Ray Mathematics--Remote Leaning
Mr. Albrecht (lalbrecht@cps.edu)
and
Ms. Welber--more info below (sjwelber@cps.edu)
Welcome and Weekly Updates
Hello Ray families! We are excited to welcome you to a new and unusual school year. As we start the year with remote learning, our main focus will be connecting with students and their families, getting to know each other, and learning how to use the technology that will facilitate our learning.
We know there will be challenges, glitches, and frustrations as we all continue to learn a new way of learning. That’s okay! We will be forgiving, patient, and flexible and hope you will do the same. For immediate tech help try the CPS Online Reopening Guide.
This section of our weekly blog will have an overview of the teaching and learning we will do each week. For the first week we will start with introductions and spend time building relationships and a class community. Students will then have time to practice navigating our online platforms like Google Classroom, Khan Academy, and Aspen.
We also will be focusing this year on equity, social justice. In the words of CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson:
“We will have to have some real and difficult conversations about the worth of a person—not only in death but also in life.
We must acknowledge that far too many of us have come to accept fear and pain as part of normal life. Fear should not be the first thing we feel in the morning and the last thing we feel at night but it is for many in the African American community. If we are going to progress as a society, this moment must lead us to confront racism — in all of its forms — on a daily basis.
Racism is all around us, but for too long, our nation has locked it away in the Civil Rights chapter of our history books. We taught and talked in terms of segregation, bus seating, and Bull Connor, while not giving enough attention and voice to what’s happening today. I’m challenging our community—parents, teachers, students—to call racist behavior out when we see it. We’ve tolerated intolerance for far too long, and the time has come for us to act.
This work is not easy but that cannot be an excuse to delay progress. Black lives matter, and it’s past due for us to prove it with action. Families of all backgrounds have a role to play, and it starts by speaking honestly with our children and our own respective communities. These will be undoubtedly difficult conversations.
We are here for you today, and we will be here for you tomorrow. Together we have a responsibility to ensure each day is safer, fairer and more just than the last.”
Student Daily Schedule by Homeroom:
All classes meet using Google Meet. Links to join class are in the top left hand corner of each class’ Google Classroom. Video Help for accessing Google Meet through Google Classroom (start at 2:44).To get access to Google Classroom and Google Meet use your CPS email. Go Here if you need help getting into your CPS email.
Math Class Information
STUDENT EMAIL: Students and families must be able to access their student’s email. Need help or logging in for the first time: Go Here. The student CPS email is the access to Google Classroom for assignments and information, to Google Meet to attend class remotely, and to Aspen Student Portal for grades.
Weekly Assignments: Homework for the first week of school is a student survey. Look for it in Week One: 9-8-20 to 9-11-20 in the Classwork section of your Google Classrom.
Google Classroom Links: Currently Google Classrooms are being pushed out to students through the CPS Aspen system. Students and families can use the student’s CPS email to access their Google Classrooms.
Grades: Starting September 8, 2020 CPS will return to regular grading practices, as the district will ensure all students have the tools they need to succeed. Grading scale.
Office Hours: School days from 2:10 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. We will use this time to connect with students and families. We will have scheduled appointments as well as open times. We will use Google JamBoard and Google Chat for one-on-one meetings. We will also schedule some small group sessions and meet using Google Meet. We are also available to talk with parents via email, Google Meet, or a telephone conversation. Please contact Mr. Albrecht at lalbrecht@cps.edu to schedule a conference time.
Communication platforms with students: Google Classroom, CPS email, Google Meet (whole class), Google Chat, and Google JamBoard.
Communication platforms with parents/families: email, blog, telephone. We recommend that parents/families know the emails and passwords of their students so they can also access Google Classroom.
Tutoring: We recommend Maroon Tutor Match
Ray Mathematics FAQ: Want to know a little bit more about mathematics class at Ray. Check the Frequently Asked Questions page.
I am very excited to introduce my co-teacher and UChicago UTEP program resident Sophie Welber!
Hello Ray families,
My name is Sophie Welber, and I am so excited to be joining the Ray community as Mr. Albrecht’s student teacher for the first half of the school year!
I am currently working on my Master’s in Teaching through the University of Chicago’s Urban Teacher Education Program. I hope to be joining CPS as a middle school math teacher next year. Before beginning my Master’s, I attended UChicago for college, where I majored in math. I love math because it gives us tools to understand the world better! I am originally from Bethesda, Maryland, but I have made Chicago, and especially Hyde Park, my new home over the past five years.
I can’t wait to get to know you this year!
Best,
Sophie Welber
"FOSTERING THE LOVE OF LEARNING"
RAY VISION
Every Chicago Public Schools student in every neighborhood
will be engaged in a rigorous, well-rounded program and will
graduate prepared for success in college, career and life.
RAY MISSION
The mission of Ray School is to provide a rich academic
experience for our culturally, racially, and socio-economically
diverse student body. Teachers and staff work collaboratively with parents to instill in our students a life-
long love of learning.
