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.

Writing

2nd Grade How To Writing Prompts: Step-by-Step Ideas

Teaching second graders how to write clear instructions can feel a little like herding cats… with pencils. Students often think they explained everything, but somehow the reader is left wondering…

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Reading Comprehension

Compare and Contrast 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade Activities, Worksheets, and Lesson Plans

Teaching students how to compare and contrast in 2nd grade and 3rd grade is one of those skills that shows up everywhere, from reading comprehension to science discussions and even…

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Instructional Strategies

Give One, Get One: A Cooperative Learning Strategy That Builds Student Ideas

The Give One, Get One strategy is a cooperative learning activity where students share an idea with a partner and collect a new idea in return. Students begin by writing…

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Instructional Strategies

Lines of Communication: A Cooperative Learning Strategy for Student Discussions

The Lines of Communication strategy is a cooperative learning activity where students form two lines facing each other and discuss questions or review concepts with a partner. After each discussion,…

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Writing | Reading Comprehension

Compare and Contrast Sentence Starters for Elementary Students

Teaching students to compare and contrast is one of those skills that shows up everywhere. Students compare characters in stories, animals in science, historical figures in social studies, and even…

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Writing

Opinion Writing Topics for Kids

Students have opinions about almost everything. They have favorite foods, favorite animals, favorite games, and strong ideas about how school should work. Opinion writing topics for kids help students turn everyday ideas…

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Writing

How to Teach Opinion Writing in Elementary School (A Complete Guide)

Students love sharing what they think, and when teachers teach opinion writing, students have the opportunity to explain their ideas, defend their reasoning, and participate in meaningful discussions. Many teachers…

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Reading Comprehension | Writing

Compare and Contrast Topics for Elementary Students

Students naturally notice similarities and differences in the world around them. They compare which snack is better, which game is more fun, and which animal is faster. Using engaging compare…

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Instructional Strategies | Reading Comprehension | Writing

Cause and Effect Examples for Elementary Students

Students notice cause and effect all day long. When someone pushes a swing, it moves. When it rains, puddles appear. When a character in a story makes a choice, something…

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Instructional Strategies | Writing

Cause and Effect Sentence Frames for Students (Examples and Classroom Use)

Understanding cause and effect is a foundational reading and writing skill for elementary students. When students recognize how events are connected, they become stronger readers, clearer writers, and better thinkers….

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Writing

Writing Prompts for Kids: Creative, Opinion, Seasonal, and Journal Ideas

Writing prompts are one of the easiest ways to get students writing. When students sit down with a blank page, many of them freeze. A prompt gives them a starting…

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Life Science

Animal Research Projects for Elementary Students

Animal research projects are a common activity in elementary classrooms. Students learn how to read informational text, gather facts, organize their notes, and turn their research into a written report…

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