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5 Great Benefits of Reading to Babies from Birth

5 Great Benefits of Reading to Babies from Birth

by Melissa Droegemueller | Oct 19, 2023 | Reading Aloud

Reading to babies is one of the first and best things parents can do! If you’ve ever wondered when to start, let me tell you that is never too early (or too late!) to read aloud with your kids. I actually read to both of our girls while pregnant! As an early...
10 Ways to Keep Hands and Minds Busy During Read-Aloud

10 Ways to Keep Hands and Minds Busy During Read-Aloud

by Melissa Droegemueller | Sep 7, 2023 | Reading Aloud

Welcome to our Read-Aloud series! Read-Aloud Resources + Tip Sheet  25 “Must-Have” Read-Aloud Authors  10 Ways to Keep Hands and Minds Busy During Read-Aloud (you’re here!) Incorporating Reading into Your Daily Routine Our oldest daughter is a snuggle bug. Her two...
The Importance of Repetition in Early Literacy Development

The Importance of Repetition in Early Literacy Development

by Melissa Droegemueller | Apr 26, 2017 | Reading Aloud

Picture a toddler, sitting in a high chair during a family meal. He drops his sippy cup onto the floor and looks at his mom. She brightly exclaims, “Uh-oh!” and bends down to pick up the cup. Moments later, he deliberately lets go of the cup again....

Incorporating Reading into Your Daily Routine

by Melissa Droegemueller | Apr 14, 2017 | Reading Aloud

We all agree that reading to our children is valuable, right? (Check out the benefits of reading aloud here, if you’re not sure.) When it comes to actually sitting down and reading to kids … well, that’s when things can get a little tricky. Usually,...

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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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    The Importance of Nursery Rhymes in Literacy Development
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    13 Fun Winter Animals Books for Kids
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    6 Fun Activities for Teaching Colors to Kids

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Melissa Droegemueller
This has been one of my favorite quotes since my c This has been one of my favorite quotes since my children were little. As they edge closer and closer to adulthood, I realize how relevant it is for big kids, too. <3 My children work hard, but I also schedule lots of down time in our schedule for play and rest. I spent too much of my childhood toiling for perfection and academic recognition, and I've spent the last twenty years trying to relax. Let's do better for our kids!
I cannot tell you how many moms I talk with who ha I cannot tell you how many moms I talk with who have bored kids. Whether they express that boredom through whining, acting out, or being destructive -- it’s all the same root cause. Many children these days don’t know what to do with their free time. And sadly, winter boredom comes at the most inopportune time, when our to-do lists are long and it’s (often) too cold to send the kids outside to play. How do we handle it? One tip is to print off a list of boredom busters (like the freebie we have available in our resource library). Another is to sit down WITH your kids and brainstorm a list of YES activities that they can do with your permission whenever they want. My kids know that they can do crafts if their school work is done. They have an entire cabinet filled with paper, yarn, stickers, and pens/markers/etc. My only request is that they tidy up when they are done -- and for me, that means they need to pick up all the debris that lands on the floor while they are crafting. They can also read, write, get out any of their toys, get out the sensory bin, play with water beads, play a game, build a puzzle, put on a play, listen to music (or an audiobook), write a letter, do an art project, etc. Our kids want to be empowered. They want to have freedom and make responsible choices. They just don’t know HOW, and that’s where we come in! (You can get our winter boredom busters freebie here: https://rollingprairiereaders.com/school-holidays/)
Reluctant learners don’t need punishment. Wheth Reluctant learners don’t need punishment. Whether you are a full-time homeschooler or helping with homework, chances are good that you will occasionally have a child not interested in schoolwork. As a former teacher and homeschooling mom, here are our best tips for motivating reluctant learners. * Switch up WHERE your child is working. * Use a flexible schedule or routine. * Give your child the freedom to choose the order of his/her work. * Consider whether your child needs frequent breaks or prefers to get it done in one long chunk. For more on each of these tips, click here: https://rollingprairiereaders.com/motivating-reluctant-learners-at-home/
If you are in the U.S., please note that Tuesday i If you are in the U.S., please note that Tuesday is ELECTION DAY! Y'all. Every election year, I am shocked by low voter participation numbers. Especially in odd-year elections, like this one. There are elections for the school board, mayor, city council, sheriffs, and judges. Your town or school district might even be voting on a bond or two. And this is your chance to show up and be heard. Every time I step in the voting booth, I think about all the children who I have ever taught. I think about my first students who are all old enough to vote themselves. And I think about my children who are still a few years away from becoming voters themselves. I think about my grandmother. And her mother, who was alive when women *finally* got the right to vote for themselves. I show up at every dang election. I bring my daughters, and I remind them that we can't take voting for granted. So...make sure you are registered to vote. Find out where you need to go and the hours the polls are open. Research the candidates on your ballot, and find out everything you need to know about them. Make a plan this weekend! And one more thing... My representative in the U.S. House of Representatives was elected by SIX VOTES in 2020. SIX VOTES. So don't believe the lie that your vote doesn't matter. It does.
October has arrived, and so have the pumpkins! To October has arrived, and so have the pumpkins! Today, I am excited to share five FUN, free, EASY pumpkin-themed kids activities for your family! 🎃 https://rollingprairiereaders.com/5-free-pumpkin-themed-invitations-play/
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/
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