Handprint Art: BEST DAD HANDS DOWN!

Check out this easy to use printable for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, Nurses Appreciate Week, Principals, and Birthdays!

Recently, I decided to keep one frame ready to go in our house for these handprint art holiday gifts. Now, we switch out the most recent piece of artwork, so whatever is hanging is from that year. We still save the old handprints and cards and cutesie handmade things, but they are not ALL on display because that would just get crazy!

How to Use:

Simply use ink pads or paint to add your child's handprints to the templates provided! Afterwards, you can have children sign their name at the bottom. This is a memorable keepsake that can be framed or used as a card for special occasions.

What's Included?

There are 30 pages available. Plenty of black and white options for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, Nurses Appreciate Week, Principals, and Birthdays!. Names include:

- Mom

- Mommy

- Dad

- Daddy

- Grandma

- Grandpa

- Teacher

- Principal

- Nurse

Click here for the printable!

LEGO Building Brick Challenges for Kids of ALL AGES!

You know what I really love about STEM challenges? SO many of them can be posed for kids of all ages. You'll always be surprised by the responses from kids! They can truly be thoughtful, innovative, and motivated!

I have created LEGO Build Brick STEM Challenges for seriously all ages. Using them in school for our STEAM program, as well as for myself as a classroom teacher and a summer school teacher, I continue to be dazzled by the new ideas kids come up with. (I even test some of these challenges out on my 3-year old, pictured below!)

STEM challenges create a community - kids love sharing and reflecting on their creations, supporting each other through hiccups, and cheering their peers on when there are successes. It also builds on the collaboration of classmates. I oftentimes hear kids say, "How did you build that?" or "Can you help me with this?" or "Wow, I never thought to try that! Great idea!"

Now, when I use these challenges in my own classroom, I have always used plastic pencil boxes or larger plastic totes to house the actual LEGO building pieces, and typically each child gets their own. Each tote may have a varied assortment of pieces, and kids are allowed to share, but they have their own place to store their pieces. From there, I usually project the quick challenges on the Smart Board, discuss them, and set a timer for building. We have a share time, and move on. For challenges that take longer, I have written responses for kids to plan, build, reflect, and revisit their build. But really, the beauty in using STEM challenges like these in your classroom or home is that you are able to tailor it to fit your specific needs!

Click here for ideas to incorporate LEGO STEM into your home or classroom today!

Handprint Art: Just add a handprint for any occasion!

Check out this easy to use printable for Father's Day, Mother's Day, Grandparents' Day, and Birthdays! Actually, it will fit for ANY holiday!

How to Use:

Simply use ink pads or paint to add a handprint upside down on the paper. I painted the thumb and across the top green, and the fingers/palm red in one handprint. Keep the fingers together when stamping. Once it dries, add black seeds. I used Sharpie, but you could use black finger prints or black paint with a paint brush. SO EASY! AND SO CUTE!

*I did this with my 1-year old and my 4-year old. THAT's how easy it is! Definitely most appropriate for Preschool/UPK through 2nd, but it can work for any age group!

What's Included?

There are 22 pages available. Half with a border and half without.

5 Holidays to choose from.

- Happy Mother's Day

- Happy Father's Day

- Happy Birthday

- Happy Holidays

- Merry Christmas

Click here for the printable!

Handprint Art: I Love Your to the MOON and Back!

Check out this easy to use printable for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas, Holidays, Grandparents' Day, and Birthdays!

How to Use:

Simply use ink pads or paint to add a handprint right in the middle, between the two letter Ms. You'll have the easiest Mother's Day craft! (Handprints can be done in the color of your child's choice. The "You are my sunshine" quote would be really special with a yellow handprint to look like a sun, though!)

*I did this with my 1-year old and my 4-year old. THAT's how easy it is! Definitely most appropriate for Preschool/UPK through 2nd, but it can work for any age group! Put the finished product in a cute frame and your holiday gift giving is all set!

Click here for the printable!

Handprint Art: DAD - Perfect for Father's Day!

Check out this easy to use printable for Father's Day, or a dad's birthday! Just add one handprint and you are good to go!

I am SO not crafty. Actually, I really don't love doing crafts with my toddlers, but sometimes I feel like it is expected. Like, those cutesie keepsakes that grandparents really adore? I'm not always great at them, but I try anyway.

Handprints are actually pretty easy now that my kids are 1 and 4. They sit still long enough to get a ticklish handprint painted on, I hold their hand as they press it down onto the paper, I wipe with a wash cloth quickly, and off they go! It is actually perfect, so now grandparents and dad are getting these bad boys for every holiday under the sun! 

How to Use:

Simply use ink pads or paint to add a handprint right in the middle, between the two letter Ds. You'll have the easiest Father's Day craft! (Handprints can be done in the color of your child's choice.)

*I did this with my 1-year old and my 4-year old. THAT's how easy it is! Definitely most appropriate for Preschool/UPK through 2nd, but it can work for any age group!

What's Included?

There are 51 pages available.

Each poster says Happy Father's Day or Happy Birthday at the bottom of the page.

Quotes at the top of the page include:

- Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.

- A father's love is eternal and without end.

- You mean the world to me.

- Thank you for not telling my brothers that I'm your favorite.

- Thank you for not telling my brother that I'm your favorite.

- Thank you for not telling my sisters that I'm your favorite.

- Thank you for not telling my sister that I'm your favorite.

- You are my sunshine.

Click here for the printable!

Just Reintroducing Myself, for Those Who Need it!

My name is Meagan!

Currently, I am a reading interventionist and instructional coach for grades 2-4. In the past I have taught fourth grade, second grade, third grade, looped from third to fourth, and was a reading teacher a long time ago, too! Yes, I have done it all. My school has provided me with a lot of opportunities to grow professionally, and I am grateful.

Isn't that funny? Before actually becoming a teacher, I thought I would find a grade level I loved and stick with it forever. Then, I started teaching. I moved schools a few times. I moved grade levels and classrooms a lot. And I realized that I actually LIKE change. I like switching things up because it makes me more flexible and a better teacher. I know the standards and expectations for every grade level because I realize how helpful that is. Funny.

Anyway, I also have two lovely children. They're small. Toddlers. They're the reason I left the classroom and went into coaching and being an interventionist. I thought I would have a different kind of workload, and I do. There are less parent needs from me - no more late night emails and text messages or mountains of grading and report cards. There are definitely different expectations. I feel like I answer to my administration more and that can be stressful. But I love my job and I feel like I can be successful at it while still being present at home with my children.

And who are you? :)

Handprint Art: Father's Day, Mother's Day, Birthdays!

Check out this easy to use printable for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day, and Birthdays!

I had a BLAST creating a really cute birthday printable for my husband. We went with the double cupcakes, and each of my two kids added their handprint. I went back in later with a Sharpie and labeled the name of each child next to their handprint, along with the year. My oldest daughter used yellow fingerprints and added candles, since it was his birthday. The entire process only took a few minutes! Easy Peasy!

How to Use:

Simply use ink pads or paint to add the top half of a handprint to the cupcake as the cake and candles. You have the option of adding finger print flames to the tip of each finger, depending on the size of your child's hand. Print on larger paper for bigger kids!

What's Included?

There are 180 pages available. Plenty of black and white options for Father's Day, Mother's Day, and Birthday. Names include:

- Mom

- Mommy

- Dad

- Daddy

- Grandma

- Grandpa

Click here for the printable!