snips and snails teacher header; teaching made simpler, learning made stronger

Finding time to meet all the demands of teaching can seem impossible.

In these articles, I share ideas and activities that allow you to deliver quality instruction without spending hours of your week planning.

✅ Easy – Grab-and-go activities

✅ Engaging – Students love them

✅ Effective – Real learning results

Check out the latest Blog Posts for ideas and tools that you can use in your own classroom tomorrow!

image of student completing a graphic organizer for explanatory writing

Latest From the Blog

image of two wooden pieces, one with a frown and one with a smile. below them are the words character change and development

Character Change and Development

Moving students beyond retelling events into true analysis is a powerful comprehension strategy, and identifying character change is a key reading skill for upper elementary students.

Read More »
image of girl with traits around her head for character study

How to Study Characters

Understanding the different aspects of a character’s personality, motivation, and transformation can help students better understand all the other elements of a story, as well as the author’s overall message.

Read More »
image of active and passive voice worksheet including a hand holding a pencil

Active and Passive Voice Activities

Understanding active and passive voice can help students write clearer and more effective sentences. It can also help them better comprehend the meaning of what they are reading.

By analyzing the differences between active and passive voice, students can develop critical thinking skills and learn to think more deeply about the language they use.

Read More »
image of prefix and suffix activity freebie. a gameboard and die are on the table.

Prefix and Suffix Activities

Why worry about prefix and suffix activities when there are so many other things to teach? Studying common prefixes and suffixes can have a huge impact on your students’ learning! They become better readers, spellers, and writers. Here are a few simple ideas and activities to supercharge your lessons, keep your students engaged, and make the practice meaningful.

Read More »

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter!