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.

Spring

St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Fun in the Classroom during March

St. Patrick’s Day is approaching. Do you celebrate this holiday with your students in March? I definitely don’t go all out with making leprechaun traps and pretend visitors, but we…

Read More St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Fun in the Classroom during March
Math | Differentiation

Effectively Use Sentence Frames in Math to Help Students Explain their Thinking

Do your students struggle to express their thinking in math? Mine do! Developing students’ language skills by focusing on mathematical vocabulary and using sentence frames in math helps students learn the language…

Read More Effectively Use Sentence Frames in Math to Help Students Explain their Thinking
Writing

Informational Writing Week 4: Using Checklists to Revise Writing

As students begin writing more independently, they need clear guidance on what to improve and how to improve it. During Week 4 of our informational writing unit, the instructional focus…

Read More Informational Writing Week 4: Using Checklists to Revise Writing
Writing

Informational Writing Week 5: Organizing Facts Around a Concept

As students prepare for more independent informational writing, they need opportunities to organize facts around a clear idea rather than just a specific animal. During Week 5 of our informational…

Read More Informational Writing Week 5: Organizing Facts Around a Concept
Writing

Informational Writing Week 3: Finding and Ordering Related Facts

One of the biggest challenges students face in informational writing is keeping their paragraph focused. Even when students have strong facts, they often include unrelated details or struggle to decide…

Read More Informational Writing Week 3: Finding and Ordering Related Facts
Math

4 Strategies to Solve Multi-digit Addition Problems

When teaching your students how to solve multi-digit addition problems, providing them with various place-value strategies is important. This will not only help students find the best method for them,…

Read More 4 Strategies to Solve Multi-digit Addition Problems
Writing

Informational Writing Week 2: Introducing the Topic in Second Grade

Writing an introduction is one of the hardest parts of informational writing for young students. Many students jump straight into facts without telling the reader what the paragraph will be…

Read More Informational Writing Week 2: Introducing the Topic in Second Grade
Writing

Informational Writing Week 1: Setting the Routine in Second Grade

At the start of our informational writing unit, I focus on helping students understand the routine we will use throughout the unit. This first week is less about writing independently…

Read More Informational Writing Week 1: Setting the Routine in Second Grade
Instructional Strategies

Using QR Codes in the Classroom to Enhance Learning

Have you used QR Codes in the classroom yet? Do you have technology (like iPads, iPods, iPhones, or other smartphones) and internet access? QR Codes are simple to create, easy…

Read More Using QR Codes in the Classroom to Enhance Learning
Math

Why I Teach Students Multiple Strategies to Solve Math Problems

I am a big proponent of teaching students multiple strategies to solve problems and letting students choose the best strategy that works for them. I love it when students can take…

Read More Why I Teach Students Multiple Strategies to Solve Math Problems
Winter | Social Studies

Free Martin Luther King Jr. Ideas for the Classroom

FREE Martin Luther King Jr. Ideas for the elementary classroom! I love teaching about Martin Luther King Jr.: I get to introduce my students to a great person in our nation’s history, and it kicks off our biography units. I always model reading and writing a biography by writing one about Martin Luther King Jr.

Read More Free Martin Luther King Jr. Ideas for the Classroom
Winter

Classroom Activities After Holiday Break

Ahhh . . . that first week back from the two-week long Holiday Break. Students (and you) have to get up early again, get back into the school routine, and…

Read More Classroom Activities After Holiday Break

End of content

End of content