Rolling Prairie Readers
  • Homepage
  • Resources
    • About Us
    • Blog
    • Group
    • Podcast
    • SHOP
      • Family Activity Guides
      • The Play School Club Membership
    • Disclosure/Privacy Policy
Select Page
Letter Recognition Activities for Preschoolers

Letter Recognition Activities for Preschoolers

by Melissa Droegemueller | Apr 18, 2018 | Preschool at Home

This month only, join our FREE Preschool at Home Facebook group, where we’ll have daily conversation starters, weekly Q&A sessions, and lots of free resources. Click here to join us. It’s hard to believe I’ve been involved in education for nearly two decades...

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,...
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 | Apr 7, 2017 | 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...
Fun, Educational Screen Time Alternatives

Fun, Educational Screen Time Alternatives

by Melissa Droegemueller | Mar 28, 2017 | Learning At Home

Recently, I’ve had many friends ask about screen time alternatives for preschoolers when mom needs to feed the baby or work with a school-age child, so I wanted to share how we set up our educational playlist.   Several years ago, I read a blog post about...

I’m glad you’re here!

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.

Search the site:

Social

  • View LearnTheirWayFamilies’s profile on Facebook
  • View learntheirway’s profile on Instagram
  • View rpreaders’s profile on Pinterest
  • View UCtmLZy0fiDa0oGrP5VLIXSw’s profile on YouTube

Netgalley Reviewer

Professional Reader25 Book Reviews

Join The Play School Club

Greatest Hits

  • 100 Hands-On Activities for Tactile Learners
    100 Hands-On Activities for Tactile Learners
  • 5 Free Invitations to Play: Plastic Eggs
    5 Free Invitations to Play: Plastic Eggs
  • Toy Rotation Categories (+ Our FAVORITE Toys!)
    Toy Rotation Categories (+ Our FAVORITE Toys!)
  • 10 Simple Learning Activities: Straw Pieces
    10 Simple Learning Activities: Straw Pieces
  • 13 Desert Books for Kids
    13 Desert Books for Kids
  • 5 Free Invitations to Play: Rainbow
    5 Free Invitations to Play: Rainbow
  • The Importance of Nursery Rhymes in Literacy Development
    The Importance of Nursery Rhymes in Literacy Development

Browse our topics!

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

Are you on Instagram?

learntheirway

Former classroom teacher empowering parents and kids to learn THEIR way. Blog | Podcast | Online Community. Click here to join us:

Melissa Droegemueller
Weather Activity Guide {a la carte} We offer all Weather Activity Guide {a la carte} We offer all of our Family Activity Guides (24 themes, 40 activities each) in our Play School Club membership, but we've also had requests to offer our guides individually. All of our guides include 40 hands-on learning activities for children ages 2-6, with recommended books for your next library trip and a master list of materials (most items are already in your house!). The Weather Guide includes lesson plans for these concepts: Letter: Ww is for weather, Uu is for umbrella Math: days of the week Science: seasons, the water cycle Life skills: weather safety Grab yours here: https://melissadroegemueller.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/51
If your kids struggle with having unlimited free t If your kids struggle with having unlimited free time (they don’t know how to use their time or they keep asking you to play, too), you might find this post helpful: https://rollingprairiereaders.com/independent-play-tips/
Young children love learning about rainbows, and b Young children love learning about rainbows, and books are always a fun way to discover more about a topic. Whether you purchase a new book or two or borrow them them from the library, these rainbow books for kids are sure to capture your child’s interest! https://rollingprairiereaders.com/rainbow-books-for-kids/ #learningathome #learnathome #homeschoollife #homeschoolersofinstagram #homeschoolblog #homeschoolfamily #thisishomeschool #homeschoollookslikethis #homeschoolmoms #homeschooling #homeschoolpreschool #preschoolathome #earlylearning101 #littlelearners #totschool #toddlerfun #toddlerlearning #preschoolplay #preschoolfun #earlyyearsideas #preschoollearning #preschoollife #preKathome #playbasedpreschool #readeveryday #readingisfun #readersofinstagram #whatwearereading #kidsbooks #kidlit
When my kids were little, I was a chronic-overplan When my kids were little, I was a chronic-overplanner. 😉 It seems like all they really wanted was a couple of toys set out in a "fancy" container ($1 basket from the thrift store) in an unexpected place or at an unexpected time: * a bowl of blocks next to the couch * a new batch of playdough on a tray after their nap * a set of measuring cups for their sensory bin These days, my kids are spending their free time designing escape rooms for their parents. Time + boredom = creativity.
There are so many things I love about living in th There are so many things I love about living in the Midwest, but this time of year, I miss my hometown. I can still smell the Texas Mountain Laurels through this old photo -- even though it's been 8 years. What are the sights and smells of spring in your neck of the woods?
"How do you teach kids of different ages at the sa "How do you teach kids of different ages at the same time?" Some of you may know that I spent my teaching years in multi-age classrooms (two grades at the same time). I loved it because I could structure our lessons around the basic truth that no two children learn the same. My last "official" year in the classroom, I had a class of 12 first- and second-graders. We did a lot of learning together: science, social studies, read-alouds, music, and religion. Spelling was individualized -- every one of my students had their own list of words to work on throughout the week. When it came to reading, I had three or four grade levels of students. Two of my firsties needed additional time with phonics, while some of my other students were reading well above grade level. I taught mini-lessons each day in both reading and math and invited a small group of students that needed more instruction to join me. When it came to these two subjects, my kiddos knew that their grade level didn't matter. We celebrated everyone's accomplishments, and we met everyone's needs...right where they were. Little did I know that those years in the classroom would prepare me for a completely different kind of teaching: homeschooling. My own two children both have a "grade level" that they use for activities and co-ops, but that grade level doesn't necessarily translate to the work they are doing on a daily basis. 😉 Choosing materials is as simple as looking at their interests and academic needs and matching them up. My kiddo LOVES science and needs extra practice with handwriting, so I bought a non-fiction reading workbook with a reading passage and short-answer blanks (instead of multiple choice) for her to complete this year. (Reading, handwriting, and science ALL in one subject! Why NOT double dip?) Starting out with learning at home, it can be daunting to teach multiple children and different levels...but the more you do it, the easier it gets. Learning is not meant to be "one size fits all." ❤
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Blog
  • Family Activity Guides
  • FB Group
  • Learn Their Way Podcast
  • The Play School Club
  • Facebook
© Rolling Prairie Readers | Disclosure and Privacy Policy
effortlesswebkits ♥ by SMC
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT