Calling All Mystery Readers!

Sign up to be one of our Mystery Readers! Starting after Thanksgiving, will have Mystery Readers every Thursday from 2:15-2:45. If you would like to be a Mystery Reader but are not available on Thursdays at that time, please let me know and I'd be happy to find another time that works for you.

When you are our Mystery Reader, please bring 1-3 books to share with us. You will receive an email a few days prior to the date you've signed up for. Please email me with 3 clues about yourself so we can try to guess who you might be! Examples of clues would be: I went to UNH, I have blue eyes, I have one brother, I used to work at a camp, etc. The trickier the clue, the better! Click here to sign up!

Sign Ups Are Live!

Hello, Giraffe Families

All of you will be receiving emails from Sign Up Genius regarding Fall Conferences (which will take place on and between October 26th and November 2nd) and Mystery Reader (every Thursday at 12:30). 

For Conferences:
Please sign up for one 15 minute conference time that works for you. Oct. 26th and November 2nd are both early release days, and there are also times before and after school between those dates listed. If you cannot find a time that works for you, please email me and we will find a time that does.

For Mystery Reader:
This is by no means mandatory, but we would love to have you in to read to us! I ask that initially, you only sign up for 1 time per family, and after everyone has a chance to find a time that works for them, you may sign up for additional dates. When you are a mystery reader, you will get a reminder 2 days before your set date. Please email me 3 clues about yourself so students have a chance to guess who it is. When you arrive, sign in at the office and bring 1-3 books to share with us! Again, if you cannot find a time that works for you, please let me know and we will find another time for you to come in.

Parents interested in volunteering in the classroom: I am going to be sending out a google form so I can find out when/how frequently you are available and we will go from there. I am going to try to get that out in the next few days! 

New to Sign Up Genius?

• Find an available time slot and check the box for that time, which can be found in the column on the right
• Click on the Submit and Sign Up button on the bottom of the screen
• Fill in your first and last name, e-mail, and phone number. If you would like, you can create an account with Sign Up Genius, but that is optional. If you create an account, you will be able to go back and change your time, but you will still be able to sign up without creating an account!

I look forward to meeting with you and having you in the classroom!

Diwali--The Festival of Lights!

This week, our Mystery Reader shared a very special holiday with us called Diwali!

 Diwali is a festival of lights that is celebrated all around the world, marking the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The holiday always falls on a night with a new moon, as those who celebrate light up the world with diyas (oil lamps), colorful rangoli designs, fireworks, and lights all around their homes. Many of the giraffes had never heard of this holiday and we were fascinated to learn about the origin of the holiday and how it is celebrated. 

After our Mystery Reader told us the story behind Diwali and read us a story about how Diwali is celebrated, he showed us pictures of Diwali celebrations from all over the world! This is a picture of Diwali night in India. The whole country is lit up from all of the lamps, lights, and fireworks! 

  

Our Mystery Reader also brought us some beautiful diya and rangoli designs for us to color. The rangoli designs are meant to be put outside of one's door to bring them wealth and prosperity in the new year. 

Our Mystery Reader also shared some pictures from their family's Diwali celebrations! We hope they have enjoyed and continue to enjoy this Festival of Lights along with all of the other families celebrating around the world.Thank you for sharing this wonderful holiday with us!

Sign-Up for Mystery Reader

Hello, Families!

Earlier tonight, I sent out an email with a link to Sign Up Genius to sign up to be one of our Mystery Readers. We would love to have you come in to read with us!

Mystery Reader will take place every Blue Day from 12:45-1:15 pm. When it is your turn to be our mystery reader, please email Ms. Riley 3 clues about yourself to help us guess who you might be. If the dates and times listed on Sign Up Genius do not work for you, please let Ms. Riley know and she would be happy to arrange another day/time for you to come in to read with us. To sign up for a time or to check your time, click here! 

Mystery Reader

Hello, Families!

Happy 2015! I hope you have all had a wonderful vacation. I can't wait to hear all about them on Monday when we return to SMS (it will be a Green day when we return, so make sure to send in those sneakers for P.E!)

We will begin doing lots of new and exciting things when we return, including Mystery Readers! We will have a Mystery Reader join us for read-aloud every Blue day at 12:45 p.m. when we return from lunch (there are also a few Orange day time slots available for the same time!) If you would like to be one of our Mystery Readers, please feel free to sign up for a date on SignUpGenius. If the dates listed do not work for your schedule and you would still like to come in to read with us, please contact Ms. Riley to arrange a different date.

We hope to see you soon!