Teacher Information
This is where teacher information will be stored after spending some time on the News page. It is also where to find the useful links that students may have been using after they have spent a reasonable amount of time on the News page.
Teacher Links
Links to news items, fun websites and more that we will use in the class this year...
www.msmoll.com
Visit our partner class to find out everything you could want to know about the other half of our class and the amazing Ms. Moll!
This is also your source of all information about the math program this year!
Subject Links
Science
Social Studies
Language
Math
General Information for Students and Teachers
This resource was sent to me by Sarah Washington. Thanks Sarah!
Mr. Nussbaum.com
Ms. Moll let me know about this chap and his spectacular web resource. Just check it out for yourself. Find something you need to find out about and go ahead and play. This is a truly fantastic resource for students of all ages! Thanks Ms. Moll for the heads up!
Class Information and Events
This will grow into a chronological list of the events of the year...
Introduction Information
Your introduction and welcome to fifth grade.
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Specialist Timetables
A list of all the classes the students take part in outside the usual classroom setting.
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Parent Guide To Homework
Homework help for those who want it.
I think that grade five homework, like that of grade six and beyond, can be an area of stress for many students and their families. Here is a page to help you understand my homework expectations.
Here's a provisional list of items students will need for Grade 5.
Back-to-School Ice Cream Social
6:30-8:00 PM, Cafetorium
Friday, September 23rd
What better way to wrap up our first completely full week of school?
Curriculum Night
Thursday, October 13th
Room 411
6:30pm - 7:15pm
Parents of Ms. Moll's students: I'll be available to you from 6:00pm to 6:30pm in room 411.
Ms. Moll will be available for you in room 406 from 6:00pm to 6:30pm to talk about the Math program.
DARE class
The DARE class, led by the wonderful Officer O'Keefe, will be starting on Thursday, October 27th. The textbook for the course will be coming home for parent perusal at the start of the class.
The class will be from 12:30 to 1:15pm each Thursday for seven weeks.
'Fall' Fashion Show
At 11:00am on the day of the event Mr. Simon informed me that the event needed to be cancelled due to various ways that he thought the event conflicted with school policy. He also spent ten minutes of our thirty-minute long lunch break explaining why the fourth grade 'Hat Fashion Show' was fine, but our Fashion Show was not.
From my point of view, I just wish that the event, if it was to be cancelled, could have been cancelled with adequate notice: it's been advertised for a week. Two hours before the event with all the students costumes in school and the students thrilled and looking forward to the event all week?
Is that fair?
Mr. Simon assured us that he would make sure that the policy was applied equally vigorously to all the other classes holding special events at this time.
The students accepted the decision with great equanimity!
Brought back by popular demand. Students have decided that on Friday, October 28th at 1:30pm - 2:00pm, the students of Mr. Allen and Ms. Moll will have a 'Fall' Fashion Show!
If students choose to, they can bring their costumes to school that day. At 1:20pm, the students will change into their costumes for the fashion show. At 2:15pm, the students will be back in their street clothes. Their costumes will be back in a bag.
The whole magnificent, but deeply pointless, event will be over.
Students who don't want to participate can, just like me, join the audience for the event.
No pressure!
Field Trip to Science Museum
When: Monday, November 7th
9:00am - 2:00pm
Who: Mr. Allen's and Ms. Moll's classes
Why: To culminate our study of space.
How: By big yellow bus
Permission slips coming home Tuesday, November 1st.
Cost:$10:00 per student.
I'm looking for four chaperones for this field trip.
Email me if you can come. First come- first served!
Cost for Chaperone is $3:00
We're going to see a special presentation in the Planetarium about Exoplanets!
Explorers Homework project cancelled!
I've decided to cancel the project.
I'd rather have the students thinking about and working on our play idea.
Special note:
Students can stay late to work on the show on the following afternoons next week:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday of next week.
Each day the students can stay until 4:00pm.
Pick up at the usual place. Bring an extra snack!
Kevin's Boat
Check out the new song from ONE WAY.
It's great!!!
Parent Conferences
I'm going to be offering Parent Conferences starting on Monday, December 5th through Wednesday, December 14th. If you follow the link you will be able to see final confirmed times as well as information about what to expect at the conference.
See you at the conference!
Specialist Class Special Note:
Ms. Moll and I will be making time for our Specialist Class parents to confer in January.
It's not possible to meet with all the parents from both classes at this time. Ms. Moll has provided me with information about my class and their math performances. She has also filled in the math section of the report card (I have completed the Science section for both classes).
The Briefcase and the Kidnapper
What's in it and who did it?
Follow the link above for a teaser about the event...
When:
Thursday, December 22nd
6:00pm and 7:00pm
Where:
Room 411.
Why:
Whatever
When you arrive to see the show, please wait at the parent's room on the second floor until 'the usher' comes to collect you.
Please note: students need to arrive at school at 5:30pm at the Cafetorium entrance, where they will be met by Mr. Allen.
Please email me at mike@michaeljallen.org with information about which show you're planning on coming to, along with how many people will be in your party.
It's first come first served for reservations.
I will be seating people in the order that they made reservations. Follow the links here to see confirmed reservations...
When all parents and families are in, I will be allowing graduate students to fill up the room.
The Briefcase and the Kidnapper
Well done students!!
What an amazing pair of shows last night!!
Thanks, everyone, for coming to the shows and suffering through the sultry, tropical climes!
Thanks, especially, to the parents for the gift and the UNICEF donation!
What a great community!
As for me, I'm on the plane to England today, and I'm not back until January 2nd.
The website will be snoozing until January 7th.
Have a relaxing and rewarding vacation, and I'll see you in 2012 with new and exciting projects.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to one and all!
Mr. Simon announces retirement
In a shocking and surprising moment at the end of our staff meeting today, Mr. Simon announced that this would be his last year as Principal of the Brooks.
My program and the programs of my friends and like-minded colleagues have been conducted under the shelter and care of Mr. Simon for many years, both at this school and at the Hervey School before that.
Mr. Simon's support and protection have been instrumental and vital in our work and approach surviving in the Brooks school.
He will be sorely missed by me and others who value tolerant and hands-off leadership styles.
UNICEF Thank You letter
Thanks for your generous donations, dear parents, both to me, and to UNICEF.
You're all amazing!
Graded homework project note - All about My Telly
I've just finished grading the homework.
It's now obvious to me that my initial homework presentation for this project was not as clear as I thought it was. Only three students really understood what I was asking for in Job 1, for which there were five grading categories. I was trying to get the students to push beyond the very basic paragraph structure they typically produce.
It didn't work.
When you get the homework back on Tuesday, please assume that the low grades are my responsibility not the students.
I'll revisit this goal and try again the week after next!
Cheers!
Shelter Project Supplies
Since publishing this on Sunday, Derek and Luc's families have provided the groups with enough hacksaws, duct tape and string to complete the project. Thanks guys!!
We are still trying to recoup the $200 spent on tarps and piping!
Thanks for all your help!