books almost never show up in everyday conversationWhat MRI scans revealed about a child's brain during a read-aloudHow animated screens do the imagining that a book leaves to your childWhy reading aloud to older kids does NOT make them lazy readersThe difference between constrained and unconstrained reading skillsWhat kids themselves say they want most from being read toSponsors: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 SamplesCTC 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 discountLearningRx✔ 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 AssessmentSummit 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 & SavingsResources mentioned:Free Quote of the Week Notecard — the Emilie Buchwald quote from this episode, ready to printMy Curriculum Recommendations — the free list, by subjectAll of Christy-Faith's free homeschool resourcesThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providersThrive Homeschool CommunityHomeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's bookRelated episodes:Ep. 107 — How to Reduce Screen Time for KidsEp. 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_homeschoolTikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: 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? (01:53) - Welcome + Why This Episode (02:50) - When Reading Aloud Feels Like a Chore (04:03) - How Story Time Became “Literacy” (06:55) - Am I Doing Enough? (07:35) - The Million Word Gap (08:47) - Why Book Words Beat Everyday Words (12:37) - Inside Your Child's Brain During a Read-Aloud (13:57) - What Screens Do Instead (14:54) - “My Kid Can Read Now — Can I Stop?” (16:22) - Constrained vs. Unconstrained Skills (17:14) - Lifting Big Kids to a Higher Ledge (18:01) - Beowulf and the Seventh-Grade Reading Circle (19:49) - Why Kids Love Being Read To (22:39) - What Kids Say They Want Most (23:52) - Family Read-Alouds (24:35) - Start Tonight — Even Five Minutes (27:15) - Reading Is Worth It (28:05) - The Quote and the Free Notecard