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

How to Teach Supporting Reasons in Opinion Writing

How do you teach students to support opinions with reasons? Many students can tell you what they think, but they often struggle to explain why. This post focuses on teaching…

Read More How to Teach Supporting Reasons in Opinion Writing
Writing

How to Teach Students an Opinion Writing Introduction in 2nd Grade

As students move through opinion writing, they eventually reach a point where stating an opinion and giving reasons is no longer the hard part. The next challenge is helping them…

Read More How to Teach Students an Opinion Writing Introduction in 2nd Grade
Writing

Help Students Solidify Opinion Writing Skills Through Cooperative Learning Routines & More

How do you help elementary students solidify their knowledge of how to write an opinion piece? While you go through an opinion writing unit, there are a few classroom strategies…

Read More Help Students Solidify Opinion Writing Skills Through Cooperative Learning Routines & More
Physical Science

Conservation of Mass 5th Grade Science Stations

These fifth grade Conservation of Mass Science Stations include eight different science stations where students learn about the conservation of mass. Students work with chemical and physical changes, dissolvable solids,…

Read More Conservation of Mass 5th Grade Science Stations
Writing

19 of the Best Opinion Writing Mentor Text Picture Books

These days, there is a ton of great literature that lends itself to opinion writing. Not only do mentor texts for opinion writing contain a fun and engaging story, but…

Read More 19 of the Best Opinion Writing Mentor Text Picture Books
Writing

Opinion Writing Unit for 2nd Grade

Children love sharing their opinions. They try to convince parents to buy a toy, choose a TV show, or serve dessert first. In second grade, students already know what they…

Read More Opinion Writing Unit for 2nd Grade
Earth Science

Teaching Ideas for the History of the Planet Earth – Earth Science

Do your 4th-grade students understand how fossils tell the age of the earth? Can they explain what causes earthquakes or how mountains are formed? If not, we can help. If…

Read More Teaching Ideas for the History of the Planet Earth – Earth Science
Earth Science

Forces of Erosion Sorting Activity – Earth’s Changes Over Time Science Station Sort for 4th Grade

Teach students about different types of Erosion with a SORT about Changes Over Time aligned with the Next Generation Science Stations for Fourth Grade. In this station, the sort cards…

Read More Forces of Erosion Sorting Activity – Earth’s Changes Over Time Science Station Sort for 4th Grade
End-of-the-Year

End of Year Busy Work to Keep Students Engaged (Grades 2–5)

The last few weeks of school are a juggling act. You’re grading final assessments, packing up the classroom, filling out report cards, and trying to keep 25 students productively engaged…

Read More End of Year Busy Work to Keep Students Engaged (Grades 2–5)
Life Science

Teaching Ideas for From Molecules to Organisms -Structures and Processes

Why are the bones of birds hollow? Why do fish have gills? What is the purpose of a plant’s chlorophyll? How do our brains process everything we experience through our…

Read More Teaching Ideas for From Molecules to Organisms -Structures and Processes
Science

Second Grade Science Stations: NGSS Units for All Topics

Second graders cover three main science domains under the NGSS: physical science (matter and its changes), life science (plant growth and habitats), and earth science (landforms, erosion, maps, and water)….

Read More Second Grade Science Stations: NGSS Units for All Topics
Physical Science

Teaching about Waves and Technology with Elementary Students

Sound waves, light waves, and information technology can be new and abstract concepts for many fourth grade students. We’ve gathered together some ideas for teaching the NGSS standards for Waves…

Read More Teaching about Waves and Technology with Elementary Students

End of content

End of content