Hi. Day one of Red Ribbon Week is under our belts. Kids were super quizative about all that was presented. That is awesome. Above, you will see the badge of our guest speaker today. He is an undercover DEA Agent for the US government. He stressed the importance of building good character NOW. He shared that the people that he arrests are not bad people, but ones that are making poor choices. Lastly, he talked to us about why people get on drugs. We came up with our own list this morning with many of the same ones on them. Number one reason...Peer Pressure!!! It is coming up for them, and he told them that. It is my job now to prepare them on how to resist it and to help their friends say no as well. Today, Mr. Senitte led us in our Drug Free Pledge. If you have time, practice it together at home. They will need it memorized by our Friday school wide assembly. All the kids looked great in their Hawaiian attire. Tomorrow is Don't get tied up with drugs. Kids may wear a neck-tie to school tomorrow if they choose too. Lastly, who is the picture of the man above? Ask your child to retell you the story of Agent Camarena. If they can, write his nickname in the planner for a $20 bonus at tomorrow's check in.
We have started multiplication!!! I switched most kids over to it on xtramath.org. We took a quiz on our 0,1, and 2s today. In the 4th grade kids are not supposed to know how to figure out multiplication facts, but to know their multiplication facts. I say, they need to know them like they know their name. So, they are given 50 problems to complete in 5 minutes. If you child can't come up with a memorized answer in 10 seconds, then they are telling you they need help at home. Please do anything you can to help them memorize them at home. Soon, very soon, we will be moving into two and three digit multiplication problems. Those that don't know their basic facts will struggle until they learn them. Counting on their fingers is a thing of the past. I can't put it any clearer than saying, if this is not learned and practiced at home, math will be a VERY difficult subject for your 4th grader for the rest of the year. The facts will be taught at school, but that is the extent of that. They just have to memorize them at home and soon. Please encourage them to do one, two, three sessions of xtramath.org daily. Thanks.
Have a great evening, and don't forget those gym shoes tomorrow. :0)
