• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Meet Jen
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure & Privacy Policy
  • Blog Menu
    • Homeschool
    • Lifestyle
    • Family
  • Resources
    • FREE Subscriber Resources
    • My Favorite Resources
  • Shop
    • My Shop
    • Homeschool Planner
    • My Favorite Resources

Jen Merckling

life.unimaginable

middle school

After 14 years of homeschooling--I've tried a lot of curriculums! Discover my top 12 favorite homeschool curriculums--the ones I keep coming back to year after year!

Top 12 Favorite Homeschool Curriculums

After 20+ years of homeschooling–I’ve tried a lot of curriculums!  Homeschoolers have so many great curriculum choices available…Which is awesome, BUT–it can be totally overwhelming!  Don’t let the multitude of homeschool curriculums scare you into analysis paralysis!  Here’s the thing–there is no one perfect curriculum!  We all have different needs and preferences.  However, I do…

Read More

Filed Under: Curriculum, Early Learning, Elementary, History, Homeschooling, Math, Middle School, Most Shared, Reading Tagged With: Affiliate, All About Reading, All About Spelling, apologia science, curriculum, elementary school, favorite curriculum, Homeschool, homeschooling, How to Homeschool, IEW, Institute for Excellence in Writing, middle school, Ready for Reading, Saxon Math, Sonlight, tapestry of grace, Teaching Textbooks, The Good and the Beautiful

Experience success homeschooling middle school math--regardless of what curriculum you're using! I'm sharing 5 Tips for Homeschooling Middle School Math!

Homeschooling Middle School Math — 5 Tips for Success!

Homeschooling middle school math —that subject brings up some serious emotions among us mamas! For some fear.  Maybe disdain.  Confusion. A few might admit to joy (it’s okay—I’m nerdy like that too).  AND Passion…homeschool moms feel some real passion about their math curriculum choices! Middle School Math Success But regardless of what curriculum you’re using…

Read More

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Math, Middle School Tagged With: Affiliate, Homeschool, math, middle school

Kid Activities take time, energy, and money! Are the sacrifices worth it? At our house the benefits outweigh the sacrifices, but there's a fine line.

Kid Activities — Are the Sacrifices Worth It?

The last snowflakes just fell on this year’s Nutcracker ballet. It was beautiful—truly lovely. I wish I could just watch and enjoy the show—but instead I sit with shoulders tense, holding my program in a death grip and barely breathing. My eyes following my fourteen year-old daughter’s every move. Partly because I know the hours…

Read More

Filed Under: Encouragement, Family, Homeschooling, Lifestyle Tagged With: Affiliate, elementary school, Homeschool, homeschooling, kid activities, middle school, Parenting

Middle School Math, Middle School Reading, and 8th Grade Curriculum.

The Best 8th Grade Curriculum — For Me!

The elusive best curriculum…we’re always on the hunt for it. But much like other homeschool myths—the perfect curriculum doesn’t exist. We have to find the best for our families—and my best might look really different than the best for the family down the street or the one on Instagram. It probably even looks different than…

Read More

Filed Under: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Middle School Tagged With: Affiliate, curriculum, eighth grade, middle school

Round Three! I am in the thick of homeschooling middle school…Specifically, this will be my third go at homeschooling eighth grade.

Homeschooling Your Middle School Child

Round Three! I am in the thick of homeschooling middle school…Specifically, this will be my third go at homeschooling eighth grade—it is actually one of my favorite years. Thirteen and fourteen-year-olds are independent learners, capable writers, and problem solvers—translation: mama’s life is easier! Middle school course work (don’t miss my 8th grade curriculum post) is…

Read More

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Middle School Tagged With: 8th grade, Affiliate, Favorite Post, free homeschool webinars, homeschool transcript, homeschooling, middle school, note taking, record keeping, the homescholar

Primary Sidebar

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. ♡

Read my story→

SEARCH MY WEBSITE!

Follow Me!

All About Learning Press

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM!

Audrey graduated from KU over the weekend!! We’r Audrey graduated from KU over the weekend!! We’re so proud of her!! ❤️💙🥰🎉
Everything’s bigger in Texas…🤠❤️ Includ Everything’s bigger in Texas…🤠❤️
Including the love & hospitality of my husband’s brother & sister-in-law! 🥰
I’m so thankful for the time together…They even got me in the water!! 🌊🚤❤️
Had so much fun showing our Chiefs Love in Disney…We got a lot of love back—but also some haters…
😂❤️💛😏 #chiefskingdom in the #magickingdom 🏰
My sweet sister & I just created this adorable Fal My sweet sister & I just created this adorable Fall Coloring & Activity Book for Kids!🍁🎉
Just sweet—no Halloween references…Your kids will love all the whimsical details & fun activities!!🧡 

Link in bio…🥰
🍁Quick Tip: I love planning for the next school 🍁Quick Tip: I love planning for the next school week on Fridays! After we wrap up each  subject, I write out next week’s plan…

🤓I used to plan on Sunday night—but this routine has been so helpful because…
🍁Where we are & what we’re doing is fresh in my head.
🍁It feels faster because it’s broken into small chunks—I plan as we finish each subject & before I put away those materials for the weekend.
🍁I don’t have to drag things out on Sunday—because the planning is already done! 🎉
🍁 I know if I need to grab any supplies over the weekend! 

 #homeschoolplanning #homeschoolorganization
Created a sweet little notebook… Matches my Home Created a sweet little notebook…
Matches my Homeschool Lesson Planner! 👯‍♀️
Perfect for journaling & reflecting…🥰💗 

Details:
7x10 inches, 110 pages, lined notebook 
Available as a matte paperback or hardcover! 
(I like to use hardcover notebooks for Bible study.)💗

Copyright© 2026 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES