Author: Jessica Boschen

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.

Fall

100 Halloween Jokes for Kids, Sorted by Theme

Halloween season brings out the excitement (and a little bit of sugar-fueled energy) in students, so what better way to channel it than with some kid-friendly jokes? Whether you’re looking…

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Reading

Are Audiobooks Beneficial for Kids? Exploring the Pros and Cons

In the digital age, audiobooks have transformed how children engage with stories and learning materials. Once seen as supplementary, audiobooks are now a central tool for parents and educators, opening…

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Reading

21 Ways to Access FREE Audiobooks Online

Are you struggling to find free audiobooks for your classroom’s listening center? Here are 21 ways teachers can access free readers online for elementary literacy centers. While Audible is an…

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Goal Setting

Student Self-Reflection Sheets for Parent-Teacher Conferences

A few days before parent-teacher conferences, I send home a student self-reflection sheet with each student. By the time families sit down with me, their child has already thought through…

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Instructional Strategies

Elicit Prior Knowledge: 10 Strategies for Elementary Teachers

Elicit prior knowledge before a lesson and students arrive with mental hooks already in place — they absorb new material faster and ask better questions. Below are 10 strategies, with…

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Fall | Writing

Halloween Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

This post includes 60 Halloween writing prompts for elementary students—20 narrative, 20 opinion, and 20 informational—organized by type for easy use in any K-5 classroom. Narrative prompts ask students to…

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Fall | Reading | Writing

Halloween Words for Kids: 100 Vocabulary Words and Activities

Halloween gives you a natural hook for vocabulary work in October. Students already know many of these words from books, movies, and trick-or-treating, making them a low-lift way to teach…

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Classroom Management

18 Engaging Closing Circle Activities for Your Classroom

Closing circles are a fantastic way to end the school day on a positive note. They foster community, reflection, and a sense of closure. They help students wind down, reflect…

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Classroom Management

Closing Circle Ideas, Activities, and Routine for Elementary

My closing circle runs about eight minutes, and in those eight minutes I learn more about what my students are actually thinking than I do in the rest of the…

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Teacher Professional Practice

10 books about Finance for Teachers that will Impact Your Financial Future

Teachers frequently face the challenge of managing their finances on a modest salary. Understanding how to handle money effectively is not just beneficial. It is essential for teachers seeking financial…

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Social Studies

Labor Day Reading Comprehension: Passages and Activities for Grades 2–5

Labor Day honors the contributions of American workers. This Labor Day reading comprehension unit helps students understand the holiday’s history and significance, from the Industrial Revolution to the first Labor…

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Classroom Management

50 Classroom Job Ideas for Elementary Students (With Descriptions)

Classroom jobs are one of the most practical tools in an elementary teacher’s toolkit. When students have a real role to play in keeping the classroom running, they take ownership…

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