Firstie Winter Festivities 2015

{First Grade Team 2015

Ali, Keri, Tanya, Alicia, & Diana}

I am so thankful for my amazing team of first grade teachers. I absolutely enjoy working with each of them and admire the love and passion for what we do. We also have a lot of fun. Enjoy a few pictures of our winter festivities this 2015 season in first grade.

 {Princess Ali, our student teacher & Queen Bee, Tanya Belmares, Teacher of the Year}

 {"If I Were a Penguin" First Grade Writing}

 {My Reindeer Pet}

 {Assistant AP & Principal}

We wish you a holly jolly holiday season from the first grade team!

Final Days of First Grade

 

Each year brings so many joys, triumphs, ups, downs, and in betweens. But each day brings a new learning experience and teachable moment. I was gifted 18 beautiful kiddos this year. You can read about it here. This past week, we completed our final two days of school before celebrating summer. I am so thankful for these special ladies and friendships. It is going to be so hard to say "until next time" to my work bestie, Hue. I'm surely thankful for these last 3 years and all the fun memories we've made. I look forward to our summer swim and baby play dates.

Next year our theme is #What's APPening. I love the technology driven theme. With having a few days and a bit of extra time on my hands, I researched a few ideas and found these super cute ones. 

Birds are all a-TWITTER about the 2015-2016 school year!

 

 Our Classroom Facebook Page

 

 What's Your Pinterest? 

I am so in love with posting the kids' art work here.

 

 {Loved my time with these ladies, Hue and Tanya}

I wish my smarty pants a fantastic summer and wonderful adventures for second grade.

This used to be the rainbow I saw each day while teaching my 18 firsties. But I'm officially saying goodbye as I'll be with my own bundle of sunshine for the summer!

Our Firstie Good-Bye 2015

Inside this room held 18 students. Our year together was a year of firsts, of many, and of bests! It held its challenges, its surprises, and its triumphs. Today I said good-bye to those kiddos. Each has grown stronger, wiser, and a bit braver. My prayer for each of these kiddos is that they continue to love school, to take risks, and to grow in independence. They will face challenges and hardships, but always remember to never give up. May they know that they can truly move mountains!!!

Firstie Fun

With our days quickly coming to a close for this school year, we have enjoyed lots of special firstie fun. Last week was Teacher Appreciation. We are so truly blessed by our Wyatt PTA and for all their supports and efforts this year. 

 

{Me, Hue, and Tanya}

 We were even given time off duty to enjoy a free lunch celebration at Rusy Taco with our team.

This year we will be saying good-bye to our amazing leader. I am so gracious for our principal as she has been a truly amazing example, leader, and friend. She will be missed.

This past week, while the wet and rain rescheduled on Field Day, we did get to hear from the OLC animal gal who brought a few of her furry friends.

 

As a fun celebration and reward for a job well done, our class earned a Z Party!

Last month, our school had the distinct privilege of meeting Mr. David Catrow, a well honored author and illustrator.

 With only a few more weeks of school left and conferences finished, I am thankful for sweet days ahead with my 18 firsties. Until then...

See You Later Mrs. Zellner

 

I don't think I could say it any better. It's almost the end. See you later Mrs. Zellner.
On Friday I said goodbye to 17 super special kids. I always find saying good-bye to be the hardest. I truly love my job and even though I may have my ups and downs, I could not be more thankful that God lead me to teaching. I feel it is exactly where I am meant to be at this time in my life.


Friday was a half day for my class. Teachers will return for Monday and Tuesday. Then school is out for summer. It was absolutely bittersweet. I truly had such an amazing year with these fun little personalities. I will miss them dearly. But I could not be more excited to be a summer stay at home mommy with Miss Auby.

On Friday, we enjoyed a special treat. Ray brought Aubrey to visit and read stories to my classroom. The students were more fascinated with her than me or the stories. They really just wanted touch her little toes. It was even said that maybe we could play a quick game of hot potato with her just so she could be passed around so everyone could see better of course. Hey they wanted to share right;) I have to say this year has been truly amazing. I've laughed, cried, and a little bit of everything else in between.

At the beginning of the year I didn't know exactly what this year would hold. Being 8-9 months pregnant and worrying if your water was going to break any moment was a bit of a challenge, but my kids were so sweet and helped in every way that they could. After a few weeks, I was full on waddle, wearing house slippers at school making excuses why I couldn't do jumping jacks with my kiddos. Thank goodness they understood. In October baby girl was born and I said good-bye for a few months. I returned in early December and have been working each day ever since. Like I said, I've laughed, cried, and a bit of everything in between. What a great year!

Good-bye classroom... until next year!

First Grade Baby Shower Blessings!

This past Friday my students and room moms surprised me with a sweet baby shower of goodies. As the banner read "Baby Shower," other students stopped by my room asking if I was having the baby right then. Talk about melt your heart moments that truly make your heart smile. Each child gave a special book to baby Aubrey with a sweet note inside. 

They even made her a special memory book that guessed her birthday, height, weight, and gave a special piece of advice. I love that the typical weight was 1-3 lbs or my favorite being 40 lbs. While I do hope our little miss is a bit smaller on the scale then that, we are all so excited about her none the less. Then we shared some delicious cupcakes and stories from the kids. I am truly blessed this year to have such a sweet class. I am truly thankful:)

Bloggable Updates: July & August Edition

The past two months have come and gone more quickly than I could have imagined. I have shared in so many wonderful moments, but sadly have been a little behind on writing about them. So here is my attempt to give a preview of the last two months until I can get around to writing about all the fun we've had.

...
1. Two of my besties, Stephanie and Kristin, threw me a baby shower to celebrate Miss Aubrey. It was amazingly adorable. The theme was... Look Whooooo's Having a Baby!

{Stephanie, Paige, me, Kristin}

{Adorable décor and delicious treats}

... 

2. My mom and aunt came to attend my Dallas shower. We enjoyed a weekend filled with celebration, crafts, and met my cousin and his girlfriend for a fun family dinner at BJ's. 



 
{Aunt Erlene, me, and Oma}

{Jennifer and I}

 

{Nursery family photo fun}

 ...

3. Ray and I attended our church's leadership meeting and themed dinner. Fun photo opt with our ABF friends.

 

{Chase, Denise, Colin, Amy, Ray, and I} 

 ...

4. August 19th marked the first day for the teacher's to return to school. My school sure knows how to ROCK! Meet our first grade team, The Beach Girls! 

{The First Grade Beach Girls}

 ...

5. My Ultimate Frisbee Champion! Gray took on blue in the ultimate final this season, and came home victorious!

{My Ultimate Champion}
...

6. Friday, August 23rd, the parents and students enjoyed a Sneek-a-Peek! It was a great time to meet my new kiddos for this year. I'm truly excited for this year and all the fun we will have in first grade!

 

 {Welcome to Mrs. Zellner's Classroom}

ONE HUNDRED!

Today our First Graders celebrated the 100th day of school. While as a Kindergarten teacher last year, we held a parade and lots of different activities. This year was a bit more tame. We did enjoy 100 day badges, 100 pizza topping and graph morning activity sheet, and "if I had $100" writing. It was sure a fun and CRAZY day with my kiddos. I enjoyed my jean Wednesdays and of course anything that is a theme:) Wishing all my teachers a fabulous 100 days and the months that lay ahead.

I Have a Dream!

The topic of dreams have filled my classroom for the past week. With the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday right around the corner, my first grade classroom dove head first into the importance of having dreams and changing the world. I was so proud of my kiddos that I wanted to share their dreams with you. From the mouth of first graders...

I have a dream...

 I will do my best. I will be healthy.

No more wars.

So kids dont get stolen.

 About keeping the earth clean.

no sickness.

That everyone will be treated fairly.

That we all clean the environment.

 That everyone would work together.
No more bad guys.
That nobody will litter and treat others how you want to be treated.

  So thankful for kiddos and for their dreams!