math I am

Time to Schedule Your Conference!

Student-led conferences are finally here. Please pick a time that is convenient for both student and parent/guardian.  Students can get out of class during the day if that is the easiest time to schedule.  Conferences are Thursday, November 20th (7 a.m. - 6 p.m.), Friday, November 21st (7 a.m. - 3 p.m.), and Monday, November 24th (7 a.m. - 7 p.m.).  Each session will last about 20 minutes.  Click on the link below to schedule your conference now.

Conference Scheduler

Field Trip Pictures

A great time was had by all on the first Gateway Program field trip.  All the kids did a great job and learned a lot about measuring properly, reading recipes, and making sure all the ingredients get added.  Even if the cookies didn’t turn out quite as expected, most got eaten and even enjoyed.

Thank you to the volunteers and school district employees who came and helped out.  We never could have done it without your help and support.  Please see the individual grade level pages for more pictures.

Gateway Cookie Cook-Off

Have you ever wondered what 40+ kids in a kitchen all at once would be like?  Well, it’s field trip time and if you are curious and brave enough, we would like to invite you to find out.  On Friday, October 31, (better known as Halloween), everyone in the Gateway program will be taking a field trip to the old elementary school.  We have been practicing fractions for most of the quarter and it is time to test the results.  We will be scaling a cookie recipe from 75 portions down to 25 portions and then going to the kitchen at Homelink to try our hand at making them.  The kids will be in groups of 4 and will be measuring, mixing and baking cookies from their own recipe.  Sound like fun?  Please join us.

6th & 7th graders will be at Homelink from about 8:45 to 11:10.  They will miss 1st, 2nd and 3rd period, with most of the students having either Mrs. Floyd and me for two of those classes.

8th graders will be at Homelink from about 11:20 to 2:05.  They will miss 4th, 5th, and 6th period.  All of the 8th graders have the Gateway program 4th and 6th period so they will only miss one class.

Breakfast & Lunch will be served at the middle school.

If you would like to join us, please call me at 464-5856, Mrs. Floyd at 464-5857 or email either of us at smithl@dpsd.org, floyds@dpsd.org.

Student Led Conferences in Our New Home

We are finally in our new homes and are very happy to be there.  Mrs. Floyd and I now occupy a portable just north of the sixth grade wing.  Please feel free to stop by and visit.

Around November 20th we will be inviting you in for a conference that your son or daughter will be leading.  They are busy preparing Power Point presentations and will be telling you how they are doing so far.  They will also be sharing some of their goals for this year and beyond.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Stepping Stone Begins

Stepping Stone, the after school program, kicked off yesterday.  I would really like to encourage all of you to join.  Even if you can only go once or twice a week you should still sign up.  There will activities(cooking, drill team, gaming club for starters) besides homework and the Whitworth college students will be there to help with reading, math and science.  They will even teach you how to do things before you hear about them in class so you can be the expert when your teacher asks questions.  You can always play math games on this website as well.  Practicing those times tables is always a good idea!  There is even a bus to take you home after it is over.  See me if you would like an enrollment form or pick one up in the office.  Remember you can’t go when a fun activity is planned if you are not signed up.

Test Tomorrow!

There will be a test over fraction concepts tomorrow in all classes.  I have added a few new games to the practice list. I also changed the format on the right side under the general tab. Now it shows up by grade level.  If you want to challenge yourself you can go up a grade level or if you just want to review skills (always a good idea) drop down a grade.  7th and 8th graders, try “Adding and Subtracting Fractions Challenge Board“.  If you can do that, you will have no trouble tomorrow or on future fraction assignments.

Remember your Homework and your Costume!

Don’t forget that tomorrow is the due date for homework #1.  You were supposed to show this site to your parents and play either Basic Fractions or Pirate Multiplication if you wanted extra credit.  You must bring back the signed homework slip to receive credit.

Also, so that I am not the only goofy looking one out on the field tomorrow, wear your best pirate outfit to school.  We can all look crazy together.

Welcome to math I am!

Hello parents and welcome to the Gateway Program.  My name is Lisa Smith and I am teaching the math classes. My program partner is Sharon Floyd and she is teaching reading.  Hopefully, by now, you have read the letter your child brought home explaining the program and I have also met you and told you about it at open house last week.  If you have heard nothing about Gateway, a second letter is attached to the website signature paper and should help to explain it.

Please take a look around this site.  I plan to update it at least weekly to keep you informed about what we are doing in the classroom and any upcoming tests, projects, etc. 

It looks like we will be in our temporary classroom room for another couple of weeks while the portable is completed.  The phone number in the temporary room is 464-5832.  I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you.  My e-mail address is smithl@dpsd.org.  Please feel free to contact me at any time.