Admission Counselor Darin Byrne recommends courses, gives advice about the Seton curriculum, and makes sure every parent and student question is answered.

Jeff Minnick shows that life's awkward situations are rich opportunities for you to evangelize based on these real experiences and the words of St. Paul.

Dr. Mary Kay Clark answers Seton Home Study questions about book reports and open book tests and who to call for help with challenges in your homeschooling.

In this round of Q & A's from homeschool families, Dr. Mary Kay Clark responds to memorizing the catechism, standardized testing, summer school, and more.

Dr Clark is back this month, answering 9 questions from mothers and families about homeschooling, scheduling and family life.

by Dr. Mary Kay Clark | It is difficult for us moms to “let go” of our high school sons and daughters who are so terrific in helping with family and household chores. But in falling behind ...

by Mary Kay Clark | First, throw away or give away everything you can. If you haven’t used something in the last ten years, what are the chances you will ever need it again?

by Mary Kay Clark | Consider asking your older children to start their schoolwork earlier in the day, for instance, at 7:30 a.m., so they can get at least one or two subjects done before the noise begins from the younger children. Since older children usually stay up later than younger ones, they might try doing some of their schoolwork after the little ones are in bed.

by Dr Mary Kay Clark | Try to understand why your husband is opposed, but have a conversation only if it can be without bitterness or argumentation. He may be opposed because he thinks you are not qualified to teach, or because the children are not being “socialized,” or because the children do not have opportunities for sports activities. Whatever the reason, try to become more informed about reasonable answers: you are using an accredited curriculum or you will have the children participate in activities with other homeschooled children.

by Dr Mary Kay Clark | Contact someone you know who is homeschooling, and see if there is a support group in your neighborhood. Contact people in your parish and tell them that you are looking for a Catholic homeschooling support group. Contact Cecilia at Seton

8. Where can I find solid information about the Common Core standards? 7. This is my first year homeschooling. Where can I learn more about how to homeschool? 6. Should I look over the children’s tests before sending them to Seton? 5. How can I help them answer literature questions? 4. What advice can you give us for finishing the book reports?

Would it be possible for me to combine my children in some of the same academic subjects, such as science, history, and religion? Yes, many parents do that for children in adjacent grades. You need to be careful about there being too much of a difference in comprehension. In religion, you can certainly discuss the same subject, such as a particular sacrament, but when it comes to memory work or testing, unless they are close in abilities, you should use the test appropriate for each child’s grade level. For instance, you may teach two students with the same religion book if they are both in Baltimore Catechism No. 2, but you may have the younger child take the tests for the No. 1 book.

1. Why does Seton emphasize English while other schools, even Catholic ones, put much less emphasis on English? Catholic schools traditionally have been strong in English courses to promote thinking ...

1. There has been so much discussion on the internet about the Common Core program being implemented in schools, even in Catholic schools. What will you be doing about the ...

I feel like my life is a treadmill.  It’s always running ahead of me and I am always trying to catch up. My book, Catholic Home Schooling, has a chapter ...

1. Do you mind if I send work to be graded only when all the children are finished with their quarter’s work? 2. My husband and I believe that we ...

1. My son has finished his math. May I buy the next book and have him start on the next grade level? 2. Will you be making supplemental videos for ...

Because of illness, we are not as far along in our studies as I would like. What tips do you have for us to catch up? For some subjects, you ...

How important is it that I stay on the Seton schedule? The Seton lesson plans set a schedule based on what we believe is realistic for the student to accomplish ...

May we mail in just some of the subjects which my 5th grader has finished, or do I need to wait until the tests for all the subjects have been ...