Welcome to the 2015-16Welcome to the 2015-16Parent Curriculum Night!Parent Curriculum Night!

Tim Black

5th Grade

Forest Park Elementary School

Room P-10

Lincoln and Liberty

Professional HistoryProfessional History• Graduate of South Eugene HS (1979) and the University

of Oregon (1985)…GO DUCKS!!!

• 4th Grade—Newberg, OR (1986-87).

• 3rd Grade Teacher @ Bridlemile (1987-1993)

• Migrant Ed. Summer School Program (1988-1990)

• Taught English in Almaty, Kazakhstan (1994-97) with Non-Governmental Organization.

• Taught 7th Grade @ WSMS (1997).

• English Equipping & Tutoring Services (1997-1998); included clients at Nike and Network Associates.

• Returned to Bridlemile in 1998 as 5th Grade Teacher.

• Second year at Forest Park ES—2015-16.

Why science teachers should not be given

playground duty.

Educational PhilosophyEducational Philosophy• Elementary schoolteachers are “foundation

layers.”• All kids have the capacity to learn and “rise to the

occasion.”• Education is a co-laboring adventure between

teachers, kids, and parents.• Learning takes hard, consistent effort.• Children need to be held accountable to high

standards of personal responsibility, ethical behavior, and courtesy. These are ingredients for success beyond the hallways at Forest Park!

• Working hard and having fun should go hand in hand.

Parent CommunicationParent Communication• Parent Letter (early September)• Homework Journal (students fill out/you sign

Thurs.)• Corrected Work Folders (every other Friday)• Class Website: ((

http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/TBlack1/))

• Email: tblack@pps.nettblack@pps.net• Phone: (503) 916-5400• Hours available at school:• 7:15-7:45 a.m. and 2:25-2:45 p.m. (by appt.)

Homework ExpectationsHomework Expectations• Communicate that homework is

a top priority at home.• Provide a quiet work area with

a minimum of distractions.• If possible, decide upon a

predetermined time for homework and insist that it be done during that time.

• Provide positive support and real consequences when they choose not to do it. Let them know you’re serious about it.

55thth Grade Language Grade Language ArtsArts• Novel groups

• Reading Street and Open Court Literature

• Reading orally with increasing fluency and inflection

• Refine comprehension skills—infer, predict, synthesize, analyze, evaluate, and summarize.

• Literary devices• 80 min/week at-home

reading

• Danny, Champion of the World, Stowaway, Sign of the Beaver, Amos Fortune, Sing Down the Moon, and more.

• Literature themes include astronomy, learning, family & culture, the Civil War, fantasy, and adventure.

• Reading Street and Grammar and Writing texts for reading and grammar skill development.

Writing, Speaking & Listening Writing, Speaking & Listening SkillsSkills

• Descriptive, expository, imaginative, narrative, and persuasive forms.

• Refine writing skills/processes.• Punctuation skills, paragraph construction,

sentence structure, etc. are directly taught.• Public speaking opportunities (science projects,

zoology presentations, etc.)• WW3000 (vocabulary) and spelling groups, with

tests every Friday. Students should study each evening, Mon.-Thurs.

• Cursive handwriting, keyboarding skills, and research skills (internet, dictionary, encyclopedia, atlas, index, table of contents, etc.).

5th Grade Math ProgramProcessesProcesses

• Problem Solving• Communication• Reasoning• Connections

Math Strands Math Strands (Bridges)(Bridges)

• Number Sense & Numeration (“Number”)

• Geometry• Measurement• Data Analysis and

Probability• Algebraic Thinking

55thth Grade Grade ScienceScience & Health & Health• Discovering the Universe (Sept./Oct.)

• Discovering Matter and Energy (Nov./Dec.)

• Discovering the Scientific Process (Variables)

(Jan./Feb)

• Discovering Plant and Animal Life (March/April)

• Discovering the Human Body (May)

• Bullying, drug/alcohol abuse prevention, nutrition, and safety. (October—June)

• Discovering the Universe (Sept./Oct.)

• Discovering Matter and Energy (Nov./Dec.)

• Discovering the Scientific Process (Variables)

(Jan./Feb)

• Discovering Plant and Animal Life (March/April)

• Discovering the Human Body (May)

• Bullying, drug/alcohol abuse prevention, nutrition, and safety. (October—June)

55thth Grade Social Studies Grade Social Studies• Geography, Native Americans, and

Exploration/Discovery (Sept./Oct.)• Explorers (cont.)/Colonial Life

(Nov./Dec.)• American Revolution (Jan./Feb.)• The New Nation—Constitution, Bill

of Rights, Branches of Govt. (March/April)

• The Civil War (May/June)• States/Capitals, U.S. Inventors,

TFK/current events, and general review of early U.S. History

Mr. Black’s Mr. Black’s Parting Pearls of Parting Pearls of

WisdomWisdom-or-

Stuff I’ve learned after 24+ years of being locked in a 500 sq. ft. room

with elementary school kids.

Recognize 5Recognize 5thth Grade as a Training Grade as a Training Ground for Middle School and Ground for Middle School and

Increasing Expectations Regarding Increasing Expectations Regarding Personal ResponsibilityPersonal Responsibility

• Expect your kids to follow through with homework and the hard work necessary for success (e.g., vocab. and spelling prep).

• Don’t “rescue” when instruments, assignments, etc. are forgotten. Rest in letting them reap what they sow. YOU’LL APPRECIATE THIS SO MUCH MORE IN FUTURE YEARS.

““Perhaps the most valuable Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do when it thing you have to do when it ought to be done whether you ought to be done whether you like it or not.”like it or not.”

Try to Keep Try to Keep the Bigger Picture in Mindthe Bigger Picture in Mind

• Lifelong learners and responsible adults.

• Developing and rewarding a strong work ethic.

• Empathy and respect for others.

• Sufficiently equipped for middle school and beyond.

Thanks for coming Thanks for coming to to

Parent Education Parent Education Night!Night!

• Remember to sign up for October conferences (10/21 and 10/22).

• Sign up online via VolunteerSpot for weekly classroom assistance.https://www.volunteerspot.com

• Stay tuned for announcements re: BizTown, field trips, V-Day party, etc.