Jessica shares her passion for teaching and education on What I Have Learned. Jessica has 16 years of elementary teaching experience and currently homeschools her two middle school boys. She enjoys scaffolding learning for students, focusing on helping our most challenging learners achieve success in all academic areas.
Biography projects are a common research activity in elementary classrooms. When students study the life of a historical figure, they practice reading informational text, gathering facts, organizing ideas, and presenting…
Biography projects are a staple in many elementary classrooms, and teachers often look for biography project ideas that help students share what they learn in meaningful ways. These projects give…
The Inside-Outside Circle strategy is a cooperative learning structure in which students form two circles and discuss questions or review concepts with a partner. One circle faces inward while the other…
Cooperative learning strategies are simple routines that help students think, talk, and learn together during classroom lessons. Instead of listening quietly during instruction, students pause to discuss ideas, explain their…
The numbered heads together strategy is a cooperative learning routine that helps students discuss ideas, share their thinking, and work toward a shared answer as a team. Instead of responding…
Understanding bird beak adaptations helps students see how animals survive in their environments. When students examine different bird beak types, they begin to understand how shape, size, and structure help…
Teachers use quotes for many reasons. A short quote can start a discussion, introduce a writing prompt, or spark reflection about why learning matters. Many teachers post classroom quotes on…
Inventors have shaped the way we live, communicate, travel, and learn. From the first electric light bulbs to modern space exploration, many discoveries began with curious thinkers asking questions and…
When students hear the word biography, they often think, “I have to write a whole report?” The good news is that biographies are built from clear, predictable parts. Once students…
If you’ve ever assigned a biography report and watched 24 students immediately type “famous person facts” into Google… you already know how this story goes. Half the class lands on…
Teaching writing in upper elementary often comes down to one challenge: students know what they want to say, but they don’t know how to begin. Writing sentence starters give students…
Fictional narrative sentence starters give students a framework for writing made-up stories without staring at a blank page. Instead of getting stuck on how to begin, students can use a…