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Jen Merckling

life.unimaginable

How to Homeschool

Like classroom teachers, Homeschool Moms need workdays to keep organized and learn new skills! Here are 5 Ways Teacher Workdays will help your Homeschool!

5 Reasons Homeschool Moms Need Teacher Workdays

  Years ago I taught 2nd grade in a public school.  And while I loved teaching my students–I sure did love my teacher work days!  These are days carved out on the calendar for teachers to get work done–without students! Sometimes they’re called Professional Days or Inservice Days–but regardless of what you call these special work…

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Homeschooling, Organization Tagged With: Affiliate, Homeschool Organization, homeschooling, How to Homeschool

Homeschool sick days are inevitable and can lead to feeling overwhelmed! After 15 years homeschooling, here are my tips for getting through sick days!

Homeschool Sick Days

Well, Sweet Friends—cold and flu season is having a party over at my house. I’m currently drowning in a sea of Kleenex…Besides me, five of my six kids have also succumbed to this yuck. And if a houseful of sick people doesn’t derail homeschool plans, I just don’t know what does. It’s easy to get…

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Homeschool, How to Homeschool, Sick Days

I love learning what curriculum other homeschool families are using with their kids! Here's a peek into what I'm using with with my 1st grade son (and why)!

My Homeschool Curriculum 1st Grade Choices

I’m so excited to get started with my shiny new 1st grade curriculum!  I don’t homeschool year-round (Sweet Friends, I need a break from formal lessons!!  Summer is my absolute favorite.  Summer is life to me–and isn’t all of life learning?  Maybe I’m technically an unschooler in the summer…).  Anyway, for me, it’s back-to-school time–at…

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Filed Under: Curriculum, Elementary, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Apologia, Handwriting Without Tears, Homeschool, Homeschool 1st Grade, Homeschool Curriculum, How to Homeschool, Saxon Math, Saxon Math 2, Sonlight

There are many misconceptions about homeschooling. One myth, that "homeschooling will save my child," threatens to derail us with guilt and self-doubt.

Homeschooling Will Save My Child (one of many myths)

So excited to be part of an important series–Homeschool Myths: Busted–Exposing the Truth Behind Homeschool Myths!  Myself and other members of the Homeschool Blogging Connection Team are tackling a wide range of homeschool myths in this series, with the hope of offering encouragement and support.  And while–yes, there are many misconceptions about homeschooling out there,…

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Faith, Homeschool, Homeschool Challenges, Homeschool Encouragement, Homeschool Myths, How to Homeschool, Mental Health

Teaching Textbooks has made such a positive impact on our homeschool! And the new Version 3.0 provides families with even more convenience and value!

Why I Love Teaching Textbooks (and how it just got better!)

(FYI…Teaching Textbooks provided me with their updated curriculum–version 3.0 for review…I was already using and loving Teaching Textbooks 2.0!  As always–this post reflects my personal experiences and is 100% my opinion!)  Excited to share with you why I love Teaching Textbooks, and give you an update and review of the newest version! My Switch to…

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Filed Under: Curriculum, High School, Homeschooling, Math, Middle School Tagged With: Affiliate, Homeschool, Homeschool Curriculum, Homeschool Math, How to Homeschool, How to Teach Math, Teaching Textbooks

2018 Homeschool Moms Conference {ONLINE}

Thanks Registration for the 2018 Homeschool Moms Conference is now closed!  It was a huge success–please join us next year! Earlier this year I was super honored to speak at my local homeschool conference! (And I was a complete nervous wreck and wanted to puke for about a week leading up to the event…) But…

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Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: 2018 Homeschool Moms Conference, Affiliate, Homeschool, homeschooling, How to Homeschool

Sharing my free homeschool planner and how I use it to map out my entire school year! A great resource for keeping track of curriculum, books and materials, and student goals! Long range lesson planning will help you see the big picture, stay on track, and get organized!

Free Homeschool Planner — a Long-Range View

I love seeing the BIG picture!  When I sit down to chart out our plans for the school year–I always start with long-range planning.  Over my 14 years homeschooling, I’ve established an important planning routine.  It basically goes something like this…Choose my curriculum, start locating books and resources, identify goals, and finally–plot it all out…

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Filed Under: Homeschooling, Organization Tagged With: Affiliate, Free Resource, Homeschool, homeschool planner, How to Homeschool

Homeschooling multiple ages can be a bit tricky, but using unit studies has helped me keep things both simple and individualized for my children.

Homeschooling Multiple Ages — With Unit Studies

I’ve always homeschooled multiple children…Which makes for some interesting curriculum decisions.  Do I teach three different historical periods?  Should I buy a different science curriculum for each child (because surely I can juggle Chemistry with a side of Physical Science topped with Marine Biology)…?  Here’s the truth, Sweet Friends–in the early years (which in this…

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Filed Under: Curriculum, Elementary, History, Homeschooling, Middle School Tagged With: Affiliate, apologia science, Homeschool, How to Homeschool, IEW, large family, Multiple Ages, Multiple Kids, tapestry of grace, Unit Studies

Teaching math with manipulatives helps kids understand math concepts and build a strong foundation in number sense! Plus using math manipulatives is fun! Here are my top 10 favorite math manipulatives! I've used them countless times while homeschooling my own children and as a classroom teacher!

Top 10 Favorite Math Manipulatives

I know I may be in the minority—but I love math, and I really love teaching math!  I’m truly a nerd at heart.  When it comes to teaching math to young students—using manipulatives is definitely the way to go!  Regardless of what math curriculum you’re using—math manipulatives help kids gain a more concrete understanding of…

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Filed Under: Early Learning, Elementary, Homeschooling, Math Tagged With: Affliliate, Hands On Learning, Homeschool, homeschooling, How to Homeschool, How to Teach Math, math, Math Manipulatives

Incorporate music lessons into your homeschool holiday celebrations! Teaching music to elementary aged children is simple and fun when combined with holidays and special days throughout the year!

Teaching Music to Celebrate the Holidays

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is celebrating (and learning about) the holidays with my kids!  There’s good food to make, stories to read, art projects and crafts to make–but there’s also great music to share!  I love music–however, this is one of my weakest subjects when it comes to teaching my kids!  That…

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Filed Under: Curriculum, Elementary, Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, curriculum, Holidays, Homeschool, Homeschool Music, How to Homeschool, Music Curriculum, Music in Our Homeschool

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

Tips for Teaching Your Left Handed Child Handwriting

All the boys in my house are lefties…My hubby, my teenage son, and my kindergarten son.  It makes for some elbow bumping at the dinner table–but that’s nothing compared to the struggle with handwriting!  Teaching my left-handed children fine-motor skills (specifically handwriting) has been one of the more challenging tasks for this right-handed momma!  I’ve…

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Filed Under: Early Learning, Elementary, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Handwriting, Homeschool, How to Homeschool, Left Handed Kids

Getting our kids to practice spelling words—sometimes it feels like pulling teeth. We know spelling practice has to happen, but it doesn’t have to be busy work! I’m sharing 4 strategies to spice up your spelling routine!

Spelling Practice — Mix it Up!

Getting our kids to practice spelling words—sometimes it feels like pulling teeth.  We know spelling practice has to happen, but it doesn’t have to be busy work!  I’m sharing 4 strategies to spice up your spelling routine! A Note About Spelling Programs…My Personal Favorite: Before we jump into the 4 strategies, I have to tell…

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Filed Under: Curriculum, Elementary, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Homeschool, How to Homeschool, Spelling, Spelling Power, Spelling Practice, Teaching Tips

There is much to learn about how to homeschool! One is learning how to teach your child! I'm sharing strategies I learned as classroom teacher to help you teach any lesson for any grade! They've given me confidence over the last 14 years of homeschooling, and I know they will help you!

How To Homeschool –Teaching 101

So you’ve taken the plunge—you’ve decided to start homeschooling!  And I’m so excited for you—it truly has been one of the greatest blessings in my life!  When I started 20 years ago—it felt like a huge leap of faith (you can read all about why I got started and still love it—HERE)!  But now you…

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Homeschool, homeschooling, How to Homeschool

Homeschooling can be hard! But sometimes I've made it harder than it needed to be--sharing some lessons I've learned after 14 years!

5 Ways I’ve Sabotaged My Homeschool

Homeschooling has been part of our family for 14 years—it’s etched into our lifestyle.  There are so many reasons I truly love it—but like most worthwhile endeavors…it comes with some hard days (hard years even)!  Sometimes it’s because we’ve all been sick—nothing like the stomach flu to take you way off your game (and add…

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Homeschool, How to Homeschool

Sometimes we have to make big changes--in the middle of the school year! Here's the advice I gave a friend wondering how to start homeschooling midyear.

How to Start Homeschooling Midyear — Emergency Homeschooling

A little over a year ago, a neighbor approached me–full of concern for a friend, who was wondering how to start homeschooling midyear.  Second semester was well underway–but her friend found herself in crisis-mode and in search of alternative educational choices for her daughter in high school.  The friend was facing a divorce–which involved moving….

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Filed Under: Elementary, Encouragement, High School, Homeschooling, Middle School Tagged With: Affiliate, Emergency Homeschooling, Homeschool, Homeschooling High School, How to Homeschool

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Hello! Welcome--I'm Jen! I've got 6 kiddos (including sweet twins) --lots of laundry and always dirty dishes! I've been Jason's wife for 26 years, a mommy for 24 years, and a homeschooler for 20+ years...I'd love to be friends. ♡

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This is the loveliest book…💗🪶🪺 Perfect This is the loveliest book…💗🪶🪺
Perfect for the changing seasons, bird lovers, & a bit of history!! 
(Thanks to @readaloudrevival for the recommendation!) 🥰
We can be reluctant to "count" activities that did We can be reluctant to "count" activities that didn't come in our packaged curriculum as "school". 

❤️But so much counts...(I think it may all count??)

(I honestly have a hard time trying to think of activities that don't count as education!)

🎨Here's just a few: swimming, ballet, soccer practice, nature walk, going to the playground, coloring, cutting, video games, reading books together, cooking, chores, dress-up, video creation, poetry writing, imaginary play, documentaries, vacations, the grocery story, Sunday School, camp, museums, legos, collections, lunch with friends, planning a party, and the list goes on & on...

 👀 Watch for the learning that is happening all around you! 

🌻Life is an amazing teacher & there is so much to learn! Our kids know that instinctively--we can trust them to be curious. We can become curious again...
I like to start the year with Language Arts lesson I like to start the year with Language Arts lessons, Math, & one other subject...

(And Language Arts can have lots of parts--so I gradually add in pieces as we gain some confidence in our routine.)

It's okay if you don't have it all figured out on day one, week one, or even month one! Give yourself time to get comfortable with your curriculum.

When I taught elementary school--we spent so much time just going over routines that first week of school! But in homeschooling--we can just bypass all that... 

🥳(Yay for freedom to potty & snack when want--and no thanks to practicing how to "line-up" for 20 minutes)! 

Even once our routine is established--we RARELY do all subjects every day at my house. 

🔥Breaking free from traditional school is more than the leap into homeschooling...It's also breaking free from our ideas of what education looks like, where & how it happens, & how much time formal instruction takes. 

It takes time to make that paradigm shift--give yourself grace as you grow with your kiddos!
Please don't feel like you have to complete lesson Please don't feel like you have to complete lessons in your curriculum exactly as they are written...

You are the boss of your curriculum--make it work for you! 

Sometimes we doubt ourselves (and sometimes fear messing up this huge thing--our children's education)! We trust that the experts who have written the curriculum know  best & therefore  we must follow it perfectly...like a recipe for perfect education. 

But remember...often the best way to cook is to look over the recipe & then make adjustments to fit your personal tastes & needs! 

The same can be said of curriculum!  Use it as a guide--a help...But trust your gut! If your child is struggling & done--it's okay to stop for the day! 

It's okay to skip lessons, skip sections, skip problems--you know your child. You know what they need & you know their limits! 

Enjoy the process & create a beautiful education & life with your kiddos!
This Week in my Homeschool Lesson Planner… FAQ This Week in my Homeschool Lesson Planner… 

FAQ: How do I use the blank weekly list pages? 

💗🤓So I love making lists! In addition to the blank lesson planning spread, I included weekly planning pages that give an overview for the week & all my lists! This week my own plans included meal ideas, work projects, & subjects/actives for my kids to loop through—like copywork & music!
 
#homeschoolplanning #homeschoolmom
I've created a Homeschool Lesson Planner perfect f I've created a Homeschool Lesson Planner perfect for planning, organizing, & building consistency! 

12 Months, 52 Weeks Undated Large Monthly Calendar & Weekly Planning Spread--Start when you want & plenty of room for personal & homeschool needs! 

Link in Bio!
#homeschoolplanning #homeschoolmom #homeschoollifestyle #homeschoolplanner #organizedhomeschool

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