My 12 Tips for Catholic Homeschoolers

1. Consider using “pre-tests,” such as for spelling and vocabulary. Then focus on the words your child still needs to learn.

2. While any home-graded assignment may be omitted at the discretion of the parent/teacher, a home grade likely will increase the final grade.

3. Look at the book and test questions which focus on important points. Prepare your student for Seton-graded assignments and tests.

4. Don’t send Seton a test if you know your child did not do well and Seton is likely to recommend a redo. Have your child restudy and redo the test, then send it to Seton.

5. Provided that all of the Seton-graded assignments are submitted, Seton will give a quarter grade without a home grade. The quarter grade will be based only on the Seton-graded assignments.

6. Consider having an older sibling help by tutoring a younger sibling. It takes stress off of you, promotes fraternal charity, and serves as a review for the older sibling.

7. Consider having an older sibling in high school help with the grading of objective tests.

8. At the high school level, it may be easier to focus on only two or three subjects at a time rather than doing a little of five or six subjects each day. Some students take only two subjects and finish them up before taking two more subjects and doing the same.

9. In elementary grades, during the week, focus on the major subjects: religion, reading, phonics, English, and math. Other subjects may be covered in the evenings with Dad, or an older sibling, or on weekends.

10. You may choose to spend extra time (over the summer, for example) to finish a difficult course, especially in important subjects such as reading, English, and math.

11. For an older student: Let your child prepare one lesson and teach you. In preparing to teach the class, your child will teach himself the lesson.

12. Have your child do some daily activities orally, especially in easier subjects.

Stay the Course, Homeschooler!

Regard the lesson plans, answer keys, and tests as a safety net for you.

Realize that you are the principal and the primary teacher of your children. You have 12 months to arrange your own schedule, using the Seton schedule as a suggestion.

Take advantage of being at home. Set your own schedule around:

• the Calendar of the Church
• the Holy Rosary and Sacred Scripture
• the Sacraments, and
• Holy Mass.

Suit the Program

Be creative with finishing the courses in a timely manner.

Suit the program to the child, not the child to the program. The important thing is for your children to learn not to be “tied” to a schedule.

Keep it Holy

Never for a moment forget God. The home school atmosphere should be orderly, disciplined, peaceful, and quiet. Prayer must be a definite part of the day for you and your children.

Remember: the ultimate goal is raising saints, then scholars.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, consider one or more of these twelve tips as a temporary means of relieving stress.

Seton is here to serve you! Please do not hesitate to email or phone a Seton counselor if you have any questions. As always, you and your family are in our daily Mass prayers!

constantine fr-constantine homeschool tips 2014-07-15