Pinterest, My Number 1 Interest!

As most of us, I am pretty addicted to Pinterest. I think the title clearly exemplifies my feelings for the site. Since I am a first year First Grade Teacher, I have been searching for new activities for my kiddos. I have fallen in love with so many great ideas and blogs. Here are some of the fun ideas that I have found. If you are interested you can follow me on Pinterest. A great blog I have found through Pinterest is Made for 1st Grade. It has so many wonderful ideas, freebies, and kits for purchase. I have included some here for your reference.

Reach for the stars- Student Goals

 ABC Order

I'll be using this idea in my discussion of adjectives.

Thankful wheel

Sight Word Graphing

Synonyms 

 

 Synonym Directions

Tallie Fun

Lego Addition and Subtraction

Beginning Sounds, Blends, Spelling Fun

Fact Family Post it Fun

 Cookie Sheet Sight Word Activity
...

For all o fmy teacher friends out there, what are some other great sites and ideas that you have found?

For Whom the Bell Told... Take 2

 

Well as some of you may remember, I wrote this blog here. It basically informed you that the husband and I really needed to do some work with Toby's rather loud howel since we had moved into a house. The blog post was entitled (as of course you could figure out from the title)... For Whom the Bell Told. Well as a follow up post, I do have to say that the bell does do its job. We ring the bell and Toby runs for the doggy door. Now there are several things that must be in place for this to work.

1. You must use real treats. One week we had sadly run out and instead were using just a few bits of dog food to supplement. This sadly lead to a very challenging week.
2. The doggy door must be closed immediately. There have been several occasions that Toby found an escape route back outside after he had finished a treat and then would not come back in until he had been given another. Sneaky furbabe.
3. Mattie is not a fan of using the bathroom in the wet grass but oh how she still expects a treat even if she refuses to go outside.
4. If we are not ready to call the pups inside, Toby will bark at the back door so that we may ring the bell. He will even put his head halfway through the doggy door to see if it is time for a treat.

Anyway with all these things in mind... I will say the bell has been a great resource for a barking dog. We just have a super sneaky little man on our hands but oh how I love him!

Michael's Birthday Lunch

Saturday afternoon, we gathered together to celebrate a very special birthday boy. Michael turned the big 29!

Ray and Michael have been friends since college, a decade of memories in the making. Of course a necessary boy picture was a must. I just love this sweet Fant family. We are so excited to celebrate them and all of their new little adventures for their family of five! For lunch we dinned on some very delicious eats.

And of course dessert with candles and a wish was a must!

Happy Birthday To You!

Sweet Jacob and Bryson

...

The little men of our group playing with toys. I cannot believe that they will soon be joined by two beautiful little ladies. What a super exciting and special addition the twins will be to the Fant family and our group. Here are a few fun pictures from the birthday lunch.

 Adam and Jacob (like father like son) 

The ladies and our hostess



Happy Birthday to Michael. We are so thankful to call you best friends. I could not have imagined the relationship that we would all build together. From our random nightly college travels, camping on concrete, mirror mazes, Aggie games, and the like. Here's to another decade and all that may come.

Thoughtfilled Thursday

Many thoughts have gone through my head as of late with several of those that have included class lists, schedules, and new station ideas... but along side school ideas, other random mostly unimportant thoughts have filled my mind that I thought I may share with you to fill this Thoughtful Thursday post.

 

1. I found this picture of my wedding hair piece accessory from my stylist's blog. Doesn't it look beautiful?



 

2. I have really started to get more gray hairs lately. I'm afraid to continue my plucking routine as I may be lacking of regular hair on top of my head. lol

3. I am so excited for the Fall. Fall equals cooler weather, fun decor, delicious eats, pumpkin carving parties, the State fair, and time with family and friends.

4. I am excited to help host a our ABF Fried Food Fair Cook Off.

5. I am absolutely NOT motivated to work out lately.

6. Each Sunday, the husband and I enjoy a skype date with my mom.

7. This Christmas, Ray and I will purchase our first REAL Christmas tree.

8. I had to purchase storage for my blog.

9. Pinterst has become my latest hobby of choice (yes even over blogging... sorry blogger)

10. I have loved hosting our Zellner Cafe's. It has been such a great way to keep up with our sweet friends.

11. I am currently unsure of my Halloween costume for this year.

12. The husband and I are excited about enjoying our first Halloween in our new home. I am not exactly sure of how impressed the pups will be.

 

What are some of your Thursday thoughts?

A Room in Progress...

I think my facebook status says it all...

Today was the first day I felt like I knew exactly what I was supposed to be doing;) This makes a teacher's heart very happy!

After much preparation, long hours, and valuable time on pinterest, I feel like I am coming into my own in my new first grade room. Here are just a few photos of a room in progress.

Here is to another exciting year in the teaching profession, a new home, new kiddos, a new grade level... but all an excellent adventure.

Because I'm a Teacher...

Being a teacher has brought me so much joy in my life. I feel that God las lead me to my passion and I could not imagine a more perfect profession. With that being said, there are some interesting facts that I have learned over the past three years. 

Because I'm a Teacher....

... I get up many days before the crack of dawn.

... I neglect my housework. 

... I get excited about garage sales.

... I love children.

... I love craft stores.

... I am addicted to pinterest.

... I love children's stories.

... I refer to little ones as friends, kiddos, and babies pretty much at all times.

... I give positive reinforcements with fuzzies and marbles.

... I mutlitask.

... I can handle boo boos, skinned knees, hurt feelings, and friends that are not saying nice words.

... I wait... A LOT.

... I walk with a bubble and tail.

... I am MIA during the months of August and June and many times in between.

... I sing EVERYTHING!

... I am an artist, musician, waitress, maid, friend, coach, and TEACHER.

... I love my summer.

... I go to sleep at 9:00.

... I live for spirt days.

... I love JEANS!

... I work with a lot of women.

... I love themed... anything.

For all my teacher friends out there... do you have anything to add?

Zellner Cafe: September 2012

Welcome to the Zellner Cafe: September 2012 edition.
Last month, the husband and I began our monthly breakfast brunch with our college crew. It was an absolute hit! This month, the husband created new homemade novelties for our friends to enjoy.

The Menu consisted of mimosas, bellinis, eggs benedict, country potatoes, and an assortment of fresh fruit. Our guests included Mike, Paige, Dustin, and the Chef and I. As the previous month before, this gathering was a time of great food, great conversation, and great fun!

Mike and Paige pouring the drinks. CHEERS!

 

  Ray and Dustin making homemade hollandaise.

 The bistro table

Delicious food options

 

Homemade Eggs Benedict

 Paige and Dustin

I do love my Chef!

 

The Zellner Cafe is up and running. I can't wait what October will hold for us. Until next month!



28 is so Great!

My 28th birthday was deliciously sweet and oh so great. As every year since college, each birthday has come faster than expected. As a teacher, it is definitely during my "busy season." Last year during my birthday I had transitioned from a TA to a teacher role. I was the newest teacher on Kinder way, set up a classroom, received 19 new and super sweet faces, all while celebrating 27 amazing years. This year with numbers being rather low, I have been floating in Kinder and will be receiving a new classroom of my own only days after my 28th birthday. But before the true craziness begins... a great deal of celebration was had today. 28 has been so great!

I have to say I love my Kinder Team and first Kinder class. The fabulous ladies on Kinder Way as well as some of my kiddos showered me with so much birthday love. From a Pei Wei lunch, delicious brownies, cupcakes from Haut Mama (my fav), cards, and fun special gifts, I felt so blssed! Tonight Ray and I met up with the Dukes and Fants for a Freebird birthday dinner. It was a fun celebration with friends and a great way to celebrate 28 great years.

Thank you to all of those who made this day so very special. Thank you for all the sweet messages and all that you do. I feel truly blessed! Like I said, 28 is so great! I can't wait to see what the next 365 days will bring us:)

Fort Worth Free Day Funday at the Zoo!

In celebration of Labor Day and my upcoming birthday, Ray and I decided to make a trip for a Fort Worth Free Day Funday! We began our morning at a local donut shop and quickly made our way out of town hooked on sweets, sugar, and lots of excitement. It wasn't until we hit downtown that we officially decided to go to the Fort Worth Zoo, but I am so glad we did. When we first moved to Dallas almost 6 years ago, a trip to the zoo was on our list. We had been told by everyone that the Fort Worth Zoo was way better... and boy were they right! We had an absolute blast enjoying all the animals and their habitats, the cute little town, snow cone refreshments, and an excursion on the Yellow Rose Express train (a super short ride). What a super special Labor Day funday with the husband.