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5 Free Invitations to Play: Valentine’s Day

5 Free Invitations to Play: Valentine’s Day

by Melissa Droegemueller | Feb 1, 2023 | FREE Learning Activities

Now that Christmas and New Year’s Day have passed, the cold winter days can be hard for our kids. We are constantly looking for new indoor play ideas to help the days pass more quickly. We turn to our sensory bins, our favorite indoor toys, and our invitations...
Planning a New Homeschool Year

Planning a New Homeschool Year

by Melissa Droegemueller | Aug 10, 2021 | Homeschooling (Elementary School)

Planning a new homeschool year doesn’t have to be hard or complicated!   After a decade of homeschooling, this is my simple 4-step process to get ready for the first day of school. Get all of our learning at home resources — FREE in the Resource...
Maximize Your Learning Space With a Homeschool Wall Organizer

Maximize Your Learning Space With a Homeschool Wall Organizer

by Melissa Droegemueller | Apr 13, 2021 | Learning At Home

It used to be that whenever I talked to somebody about homeschooling, I made sure to mention how much time we spent outside of our home. Choir, softball, co-op day, volunteering at the local retirement community, visiting the library, meeting up with friends —...
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....
Teach Kids to be Self-Sufficient and Responsible

Teach Kids to be Self-Sufficient and Responsible

by Melissa Droegemueller | Jul 8, 2020 | Child Development

How do we teach kids to be self-sufficient and responsible? I asked Tricia Davidson, productivity coach, to share some of her top tips for families. Do you ever find yourself swamped with things to do, rushing from activity to activity, and realizing that your...
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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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  • 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

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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." ❤
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