Program Night Parent Handbook 2012.pdf - Episcopal Academy

4 th Grade
Parent Handbook
Silvia Davis, Room 228
Email: sdavis@episcopalacademy.org Phone: 1573
Brendan FitzPatrick, Room 229
Email: fitzpatr@episcopalacademy.org Phone: 1567
Nancy T. Haas, Room 231
Email: Haas@episcopalacademy.org Phone: 1568
Jeremy Hark, Room 230
Email: Hark@episcopalacademy.org Phone: 1575
(Note: All phone numbers begin with 484 – 424 – xxxx)

Fourth Grade Website Log On Information
Parents can find all Fourth Grade information on the Fourth Grade
homepage. The link was sent out in the beginning of the year, but you can
also find it here:
https://sites.google.com/a/episcopalacademy.org/fourth-grade2/
Places to Know
Student Crossing
Anything we ask students to use or find will be linked through
this page.
Information for Parents
Anything we distribute for parents can be found digitally through
this page.
Teachers Have Class
Each homeroom has a page through this link, where you can find
homeroom-specific information such as schedules or class lists.
Put This On Your Calendar
Any “4 th Grade Only” dates will be found here.
Useful Links
Links that support our curriculum will be added periodically to
this page.
Specials
If the specialist teacher has a web page, links or distributed any
information you/your child needs, you can find them through this
page.
You can also get to our web page by scanning the QR code

4 th Grade Curriculum
] Math
Our goal is for children to be
mathematical thinkers and
problem solvers as well as facile
with numbers.
Don’t “help” your child with
their math work. Instead, ask
them to think about what was
covered in class, and reference
their student book. If trouble
persists, students can come to
their teacher for clarification.
Students can always access
their books online at
ThinkCentral. (directions
attached)
] Social Studies
The ancient civilizations of Egypt
and Greece are explored within
fourth grade social studies.
With a balance of instruction
using informational texts and
project-based learning,
students use both traditional
(reading, writing and research
skills) and non-traditional
(collaboration, critical thinking
and curiosity) skills to complete
their work.
Both units culminate with
capstone projects allowing
students to synthesize their
learning.
] Language Arts
In Fourth Grade, students are
presented with a myriad of
experiences in the Language
Arts curriculum.
Experiences vary from
reading novels, shared
inquiry, literature-based skill
building and independent
projects in varied genre.
Vocabulary, spelling and
grammar are explored
through our work, as well as
within formal instruction.
Throughout the year,
students write often including
the personal narrative, as
well as persuasive and
informational pieces.
You can find website links on
the Fourth Grade web site to
support and enhance the
different aspects of our
curriculum.

ThinkCentral Log On Information
Parents and students are able to access the math textbook and math
workbook online. In this way, students and parents can reference the
math text more easily at home. Also, this will give students an alternative
when they may have forgotten their workbook in school. IMPORTANT:
Please note this may not replace the use of the workbook and should only
be used for a forgotten workbook. It is extremely important to stress this
to your children as responsibility and organization are major focuses this
year. It is also imperative that your children not move ahead of the class’
pacing as the class instruction and group discovery is vital to their
understanding.
To access the online materials, go to the ThinkCentral website. You can
easily access this through the Fourth Grade Home Page. [Go to the
Fourth Grade homepage> Click Useful Links > Click the Math in Focus
book] It might also be a good idea to bookmark it or create a shortcut on
your own computer’s desktop.
Login to the ThinkCentral page as directed below.
Choose PA for state.
Choose Private School for the district.
Choose Episcopal Academy –Newtown Square, 19073
Click the box that says Remember my organization
(so you don't have to enter all of that again next time)
Type in your username (BLUE ARROW)
This is the same user name they have to log on to the EA network.
Type in your password (RED ARROW)
This is their “lunch number.”

Click on MY LIBRARY (red arrow)
The next screen you will see is what is available to your student.
The RED ARROW points to the Text Book
The BLUE ARROW points to the workbook
The next window that will pop up when you click the Student Edition is a
digital copy of the entire textbook or workbook. **You may print from the
workbook, but there is no option to do so from the textbook.

4 th Grade Parent Homework Hints
Wendy Mogul, noted author and child psychologist,
writes in her book, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, that
you should not be too involved in homework because it
gives your child the message that s/he can’t do it on
her/his own.
Be a consultant/enabler/cheerleader!
1. Provide a consistent time and place for your child
to work
2. Make sure the homework area is quiet, well lit, and
stocked with pencils, a dictionary, and three-holed
paper
3. Ask your child to go through their back pack and
notebook for loose papers and ask where items
belong
4. Communicate with your child’s teacher about the
following:
Is the homework taking too long
Is your child doing the homework too quickly
Is there a situation that the teacher should
know about effecting homework- such as
sleeping or eating issues
5. Empower your child to self-advocate and
communicate with their teacher about concepts
they find challenging.
6. Make sure your child has enough rest! 9 to 10
hours a night is recommended by doctors for 9 and
10 year olds. A helpful place for tips on helping
your child do well in school is at:
http://www.classbrain.com/artschool/publish/article_60.shtml
7. Give your child the gift of down time to help them
find ways to discover themselves- through books
and imaginative play.