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Homeschool Routines are Better than Schedules

Homeschool Routines are Better than Schedules

by Melissa Droegemueller | Mar 25, 2021 | Homeschooling (Elementary School), Homeschooling (Tweens and Teens)

If you are new to homeschooling or considering it for the future, you probably have seen beautiful, color-coded schedules on Pinterest or Instagram. Today, I want to share my thoughts about WHY ‘down to the minute’ schedules don’t work for EVERY homeschooling family....
Time to Change Your Homeschool Math Program? {Teaching Textbooks 4.0 Review}

Time to Change Your Homeschool Math Program? {Teaching Textbooks 4.0 Review}

by Melissa Droegemueller | Jan 20, 2021 | Homeschooling (Elementary School)

Are you curious about homeschool math options? Here are my thoughts on the NEW Teaching Texbooks 4.0! It’s one of the most common questions asked in homeschooling circles: How do I know when it’s time to change curriculum or programs? After years as a classroom...

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 K 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,...
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Melissa Droegemueller | Rolling Prairie Readers

About Melissa

I am an elementary school teacher–turned–homeschooling mom with over 15 years experience working with babies through 4th graders. I believe in making learning FUN for ALL kids.

Around here, 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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Melissa Droegemueller
It's time to pull out the fall books! Which ones a It's time to pull out the fall books! Which ones are your favorites? https://rollingprairiereaders.com/best-fall-books-for-readers-of-all-ages/
I whisper this mantra to myself several times per I whisper this mantra to myself several times per day. (I also tell myself that I am beautiful and deserve a handful of chocolate-covered almonds.) Our kids cannot learn when they are stressed. It's not unusual for us to take a break from math or spelling to work through feelings like frustration, anxiety, or annoyance. If your child is dealing with a rush of emotions, work through the feelings, then come back to the lesson when you're both feeling better. ❤
I <3 Ticonderoga pencils. They sharpen into perfec I <3 Ticonderoga pencils. They sharpen into perfectly and last forever! The only downside is running out of eraser LONG before the pencil is too small to sharpen anymore. That's why I love Papermate Arrowhead Erasers -- I bought this box over two years ago, and I still have more than half left. 😳 They erase smoothly and don't crack like those cheap ones you can buy in the store! I just got an email that they are on S_A_L_E right now for less than 5 cents each! {aff link} https://amzn.to/47NBVDV
I see a lot of well-meaning parents talk about tea I see a lot of well-meaning parents talk about teaching their young child skills way too soon. There are some skills, like learning to read, that will happen when your child is ready (and not a moment sooner). Some children learn to read when they are three. They will shock the heck out of their parents. 😂 These children are (probably) not geniuses, but they will get slapped with a gifted label and have to deal with academic pressure before they are ready. Some children will learn to read when they are eight. This is still normal, according to brain development. But these children, who are not dumb, have been assigned to a remedial group. They receive tutoring and struggle with self esteem because they were not ready. We don't expect our children to start crawling at the same age as all their peers. We don't teach them how to crawl. We simply give them lots of time to play on the floor! Please, please, please don't rush your children. Don't get caught up in the comparison trap here on Instagram. Read aloud to your young children every day, and give them lots of time to play. It really is enough.
how you THINK the activity is going to go >>> how how you THINK the activity is going to go >>> how the activity actually goes 😂 Hold onto your learning at home plans loosely this year, especially with your toddlers, preschoolers and, K-2nd students. These early years go by quickly -- and child-directed play is SO important.
August can be overwhelming for new-ish homeschool August can be overwhelming for new-ish homeschool families. There are SO many options (and opinions) -- it's easy to fall into the comparison trap before the school year has even started. After 11 years of homeschooling -- yes, I count the preschool years -- I feel confident that my kids are getting their very best education. Does it look like my friend's homeschool? It does not. But that's because we have different kids who have unique personalities, needs, and strengths. ❤
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