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How to Create a Homeschool Schedule for a New School Year

How to Create a Homeschool Schedule for a New School Year

by Melissa Droegemueller | Jul 19, 2018 | Homeschooling (Elementary School), Preschool at Home

Are you a new homeschooling mom? Maybe you are considering preschool at home or you have decided to homeschool your Kindergarten or 1st grade student. It can be overwhelming: from curriculum to to socialization, everyone has an opinion.  Creating a flexible, effective...

Unit Study: Homeschool Complete Review & Giveaway

by Melissa Droegemueller | Dec 9, 2017 | Homeschooling (Elementary School)

Are you ready for the winter break? The colder temperatures have arrived in Iowa, and we are making a long list of activities that will keep us busy inside over the next few months. We have our favorite educational toys for open-ended play, winter books, and list of...

Our Decision to Homeschool: Kindergarten

by Melissa Droegemueller | Jul 20, 2017 | Homeschooling (Elementary School)

We were outside the library a few days ago, waiting for them to open before heading out of town for vacation. Since I knew we were about to spend 5 hours together in the car, we started playing a short game of “catch the stuffie.” I would toss the bear to...

The Benefits of Homeschooling-Entrepreneur Version

by Melissa Droegemueller | Jan 1, 2017 | Homeschooling (Elementary School)

Our homeschooling journey began about the same time our second daughter was born. I was teaching at our older daughter’s preschool while pregnant, and we all intended to go back when baby Kate was six weeks old. Right before I returned, I was told I would be the...
My Biggest Mistake as a Homeschooling Mom

My Biggest Mistake as a Homeschooling Mom

by Melissa Droegemueller | Nov 16, 2016 | Homeschooling (Elementary School)

It’s hard to believe that we’re already in our fifth year of homeschooling. Sometimes it feels like we’ve just begun and other days, when I talk to new homeschooling parents, I realize just how far we’ve come as a family. When our older daughter was in Kindergarten,...
Homeschooling: 1st Grade Curriculum Choices

Homeschooling: 1st Grade Curriculum Choices

by Melissa Droegemueller | Aug 17, 2014 | Homeschooling (Elementary School)

I cannot believe that August is already here! This summer has flown by, but we are ready to get back into our regular routines and see our friends again. Here are our curriculum choices for 1st grade (2014-2015): (Reminder: Rolling Prairie Readers uses affiliate links...
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Melissa Droegemueller | Rolling Prairie Readers

About Melissa

I am an elementary school teacher–turned–homeschooling mom with over 11 years experience working with babies through 4th graders. I believe in making learning FUN for ALL kids.

At Rolling Prairie Readers, we are passionate about learning through play, chasing adventures, and good books!

Our mission is to create a community of lifelong learners where parents inspire and empower their children to follow their passions and use their unique gifts to make the world a better place.

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Greatest Hits

  • Jingle Bell Sensory Bin + Activity Ideas
    Jingle Bell Sensory Bin + Activity Ideas
  • 100 Hands-On Activities for Tactile Learners
    100 Hands-On Activities for Tactile Learners
  • Tot School Must-Haves
    Tot School Must-Haves
  • 6 Fun Activities for Teaching Colors to Kids
    6 Fun Activities for Teaching Colors to Kids
  • Sensory Bin Storage: Tactile Activities for Kids
    Sensory Bin Storage: Tactile Activities for Kids
  • Visiting De Smet, South Dakota - Ingalls Homestead and Tour
    Visiting De Smet, South Dakota - Ingalls Homestead and Tour
  • Classical Conversations Review Game
    Classical Conversations Review Game

Note: We use affiliate links at no additional cost to you. See our full disclosure policy here.

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Helping busy families connect through play and make learning fun at home. 💕 Check out our blog and FREE Resource Library:

Instagram post 2199733506140531983_8736387314 Sensory bins don't have to be complicated or messy!
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This simple jingle bell bin is from Katie's toddler days in Texas (if the shorts and tank top didn't give it away!).
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I used red and green pom poms, foam blocks, Unifix cubes, and of course -- bells! I added in some tongs, a magnet, and a few different sized containers for her to fill.
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Fun and easy, with a STEM component, as she explored why the bells stuck to the magnet, but the other toys didn't. 🔔
Instagram post 2198956370874071674_8736387314 The subtitle of this book has been calling to me lately. Man, am I easily distracted!
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More focus in 2020 is a major goal, as is less time on my phone/computer.
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What are your goals for the new year?
Instagram post 2197325730144570548_8736387314 This is our fourth December in the Midwest, and we have a shocking lack of snow on the ground. ❄️
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I whipped up a batch of plain white playdough so we can make little snowmen. We can also talk about spheres, count beads, and work those little fingers.
Instagram post 2196604514218600421_8736387314 Are you wondering how to keep your little ones busy over the holiday break? Or maybe you're ready to start preschool at home in January?
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Check out our affordable Winter Learning Bundle, which comes with 6 activity guides (40 ideas each) and three months of personalized support + training in our Facebook group, The Play School Club!
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These guides are designed for parents of children ages 2-6 and can be used as a menu for hands-on learning fun! (They also use items that are probably in your house already and include a list of recommended books to make your trip to the library a breeze.)
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The Winter Learning Bundle includes these themes:
🎄 Christmas Trees
❄️ Winter Wonderland
🐻 Winter Animals
🐄🌙 Nursery Rhymes
❤️ Valentine's Day
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family
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Check it out: winterlearningbundle.club
Instagram post 2195907297002642674_8736387314 Do your kids love playdough like mine do?
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Their favorite thing to do is open a bakery and make treats with their cookie cutters and beads. 😍
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This activity can keep them occupied for well over an hour, especially when they pull out their cash register/calculator and start taking orders.
Instagram post 2195411180515027523_8736387314 Are your children fascinated by the idea of keeping a tree INSIDE the house during the month of December? Several years ago, I remember my 15-month-old frantically signing TREE every time we passed a Christmas tree — whether we were at our house, someone else’s, church, or the shopping mall. It’s kind of a strange concept for our toddlers and preschoolers to understand.
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First, we put a tree in the living room, then decorate it with lights and pretty objects. Then, we tell our young children to stay away and not touch it. 😂
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Now that our girls are a bit older, they understand that I need them to ask before touching anything on or near our tree. (Several of our ornaments have buttons for music or lines from favorite movies.) I just don’t want the tree coming down on top of them or one of our more fragile ornaments being broken accidentally.
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I often find them sitting next to the Christmas tree or lying underneath it with a book. So I got up early this morning, and tucked a few library books about Christmas trees under our tree. For some reason, my girls are drawn to small piles of books here and there around the house.
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Click the link in my profile to see our favorite children’s books about Christmas trees: @theplayschoolclub
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Do you have a favorite book about Christmas trees?
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