Sunday, September 12, 2021

Week 3 Newsletter

 Week 3 (9-13-21)

Ray 7/8th Mathematics

and

8th grade HOMEROOM 304

Mr. Albrecht (lalbrecht@cps.edu)





Students have been learning routines and are building back up to being great in-person learners! I plan to continue to be patient, flexible, and forgiving as we grow. I have been using the Common Core State Standards of Mathematical Practice as a basis for what it means to be a learner. There is more information about mathematics class and Ray Middle School below. I will continue to send updates each week as we build and grow our community of learners. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at lalbrecht@cps.edu and I will get back to you as soon as I can.





  1. MASKS: CPS schools and facilities will continue to follow Chicago's mask mandate. Masks must be worn at all times unless eating/drinking. PLEASE REMIND students they need to have their masks covering their mouth and nose at all times.

from CPS

 

  1. FORMS! DUE ASAP! Please follow the links below to get and fill out forms needed for your student for the 2021-22 school year. You may return to me electronically via email or print and send the forms back with your student. (Please contact me if you need copies sent home.) I sent home copies of the forms booklet (#3) last week on Friday as well.


  1. Student COVID-19 Self-Certification Attestation Form

  2. Family Income Form

  3. All other forms can be found on this page


  1.  Khan Academy: This is individual weekly practice. It will be shared via Google Classroom each week. Khan for Week 3

  2. Math Circle: FREE! Math Circles of Chicago is a free program to meet peers and teachers who are excited about math thinking. Deepen your love for math!

  3. Homeroom 304 Schedule: 

  1. All Middle School Schedule here


  1. Ray Website: Ray School, Mr. Albrect’s page, Mr. Albrecht’s blog



  1. CPS FALL SY22 Reopening information from CPS for students and families HERE. We will maintain a distancing of 3 feet as much as possible. We will also be frequently sanitizing our hands!


 


  1. Reminders:

    • Students have been issued a Chromebook to use at school. Students should be checking email and Google Classrooms daily.

    • Bring a bottle of water each day to school every day!

    • It is a good idea to have an extra mask or 2.


  1. Order your loved ones a Ray t-shirt, hoodie and/or car magnet to show your Ray School pride! All sizes - both youth and adult - are now available. Email or text a photo of your order form to friendsofraypto@gmail.com. Proceeds from every purchase support Friends of Ray School PTO.  Thank you!




WEEKLY MATH UPDATES


7th grade /8th grade 


We will be working on routines while exploring how math is a way of thinking about and understanding the world. I am using lessons from the folx at Stanford University’s YouCubed group. We looked at patterns in Pascal’s Triangle. This week we are using coordinate grids compare relationships.  I will continue to also introduce the language of the Math Practice Standards. Students will be learning the importance of communication and critique in mathematics thinking.



Math Class Information

  1. 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.

  2. Weekly Individual Homework Assignments: Week 3 Khan Academy

  3. Google Classroom Links: Students and families can use the student’s CPS email to access their Google Classrooms.

  4. Curriculum and unit overviews: Open-Up-- This is the launch page. Choose your role as parent and 7th or 8th grade to see an overview of every unit and lesson for the whole year.

  5. Grades: Grading scale.

  6. Office Hours: Please contact Mr. Albrecht at lalbrecht@cps.edu to schedule a conference time or to get help with assignments.

  7. Communication platforms with students: Google Classroom, CPS email.

  8. Communication platforms with parents/families: email, website, blog, telephone. We recommend that parents/families know the emails and passwords of their students so they can also access Google Classroom.

  9. Tutoring: We recommend Maroon Tutor Match

  10. Ray Mathematics FAQ: Want to know a little bit more about mathematics class at Ray. Check the Frequently Asked Questions page

Monday, September 6, 2021

Week 2 Newsletter

 Week 2 (9-6-21)

Ray 7/8th Mathematics

and

8th grade HOMEROOM 304

Mr. Albrecht (lalbrecht@cps.edu)




I had a great time getting to know students in-person last week! I plan to continue to be patient, flexible, and forgiving as we build and learn our routines and get back into what it means to be at school to learn.There is more information about mathematics class and Ray Middle School below. I will continue to send updates each week as we build and grow our community of learners. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at lalbrecht@cps.edu and I will get back to you as soon as I can.





  1. MASKS: CPS schools and facilities will continue to follow Chicago's mask mandate. Masks must be worn at all times unless eating/drinking. PLEASE REMIND students they need to have their masks covering their mouth and nose at all times.

from CPS

 

  1. FORMS! DUE ASAP! Please follow the links below to get and fill out forms needed for your student for the 2021-22 school year. You may return to me electronically via email or print and send the forms back with your student. (Please contact me if you need copies sent home.) I sent home copies of the forms booklet (#3) last week on Friday as well.


  1. Student COVID-19 Self-Certification Attestation Form

  2. Family Income Form

  3. All other forms can be found on this page


  1.  Town Hall: 7th/8th grade will have a town hall meeting on Wednesday morning at 9:15. We will welcome Principal Neely who is on medical leave and we go over school-wide expectations and routines. We also get to celebrate our first week of school successes and talk about how we will grow and learn going forward! 

  2. Homeroom 304 Schedule: 

  1. All Middle School Schedule here

 

  1. FIRST WEEK THANKS! I received a bounty of supplies the first week from students and families! Thanks so much!


  1. Ray Website: Ray School, Mr. Albrect’s page, Mr. Albrecht’s blog



  1. CPS FALL SY22 Reopening information from CPS for students and families HERE. We will maintain a distancing of 3 feet as much as possible. We will also be frequently sanitizing our hands!


  1. Ray Middle School Orientation

 


  1. Some other information:

    • Students have been issued a Chromebook to use at school. Students should be checking email and Google Classrooms daily.

    • Bring a bottle of water each day to school every day!

    • It is a good idea to have an extra mask or 2.


  1. Order your loved ones a Ray t-shirt, hoodie and/or car magnet to show your Ray School pride! All sizes - both youth and adult - are now available. Email or text a photo of your order form to friendsofraypto@gmail.com. Proceeds from every purchase support Friends of Ray School PTO.  Thank you!




WEEKLY MATH UPDATES


7th grade /8th grade 


We will be working on routines while exploring how math is a way of thinking about and understanding the world. I am using lessons from the folx at Stanford University’s YouCubed group. We look at patterns in PAscal’s Triangle and how a coordinate grid can be used to compare any relationship.  I will formally introduce the language of the Math Practice Standards and expand the idea that everyone can do math!



All students:

Khan Academy will begin this week as one platform for student homework. We will sign into our classrooms on Thursday and get started with some review problems from previous grades.




Math Class Information

  1. 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.

  2. Weekly Individual Homework Assignments: We will use Khan Academy and/or IXL for homework this year. We will start this week with mathematics homework. (see above)

  3. Google Classroom Links: Students and families can use the student’s CPS email to access their Google Classrooms.

  4. Curriculum and unit overviews: Open-Up-- This is the launch page. Choose your role as parent and 7th or 8th grade to see an overview of every unit and lesson for the whole year.

  5. Grades: Grading scale.

  6. Office Hours: Please contact Mr. Albrecht at lalbrecht@cps.edu to schedule a conference time or to get help with assignments.

  7. Communication platforms with students: Google Classroom, CPS email.

  8. Communication platforms with parents/families: email, website, blog, telephone. We recommend that parents/families know the emails and passwords of their students so they can also access Google Classroom.

  9. Tutoring: We recommend Maroon Tutor Match

  10. Ray Mathematics FAQ: Want to know a little bit more about mathematics class at Ray. Check the Frequently Asked Questions page

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year

 Hello all,

I am excited to see everyone on Monday. August 30 at 8:45 a.m!

Some things to be thinking about this week.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

VIRTUAL ORIENTATION Wednesday, August 25 from 2:30 to 3:30

BACK 2 SCHOOL BASH Thursday, August 26 from 2:00 to 5:00




Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Amanda's Garden work day July 24 and Ray Class of 2022 gardening for the food pantry

 Hi all!

Amanda's Garden at Ray will have a work day on July 24. Follow the link for for more details.

In other Ray garden news--the Class of 2022 gardeners who worked with me this spring were able to donate the produce of the labor to the local food pantry over the last two weekends.

Here is the write up from the Friends of Ray for our June 19 delivery!

Thanks to Ray School students and teachers who planted and tended garden beds this spring, this Saturday we donated turnips, mustard greens, swiss chard and two kinds of kale to the Saturday morning food pantry at Hyde Park Union Church. We expect the gardens will continue to produce enough fresh food for weekly donations to the food pantry throughout the summer.


If you're interested in helping harvest on Saturday mornings, please contact raypto@gmail.com

Monday, June 21, 2021

Happy Summer Break!

 Hello all!


I hope everyone has a fun and safe summer. If you are looking to prepare for mathematics class next school year I recommend the following two courses from Khan Academy.


Get Ready for 8th grade Math


Get Ready for 7th grade Math


Best,

Mr. Albrecht

he/him/his