Rolling Prairie Readers
  • Homepage
  • Resources
    • About Us
    • Blog
    • Group
    • Podcast
    • SHOP
      • Family Activity Guides
      • The Play School Club Membership
    • Disclosure/Privacy Policy
Select Page
Planning a New Homeschool Year

Planning a New Homeschool Year

by Melissa Droegemueller | Aug 1, 2023 | 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...
Create a Flexible Summer Family Schedule

Create a Flexible Summer Family Schedule

by Melissa Droegemueller | Jun 1, 2023 | Parenting Encouragement

Summer is a time of transition, especially if you have older kids who will be home from school for a few months! (I remember those years with younger children, when our daily routine didn’t change all that much, but all of our favorite places to spend...
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....

Create a Flexible Family Schedule: Fall

by Melissa Droegemueller | Aug 22, 2017 | Parenting Encouragement

Scroll to the bottom to get your FREE gift! Just last week, I posted on Instagram that we had hit our summer “sweet spot.” My two girls have been getting along, playing creatively…for long periods of time…with very little direction from me. Now it’s time to switch...

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

  • Toy Rotation Categories (+ Our FAVORITE Toys!)
    Toy Rotation Categories (+ Our FAVORITE Toys!)
  • 100 Hands-On Activities for Tactile Learners
    100 Hands-On Activities for Tactile Learners
  • Classical Conversations Review Game
    Classical Conversations Review Game
  • 10 Simple Learning Activities: Straw Pieces
    10 Simple Learning Activities: Straw Pieces
  • Two Days at Yellowstone with Kids
    Two Days at Yellowstone with Kids
  • Epic National Parks Family Road Trip
    Epic National Parks Family Road Trip
  • 13 Fun Winter Animals Books for Kids
    13 Fun Winter Animals Books for Kids

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
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. ❤
Did you know our most Googled blog post is about d Did you know our most Googled blog post is about desert books for kids? Yep, it's true! https://rollingprairiereaders.com/13-desert-books-for-kids/
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