Sunday, September 13, 2020

Week 2 Remote Learning--Ray Mathematics (9-14-20)

Week 2 (9-14-20)

Ray Mathematics--Remote Leaning

Mr. Albrecht (lalbrecht@cps.edu)

 and 

Ms. Welber (sjwelber@cps.edu


Weekly Updates



WEEKLY MATH UPDATES

Our main focus is 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 still be challenges, glitches, and frustrations this week. 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 support page. Also there are lots of background documents and forms they should review and use for both planning and compliance purposes. 


During the second week of school students students will start using Khan Academy for individual/asynchronous learning. We will spend Monday getting students signed in and acquainted with the site. We will also start the week with our week with Math Show and Tell-- ask your students about it! 


In the second half of the week we will start looking at the mathematics content standards. This year we will be using Open-Up by the folks at Illustrative Mathematics. 7th grade will begin exploring scale factor and scale drawings. 8th grade begins a discussion of transformations (the math movement). 


For those of you interested in Algebra, we plan to send invites out mid-week to students who qualify based on their passed grades, test scores, and work ethic. Mr. Albrecht will hold the class Monday-Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. starting tentatively Monday 9-21-20. Please email Mr. Albrecht if you have questions.


As you know, Ms. Welber is co-teaching our class for the first half of this year. As part of Ms. Welber’s student teaching, she will need to record some lessons, either to share with her professors, or to submit to the state board for certification. In order to do that, we need permission from the parents/guardians of every student in the class. Please fill out this form: English Spanish to tell us if you give your permission or not. There is more information on the form as well about the recordings. This is the same form that Mrs. Johnson-Finner will send out for Mr. Watkins in her class, so you only need to fill it out once. If you already filled it out for Mrs. Johnson-Finner, you are all set!


One more thing-- we will also welcome visitors into our Google Meet classes this week. Principal Neely will hold a Town Hall with the middle school students this week. We will also have the students meet out Dean of Students Ms. Perry and our counselor Ms. Nieto.


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. 


Homeroom teachers are listed by the homeroom numbers.


*45 minute periods include 5 minutes of passing time

**Specials is 30 minutes synchronous. PE is will be the first 2 weeks and classes meet on these days: Monday-302, Tuesday-304, Wednesday- 306, Thursday- 307, Friday-309



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/Asynchronous Assignments: 5 assignments in Khan Academy. Due by 9-18-20 at 11:59 p.m. We will get students connected and set up on 9-14-20. This week we will get our math brains working with a fractions review.

  3. 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.

  4. Supplies List

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Communication platforms with students: Google Classroom, CPS email, Google Meet (whole class), Google Chat, and Google JamBoard.

  9. 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.

  10. Tutoring: We recommend Maroon Tutor Match

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










"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.



Monday, September 7, 2020

Weekly announcements from Ray!

 Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year Ray Families!

  • Parents and Guardians- Please make certain our Ray Warriors:
    • Are in bed at the proper time to get a restful night's sleep
    • Devices are charged and ready to go at 8:30 am. Class will begin at 8:45 am
    • Have a healthy breakfast
    • Are equipped with a private learning space without distractions and
    • Are ready to make it a great virtual day of Ray Warrior learning!

Parent and Guardians - Please make certain you:
  1. Visit https://www.cps.edu/school-reopening-2020/
There you will find back to school packets and resources you need to be ready for school year in one centralized location:
CPS Student Health Forms - English & Spanish versions are provided.  

  1. Ray Families, students are only allowed to have one loaner device from Chicago Public School. All devices have tracking systems. If you have more than one CPS issued device, please return it  ASAP.  
    If your student still needs a device, please email Ms. Abella  jaabella@cps.edu   and Ms. Perry PBPerry@cps.edu .
  2. Please use join this google meeting  if you are experiencing challenges locating your student’s virtual classroom Tuesday 9/8/20 : 
Join with Google Meet
meet.google.com/von-nuyq-ezk

Join by phone
‪(US) +1 984-500-4136‬ PIN: ‪225 097 651‬#

Let’s continue to assume positive intent when we interact with each other; keep the lines of communication open; and always remember our Ray Warriors are at the forefront of it all! One dream of making Ray the best school in all of Chicago Public School, with one Ray Team! 

Principal Neely :)

Monday, August 31, 2020

Ray Mathematics--Remote Leaning

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

  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 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Supplies List

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. Communication platforms with students: Google Classroom, CPS email, Google Meet (whole class), Google Chat, and Google JamBoard.

  8. 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.

  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.



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.