Week of 6/15 - 6/18
This is our last week of Remote Learning. Awesome job to our Remote Learning Rock Stars!! It wasn't easy but we got through it!
This week we will have class Monday - Wednesday and on Thursday we will host a 7th grade virtual picnic. More details to come.
No homework this week! All late work for ELA class was due Thursday, June 11th by 8:00 pm and will only be graded if it was turned in using the Google Late Work Form. All students should have turned in their podcasts last week. This week will spend time sharing our podcasts, reflecting about the year, listening to Six Minutes and playing games.
Summer Work: Finish Six Minutes and continue reading novels. Happy Summer!
Below you will find a letter from CPS regarding summer school and CDC reopening guidelines.
This is our last week of Remote Learning. Awesome job to our Remote Learning Rock Stars!! It wasn't easy but we got through it!
This week we will have class Monday - Wednesday and on Thursday we will host a 7th grade virtual picnic. More details to come.
No homework this week! All late work for ELA class was due Thursday, June 11th by 8:00 pm and will only be graded if it was turned in using the Google Late Work Form. All students should have turned in their podcasts last week. This week will spend time sharing our podcasts, reflecting about the year, listening to Six Minutes and playing games.
Summer Work: Finish Six Minutes and continue reading novels. Happy Summer!
Below you will find a letter from CPS regarding summer school and CDC reopening guidelines.
Week of 6/8 to 6/12
This is graduation week!! Congratulations Ray Graduates Class of 2020! Graduation will be held Thursday, June 12, 2020. All virtual links will be shared for parents and family members to join.
All late work for 8th grade is due Monday, June 8 2020 by 2:00 pm. Be sure to use the late work google form to submit assignments. Below you will find the CPS grading policy for 4th quarter.
All late work for 7th grade is due is by Thursday, June 11 2020 by 8:00 pm. Be sure to use the late work google form to submit assignments.
Item retrieval for homeroom 307
Administration has scheduled a time to pick up any items left at school or in your lockers. Our homeroom has been scheduled for Friday June 12, 2020 from 10:15 to 11:15. All items can be retrieved outside of the auditorium doors. 8th grade will be able to pick-up their diplomas during this time as well.
Administration has scheduled a time to pick up any items left at school or in your lockers. Our homeroom has been scheduled for Friday June 12, 2020 from 10:15 to 11:15. All items can be retrieved outside of the auditorium doors. 8th grade will be able to pick-up their diplomas during this time as well.
6/1 to 6/5
This week we will continue with our new unit on podcasting. We will begin with listening to Six Minutes: Before She Was a Girl, She Was a Weapon. (Here is the link) gzmshows.com/shows/listing/six-minutes/ We will use a new note taking that includes sketching/doodling, facts/stats, key words/main ideas and questions. This unit will help the students develop listening skills, improve note-taking skills and lead us to creating and producing our own podcast.
Reminders:
Read Theory - Complete 4 passages by Friday at midnight. (7th grade only)
8th grade parents - please continue to send your submissions for graduation. See the letter that was emailed.
All late work must be submitted by using this link forms.gle/F31spjB9gz3VwgFx8
This week we will continue with our new unit on podcasting. We will begin with listening to Six Minutes: Before She Was a Girl, She Was a Weapon. (Here is the link) gzmshows.com/shows/listing/six-minutes/ We will use a new note taking that includes sketching/doodling, facts/stats, key words/main ideas and questions. This unit will help the students develop listening skills, improve note-taking skills and lead us to creating and producing our own podcast.
Reminders:
Read Theory - Complete 4 passages by Friday at midnight. (7th grade only)
8th grade parents - please continue to send your submissions for graduation. See the letter that was emailed.
All late work must be submitted by using this link forms.gle/F31spjB9gz3VwgFx8
Where do we go from here?
5/26/2020 to 5/29/2020
This week we will begin our new unit on podcasting, which I am super excited about. We will begin with listening to Six Minutes: Before She Was a Girl, She Was a Weapon. (Here is the link) gzmshows.com/shows/listing/six-minutes/ We will use a new note taking that includes sketching/doodling, facts/stats, key words/main ideas and questions. This unit will help the students develop listening skills, improve note-taking skills and lead us to creating and producing our own podcast.
Reminders:
Read Theory - Complete 4 passages by Friday at midnight.
8th grade parents - please continue to send your submissions for graduation. See the letter that was emailed. Shhhh!!!
All late work must be submitted by using this link forms.gle/F31spjB9gz3VwgFx8
Assignments for the week:
Read Theory - Due Friday
Reading Log - Due Friday
Notes from Six Minutes - Due Friday
Google Form - Six Minutes Due Friday
This week we will begin our new unit on podcasting, which I am super excited about. We will begin with listening to Six Minutes: Before She Was a Girl, She Was a Weapon. (Here is the link) gzmshows.com/shows/listing/six-minutes/ We will use a new note taking that includes sketching/doodling, facts/stats, key words/main ideas and questions. This unit will help the students develop listening skills, improve note-taking skills and lead us to creating and producing our own podcast.
Reminders:
Read Theory - Complete 4 passages by Friday at midnight.
8th grade parents - please continue to send your submissions for graduation. See the letter that was emailed. Shhhh!!!
All late work must be submitted by using this link forms.gle/F31spjB9gz3VwgFx8
Assignments for the week:
Read Theory - Due Friday
Reading Log - Due Friday
Notes from Six Minutes - Due Friday
Google Form - Six Minutes Due Friday
Week of 5/18/2020 to 5/24/2020
This week we will bring our unit on Poetry to a close. Students will be presenting their projects Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of this week. They will have a chance to apply what they have learned over the past few weeks and synthesize it through their presentations. Details for the project can be found on Google Classroom under Poetry Project.
Reminders:
Read Theory is back for this week. Complete 4 passages by Friday at midnight.
Progress Reports will be available this Friday.
All late work must be submitted by Wednesday at 3:45 using this link forms.gle/F31spjB9gz3VwgFx8
8th graders - Be on the look out for more information regarding our virtual graduation ceremony. An email will be sent out this week.
This week we will bring our unit on Poetry to a close. Students will be presenting their projects Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of this week. They will have a chance to apply what they have learned over the past few weeks and synthesize it through their presentations. Details for the project can be found on Google Classroom under Poetry Project.
Reminders:
Read Theory is back for this week. Complete 4 passages by Friday at midnight.
Progress Reports will be available this Friday.
All late work must be submitted by Wednesday at 3:45 using this link forms.gle/F31spjB9gz3VwgFx8
8th graders - Be on the look out for more information regarding our virtual graduation ceremony. An email will be sent out this week.
The 8th Grade Town Hall Family Meeting
Tuesday, May 12th 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Join with Google Meet (the code is on ClassDojo and your email)
We will be discussing all things 8th grade. Hope to see you there!
Remote learning has been going well thus far. If you have any questions please reach out to your homeroom teachers for answers. Aspen is being updated on a weekly basis so students and parents can keep up with grades.
Remember:
INC in ASPEN, stands for incomplete and that means your child did not complete that particular assignment. Please encourage students to join classes and complete all assignments.
Click here https://cps.edu/coronavirus/Pages/grading.aspx for the CPS grading policy for the remainder of the year.
Week of 5/11 to 5/15
This week in ELA we will continue studying poetry. We will take a close look at connotation and denotation of words and how the same words can evoke different emotions. This for 7th and 8th grade. 8th grade will take it a step further and analyze allusion and analogy in the poems they read.
Progress Reports go home Friday, May 22, 2020
Assignments for this week:
Common Lit. - participation and/or homework
Read Theory (an optional practice assignment)
Reading Log - 30 minutes of daily reading from your novel - homework
Pear Deck - Class participation assignment
Kahoot - Friday's Assessment
Complete all INC assignments in order to receive credit in ASPEN
8th Grade Town Hall Family Meeting
Tuesday, May 12th 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Join with Google Meet (the code is on ClassDojo)
We will be discussing all things 8th grade. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, May 12th 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Join with Google Meet (the code is on ClassDojo)
We will be discussing all things 8th grade. Hope to see you there!
REMINDER: No class Thursday (5-7-20) or Friday (5-8-20). Look for a Kahoot game in Google Classroom on Friday morning. Assonance and Consonance for 7th grade and Allusions and Analogies for 8th grade. Email me for questions or support snjohnson7@cps.edu
5/4/2020 - 5/8/2020
Remote learning has been going well thus far. If you have any questions please reach out to your homeroom teachers for answers. Aspen is being updated on a weekly basis so students and parents can keep up with grades.
Remember:
INC stands for incomplete and that means your child did not complete that particular assignment. Please encourage students to join classes and complete all assignments.
Click here https://cps.edu/coronavirus/Pages/grading.aspx for the CPS grading policy for the remainder of the year.
This week in ELA we will continue studying poetry. We will take a close look at connotation and denotation of words and how the same words can evoke different emotions. This for 7th and 8th grade. 8th grade will take it a step further and analyze allusion and analogy.
Assignments:
Poetry Day 1-2 due Monday and Tuesday (use Canvas to turn in and/or to connect with Ms. K)
Poetry Day 3 - due next Monday (use Canvas)
Reading Log - 30 minutes of daily reading and reading log
Common Lit - due Thursday
No Read Theory this week!
Remote learning has been going well thus far. If you have any questions please reach out to your homeroom teachers for answers. Aspen is being updated on a weekly basis so students and parents can keep up with grades.
Remember:
INC stands for incomplete and that means your child did not complete that particular assignment. Please encourage students to join classes and complete all assignments.
Click here https://cps.edu/coronavirus/Pages/grading.aspx for the CPS grading policy for the remainder of the year.
This week in ELA we will continue studying poetry. We will take a close look at connotation and denotation of words and how the same words can evoke different emotions. This for 7th and 8th grade. 8th grade will take it a step further and analyze allusion and analogy.
Assignments:
Poetry Day 1-2 due Monday and Tuesday (use Canvas to turn in and/or to connect with Ms. K)
Poetry Day 3 - due next Monday (use Canvas)
Reading Log - 30 minutes of daily reading and reading log
Common Lit - due Thursday
No Read Theory this week!
Week of 4/27 to 5/1
I hope everyone is getting adjusted to remote learning by now. This week we will be starting a new unit on poetry. We are looking at the use of assonance, consonance and repetition. We will do this through our daily class meetings, assignments and Common Lit.
If you are in need of a device please let me know and I will get this information to the office and arrange for pick-up.
Assignments are being added to Aspen for 4th quarter. Inc - stands for incomplete. This means the student did not complete the required assignment.
Class assignments and homework:
Poetry Day 1 and 2 - due next Monday and Tuesday
Common Lit - Due Thursday
Read Theory (4 passages) - Due Friday
I hope everyone is getting adjusted to remote learning by now. This week we will be starting a new unit on poetry. We are looking at the use of assonance, consonance and repetition. We will do this through our daily class meetings, assignments and Common Lit.
If you are in need of a device please let me know and I will get this information to the office and arrange for pick-up.
Assignments are being added to Aspen for 4th quarter. Inc - stands for incomplete. This means the student did not complete the required assignment.
Class assignments and homework:
Poetry Day 1 and 2 - due next Monday and Tuesday
Common Lit - Due Thursday
Read Theory (4 passages) - Due Friday
Parent Teacher Conferences
Please click the following link to sign up for a 10 min. virtual meeting for 3rd quarter conferences.
Please click the following link to sign up for a 10 min. virtual meeting for 3rd quarter conferences.
Week of 4/20/20 to 4/24/2020
Welcome to the second week of remote learning. Week one went well and we are exctied about starting week two. This week 7th graders will be presenting their PSA's during our virtual meetings and 8th graders will be presenting their Literature Circle Projects, also during our virtual meetings. All students should be prepared with all materials. Our next unit will be on poetry and we will begin taking a sneak peak into some creative writing.
Weekly assignments and homework:
Do Now
Read Theory
PSA
Literature Circle Project
Announcements:
Virtual Parent Conferences will be held on Wednesday, 4/22/2020. Please be on the lookout for an email with scheduling information.
Welcome to the second week of remote learning. Week one went well and we are exctied about starting week two. This week 7th graders will be presenting their PSA's during our virtual meetings and 8th graders will be presenting their Literature Circle Projects, also during our virtual meetings. All students should be prepared with all materials. Our next unit will be on poetry and we will begin taking a sneak peak into some creative writing.
Weekly assignments and homework:
Do Now
Read Theory
PSA
Literature Circle Project
Announcements:
Virtual Parent Conferences will be held on Wednesday, 4/22/2020. Please be on the lookout for an email with scheduling information.
4/13/2020
Please click the following link for information on CPS device distribution.
Please click the following link for information on CPS device distribution.
| covid-19_tech_letter.pdf |
Remote Learning 7th/8th ELA Newsletter
Happy Spring Break!
I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and safe. We will begin our remote learning adventure April 13, 2020. I am calling this an adventure because it will be new for us all and we are sure there will be challenges but I will be here to help work through any unforeseen circumstances. Please make sure that your child has access to google classroom and email for communication, updates and daily assignments. Students will also need access to a device with a camera for our daily Google Meet meetings. If you did not receive my message through Class Dojo regarding laptop needs, please email me and let me know if your child needs to check-out a CPS device.
Online Meeting Schedule: listed below. We will meet Monday through Wednesday for short classes and then again on Friday for game day review. Students will have Thursdays to work independently on assignments and/or homework. I will share a Google Meet link in Google Classroom each day (it will show up in the header bar near the top left corner). Starting on Monday, April 13, 2020 8th grade will meet about our Literature Circle books (be sure your child has finished their book) and 7th grade will meet about PSA’s. We will also talk about online meeting norms and what assigned work will look like.
7th & 8th Grade Remote Learning Schedule
Daily/Weekly assignments
Other important information:
Packets: Students and families may choose alternate packet work in place of the online teaching and learning. Please contact me at snjohnson7@cps.edu and I can put you in touch with a Ray administrator who will work with you on a packet pick-up and drop-off schedule.
snjohnson7@cps.edu
Happy Spring Break!
I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and safe. We will begin our remote learning adventure April 13, 2020. I am calling this an adventure because it will be new for us all and we are sure there will be challenges but I will be here to help work through any unforeseen circumstances. Please make sure that your child has access to google classroom and email for communication, updates and daily assignments. Students will also need access to a device with a camera for our daily Google Meet meetings. If you did not receive my message through Class Dojo regarding laptop needs, please email me and let me know if your child needs to check-out a CPS device.
Online Meeting Schedule: listed below. We will meet Monday through Wednesday for short classes and then again on Friday for game day review. Students will have Thursdays to work independently on assignments and/or homework. I will share a Google Meet link in Google Classroom each day (it will show up in the header bar near the top left corner). Starting on Monday, April 13, 2020 8th grade will meet about our Literature Circle books (be sure your child has finished their book) and 7th grade will meet about PSA’s. We will also talk about online meeting norms and what assigned work will look like.
7th & 8th Grade Remote Learning Schedule
Daily/Weekly assignments
- Check in on Google Meet (Daily)
- Do Now (Daily)
- Common Lit. (Weekly)
- 30 Minute Reading - Log it! Home Reading Log in Google Classroom! (Daily)
- Read Theory (Homework - Daily; 4 per week)
- Mini Lesson - Notes or Project (when assigned)
- Exit Slip - Google Form (Daily or when assigned)
Other important information:
Packets: Students and families may choose alternate packet work in place of the online teaching and learning. Please contact me at snjohnson7@cps.edu and I can put you in touch with a Ray administrator who will work with you on a packet pick-up and drop-off schedule.
- Updated COVID 19 information and grading: We will follow the CPS and ISBE grading guidelines. https://cps.edu/coronavirus/Pages/covid19.aspx
- Time expectations: CPS is recommending at least 180 total minutes a day for all student learning.
- Office Hours: 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. daily by appointment. Meetings via email, Google Classroom chat, or Google Hangouts chat.
- Communication with students: Google Classroom, CPS email, Google Meet (whole class), Google Hangout chat
- Communication with parents/families: email, Class Dojo.
snjohnson7@cps.edu
4/6/2020
HAPPY SPRING BREAK!
COVID 19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES
Here is updated information from CPS. Please see the link below to stay up to date with information.
https://cps.edu/coronavirus/Pages/covid19.aspx
HAPPY SPRING BREAK!
COVID 19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES
Here is updated information from CPS. Please see the link below to stay up to date with information.
https://cps.edu/coronavirus/Pages/covid19.aspx
4/2/2020 - Self Care check-in
Self-Care Check in with Ms. K!
Students - Please complete this self care check in. Ms. K and I want to know how you are doing during this tough time. Log in to google classroom to complete the short survey so we can gauge how you are doing.
Students - Please complete this self care check in. Ms. K and I want to know how you are doing during this tough time. Log in to google classroom to complete the short survey so we can gauge how you are doing.
3/26/2020
Its Throwback Thursday! I would LOVE to see some throwback pics of my students. Add them to Class Dojo under my throwback pic :-) from last week.
New Common Lit enrichment assignments have been added to google classroom in celebration of Women's History Month. I also added a space in google classroom to upload any missing assignments from the first 5 weeks of quarter 3. Take a picture of the assignment, upload it and I will add it to the grade book.
Need some physical fun in your life? Check out Go Noodle on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=go+noodle+for+teens to get moving!!
Or what about PE wit Joe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz0go1pTda8
Go Noodle is keeping my little ones busy. :-)
Its Throwback Thursday! I would LOVE to see some throwback pics of my students. Add them to Class Dojo under my throwback pic :-) from last week.
New Common Lit enrichment assignments have been added to google classroom in celebration of Women's History Month. I also added a space in google classroom to upload any missing assignments from the first 5 weeks of quarter 3. Take a picture of the assignment, upload it and I will add it to the grade book.
Need some physical fun in your life? Check out Go Noodle on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=go+noodle+for+teens to get moving!!
Or what about PE wit Joe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz0go1pTda8
Go Noodle is keeping my little ones busy. :-)
3/25/2020
Hello All,
Its Warrior Wednesday!!
I hope you all are doing well and healthy during this time. I have attached new information regarding the extension that has been placed on school CPS closings. https://cps.edu/oshw/Pages/HealthyCPS.aspx and https://cps.edu/Pages/home.aspx
I have added a place for students to upload their packet of work given two weeks ago. Students can take a picture of it and upload it to Google Classroom. This is for extra credit!! Yayyy!!
More Common Lit Enrichment assignments to come.
Stay Healthy
Hello All,
Its Warrior Wednesday!!
I hope you all are doing well and healthy during this time. I have attached new information regarding the extension that has been placed on school CPS closings. https://cps.edu/oshw/Pages/HealthyCPS.aspx and https://cps.edu/Pages/home.aspx
I have added a place for students to upload their packet of work given two weeks ago. Students can take a picture of it and upload it to Google Classroom. This is for extra credit!! Yayyy!!
More Common Lit Enrichment assignments to come.
Stay Healthy
Hello Ray families,
I hope everyone is staying healthy throughout this tough time. As you already know, CPS will be closed due to COVID-19 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bcdJqaYc-yRGDU0VZf2SJY4R_4So32SAgP0HCNepf5U/preview#) starting March 17 to March 30. I have created enrichment assignments for students to work on during this time and will distribute packets to the students by the end of the day. I have also added these assignments to Google Classroom for easy access (these particular assignments will need to be printed).
Please encourage students to continue reading on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes. I will give extra credit for completed reading logs. 8th graders should finish their literature circle novels and 7th graders should be reading independent novels.
Read Theory and Common Lit are two online enrichment and reading activities to keep the minds sharp while we are away. Common Lit will be added to Google Classroom and students can access Read Theory at www.readtheory.org
Communication
I will be available through email and Class Dojo throughout this time to answer any questions or concerns you might have.
Stay healthy and safe,
Mrs. Johnson-Finner
I hope everyone is staying healthy throughout this tough time. As you already know, CPS will be closed due to COVID-19 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bcdJqaYc-yRGDU0VZf2SJY4R_4So32SAgP0HCNepf5U/preview#) starting March 17 to March 30. I have created enrichment assignments for students to work on during this time and will distribute packets to the students by the end of the day. I have also added these assignments to Google Classroom for easy access (these particular assignments will need to be printed).
Please encourage students to continue reading on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes. I will give extra credit for completed reading logs. 8th graders should finish their literature circle novels and 7th graders should be reading independent novels.
Read Theory and Common Lit are two online enrichment and reading activities to keep the minds sharp while we are away. Common Lit will be added to Google Classroom and students can access Read Theory at www.readtheory.org
Communication
I will be available through email and Class Dojo throughout this time to answer any questions or concerns you might have.
Stay healthy and safe,
Mrs. Johnson-Finner
Week of 3/9 to 3/13
This week 8th grade students will continue reading and working in their literature circles. We will be practicing the skill of identifying the connotation associated with certain words or phrases. We will also look at why author's choose certain words or phrases and the impact this has on a story. Students will complete all literature circle assignments as well as their first discussion by the end of the week. There will be an assessment on connotative and denotative at the end of the week. 7th grade will explore the meaning of satire and all the elements used within this technique. Students will also be creating a PSA from the perspective of an organization during the Civil Rights Movement.
Announcements:
Middle School meeting - Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 5:00 in the auditorium
Homework;
Read Theory - 4 passages 7th and 8th grade
Complete final draft of argumentative essay - 7th grade
Begin PSA - 7th grade
Literature Circle assignments - 8th grade
This week 8th grade students will continue reading and working in their literature circles. We will be practicing the skill of identifying the connotation associated with certain words or phrases. We will also look at why author's choose certain words or phrases and the impact this has on a story. Students will complete all literature circle assignments as well as their first discussion by the end of the week. There will be an assessment on connotative and denotative at the end of the week. 7th grade will explore the meaning of satire and all the elements used within this technique. Students will also be creating a PSA from the perspective of an organization during the Civil Rights Movement.
Announcements:
Middle School meeting - Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 5:00 in the auditorium
Homework;
Read Theory - 4 passages 7th and 8th grade
Complete final draft of argumentative essay - 7th grade
Begin PSA - 7th grade
Literature Circle assignments - 8th grade
Week of 2/24 to 2/28
This week 8th grade will begin literature circles. Each group will be reading a historical fiction novel on the Holocaust, to deepen their understanding of this time in history. Students will book shop, practice literature circle norms and be introduced to schedules and assignments. Students will also develop a group reading schedule and be expected to keep up with the daily assigned readings from their books as well as the task to go along. Here is a list of our novels:
- Between Shades of Grey
- Night
- The Devil's Arithmetic
- Milkweed
- The Book Thief
- The Diary of Anne Frank - Play and other short readings
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading (30 minutes)
Week of 2/10 to 2/15
This week 8th grade will continue to learn more about how the Holocaust came about. We will use non-fiction articles to analyze the choices people made during this time. Students will create a one page write up of their understanding of how it all happened as well as engage in videos and silent discussions to support their understanding.
This week 7th grade will begin our new unit on The Civil Rights Movement. We will examine the life and death of Emmett Till as a pivotal moment that sparked The Civil Rights Movement. This week we will watch parts of "Eyes on the Prize" as we examine the choices people made during this time and the consequences that came along with those choices.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading (30 minutes)
Complete any in-class assignments not finished
Week of 2/3 to 2/7
I am happy to share that we will have a resident from University of Chicago's UTEP program as our student teacher. She will be in our class until May 2020. Welcome, Ms. Kayla Sims!
This week 8th grade will begin a new unit on The Holocaust. We will explore the following essential question: What does learning about the choices people made during the Weimar Republic, the rise of the Nazi Party, and the Holocaust teach us about the power and impact of our choices today? Students will create identity charts, complete anticipation guides and create working definitions of race, identity, and stereotypes.
7th grade will begin peer editing and publishing their symbolism essay that we have been working on for the past week and a half. Students will have a chance to publish during class but will be expected to type at home as well.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading (30 minutes)
Announcements
2/5 - 7th grade trip to The Film Festival
2/7 - 8th grade trip to The Film Festival
2/7 - Report Cards go home for the 2nd quarter
I am happy to share that we will have a resident from University of Chicago's UTEP program as our student teacher. She will be in our class until May 2020. Welcome, Ms. Kayla Sims!
This week 8th grade will begin a new unit on The Holocaust. We will explore the following essential question: What does learning about the choices people made during the Weimar Republic, the rise of the Nazi Party, and the Holocaust teach us about the power and impact of our choices today? Students will create identity charts, complete anticipation guides and create working definitions of race, identity, and stereotypes.
7th grade will begin peer editing and publishing their symbolism essay that we have been working on for the past week and a half. Students will have a chance to publish during class but will be expected to type at home as well.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading (30 minutes)
Announcements
2/5 - 7th grade trip to The Film Festival
2/7 - 8th grade trip to The Film Festival
2/7 - Report Cards go home for the 2nd quarter
Week of 1/21 to 1/24
This week 8th graders will begin publishing their essays on The Outsiders. The final, typed copy is due this Friday, January 24, 2020. All essays will should be turned in through google classroom where students can find a copy of the rubric.
This week 7th graders will finish their plot mountains and begin their symbolism essay on Tangerine. Students will choose 3 symbols, draft a thesis statement and collect evidence to support their thesis. Students will also draft an introduction paragraph by Friday of this week.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading (30 minutes)
Announcements
Tour packets for our 8th grade trip were sent home on Wednesday of this week. Please take the time to go over the information with your student and pay close attention to any due dates. All payments are to be made to William H. Ray Elementary School. We will send the first payment to Hemisphere on 2/24 - $300.00 per traveling person and the last payment will be sent on 3/5 - balance due. Please feel free to make payments sooner or between the two dates provided.
Raise a Glass Fundraiser
Our 2nd fundraiser for our 8th grade trip is here! It will be in conjunction with the Raise a Glass event (1/30/2020 from 6-8)where there will be a silent auction. If you have service or good that you would like to donate and it is auctioned off, the funds will go towards YOUR child's 8th grade trip. Please email snjohnson7@cps.edu if your are interested in donating. Include the service/good and your contact information.
Here is information about the Raise a Glass event. We hope to see you there!
Enjoy a night out at Hyde Park's premier music venue for drinks and dancing and help support Ray School. All parents, staff,alumni, community members welcome!
Advance tickets are $40, $45 at the door. Your ticket includes beer, wine, light appetizers and live music. Purchase online at:http://rayschool.weebly.com/glass.html
Childcare is available during the event at HPNC for kids ages 5 and up. Kids will get dinner and have fun playing in the gym andwatching movies. Register at:
https://reg126.imperisoft.com/hpnc/Search/Registration.aspx
This week 8th graders will begin publishing their essays on The Outsiders. The final, typed copy is due this Friday, January 24, 2020. All essays will should be turned in through google classroom where students can find a copy of the rubric.
This week 7th graders will finish their plot mountains and begin their symbolism essay on Tangerine. Students will choose 3 symbols, draft a thesis statement and collect evidence to support their thesis. Students will also draft an introduction paragraph by Friday of this week.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading (30 minutes)
Announcements
Tour packets for our 8th grade trip were sent home on Wednesday of this week. Please take the time to go over the information with your student and pay close attention to any due dates. All payments are to be made to William H. Ray Elementary School. We will send the first payment to Hemisphere on 2/24 - $300.00 per traveling person and the last payment will be sent on 3/5 - balance due. Please feel free to make payments sooner or between the two dates provided.
Raise a Glass Fundraiser
Our 2nd fundraiser for our 8th grade trip is here! It will be in conjunction with the Raise a Glass event (1/30/2020 from 6-8)where there will be a silent auction. If you have service or good that you would like to donate and it is auctioned off, the funds will go towards YOUR child's 8th grade trip. Please email snjohnson7@cps.edu if your are interested in donating. Include the service/good and your contact information.
Here is information about the Raise a Glass event. We hope to see you there!
Enjoy a night out at Hyde Park's premier music venue for drinks and dancing and help support Ray School. All parents, staff,alumni, community members welcome!
Advance tickets are $40, $45 at the door. Your ticket includes beer, wine, light appetizers and live music. Purchase online at:http://rayschool.weebly.com/glass.html
Childcare is available during the event at HPNC for kids ages 5 and up. Kids will get dinner and have fun playing in the gym andwatching movies. Register at:
https://reg126.imperisoft.com/hpnc/Search/Registration.aspx
Week of 1/13 to 1/18
This week 7th graders will complete the novel, Tangerine. Students are responsible for reading pages 276-288 for Monday and 289 - 303 for Tuesday. All students will be tested on the book. We will use the double entry journal strategy to keep up with our reading as well as respond to text dependent questions. We will begin looking at the parts of an essay this week to close out our unit. 8th grade will continue to draft their essays this week. We will complete all body and introduction paragraphs by the end of the week. All students are required to write at home and as well as at school.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading
This week 7th graders will complete the novel, Tangerine. Students are responsible for reading pages 276-288 for Monday and 289 - 303 for Tuesday. All students will be tested on the book. We will use the double entry journal strategy to keep up with our reading as well as respond to text dependent questions. We will begin looking at the parts of an essay this week to close out our unit. 8th grade will continue to draft their essays this week. We will complete all body and introduction paragraphs by the end of the week. All students are required to write at home and as well as at school.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading
Week of 1/6 to 1/10
This week 7th grade will continue to Tangerine and will focus on identifying the symbolism used in the text and the meaning behind it. Next Tuesday we will finish the book and begin our final essay. Students will be quizzed on the last few chapters so be sure to read all parts of the novel.
8th grade has finished The Outsiders and will begin their Literature Analysis Essay on Theme. By the end of the week we will have chosen a theme to focus on, write a thesis statement and finish our introduction paragraphs.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading
This week 7th grade will continue to Tangerine and will focus on identifying the symbolism used in the text and the meaning behind it. Next Tuesday we will finish the book and begin our final essay. Students will be quizzed on the last few chapters so be sure to read all parts of the novel.
8th grade has finished The Outsiders and will begin their Literature Analysis Essay on Theme. By the end of the week we will have chosen a theme to focus on, write a thesis statement and finish our introduction paragraphs.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading
Happy New Year and Welcome Back! It is 2020, the year of clear vision!
I hope that all students re well rested and ready to return even stronger than before. This week we will be starting our middle of the year NWEA Testing. Please make sure that all students are on time, rested and have had a healthy breakfast.
No Read Theory this week!
Aspen Parent Portal Assistance
If any Ray family members are having difficulty accessing your students' records in Aspen, the Volunteer Program staff is handling Aspen/parent portal issues and can be reached via email at Volunteer@cps.edu.
I hope that all students re well rested and ready to return even stronger than before. This week we will be starting our middle of the year NWEA Testing. Please make sure that all students are on time, rested and have had a healthy breakfast.
No Read Theory this week!
Aspen Parent Portal Assistance
If any Ray family members are having difficulty accessing your students' records in Aspen, the Volunteer Program staff is handling Aspen/parent portal issues and can be reached via email at Volunteer@cps.edu.
AnnouncementsPlease save the date: Ray Family Community Night
December 18th, 4-6PM
Theme: ‘Twas the Week Before Winter Break
Food, Arts & Craft, Choir Performance, Special Guest from an ABC news alumni and more....
Aspen Parent Portal Assistance
If any Ray family members are having difficulty accessing your students' records in Aspen, the Volunteer Program staff is handling Aspen/parent portal issues and can be reached via email at Volunteer@cps.edu.
Lunchroom and Recess Volunteers!
We would love support to help during lunch and recess to make sure students are safe, fed, and have fun! Click here to see the time slots for all K-8 lunch and recess. The biggest needs are for K, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade recess, though any additional support is welcome. Administration will provide all lunch/recess volunteers with a brief orientation. Volunteers must also be an approved Level 1 or 2 Volunteer. If you are interested, please email amanda.ruch@gmail.com and sign up for times on the linked google doc. Ray administration will be in touch before
December 18th, 4-6PM
Theme: ‘Twas the Week Before Winter Break
Food, Arts & Craft, Choir Performance, Special Guest from an ABC news alumni and more....
Aspen Parent Portal Assistance
If any Ray family members are having difficulty accessing your students' records in Aspen, the Volunteer Program staff is handling Aspen/parent portal issues and can be reached via email at Volunteer@cps.edu.
Lunchroom and Recess Volunteers!
We would love support to help during lunch and recess to make sure students are safe, fed, and have fun! Click here to see the time slots for all K-8 lunch and recess. The biggest needs are for K, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade recess, though any additional support is welcome. Administration will provide all lunch/recess volunteers with a brief orientation. Volunteers must also be an approved Level 1 or 2 Volunteer. If you are interested, please email amanda.ruch@gmail.com and sign up for times on the linked google doc. Ray administration will be in touch before
Week of 12/8 to 12/12
This week students will continue reading our class novels, The Outsiders for 8th grade and Tangerine for 7th. This week 8th grade will focus on point of view while 7th grade focuses on symbolism.
All students will practice making inferences and supporting with evidence using The Double Entry Journal Strategy. Please ensure that students are keeping up with the reading in order to pass all weekly quizzes.
8th grade will read chapters 8-10
7th grade will read pgs. 97 - 145
Reminders:
All parents please sign up for Aspen
Progress Reports will go home Friday, Dec. 12th.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading
This week students will continue reading our class novels, The Outsiders for 8th grade and Tangerine for 7th. This week 8th grade will focus on point of view while 7th grade focuses on symbolism.
All students will practice making inferences and supporting with evidence using The Double Entry Journal Strategy. Please ensure that students are keeping up with the reading in order to pass all weekly quizzes.
8th grade will read chapters 8-10
7th grade will read pgs. 97 - 145
Reminders:
All parents please sign up for Aspen
Progress Reports will go home Friday, Dec. 12th.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages)
Mark reading log for daily reading
This week in ELA 11/25/2019 - 11/27/2019
Welcome to Thanksgiving week. We are making progress in our class novels and will continue to get some reading done this week. 8th grade will read chapter 5 and work on making inferences and completing double entry journals. 7th grade will read pgs. 55-85 this week. They will also practice making inferences while reading.
Homework
30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Novel reading (catch up if you are behind)
Reminders:
High school fair - 11/19/2019
Sign up for Aspen
Welcome to Thanksgiving week. We are making progress in our class novels and will continue to get some reading done this week. 8th grade will read chapter 5 and work on making inferences and completing double entry journals. 7th grade will read pgs. 55-85 this week. They will also practice making inferences while reading.
Homework
30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Novel reading (catch up if you are behind)
Reminders:
High school fair - 11/19/2019
Sign up for Aspen
This week in ELA 11/18/2019 - 11/22/2019
We are continuing to read our whole class novels. All students have been provided with an audio copy as well as a PDF copy of the novel, through google classroom. This was reading and/or listening to our books can be done at home. 7th grade will continue to work with reading strategies, point of view and plot. 8th grade will work with reading strategies and conflict this week.
Homework
30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Novel reading (catch up if you are behind)
Reminders:
High school fair - 11/19/2019
Sign up for Aspen
This week in ELA 11/12 to 11/15
I hope everyone had a nice Veteran's Day 8th grade will be reading chapters 3-4 this week of The Outsiders and will being keeping double entry journals in their Reader's Notebooks. 7th grade will continue part 1 of Tangerine wile examining unfamiliar vocabulary terms as well as starting double entry journals in their notebooks. Both grades will be supporting inferences with textual evidence.
Homework
30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Reminders:
11/13 - no school - Parent Teacher Conference sign up here:
Sign up for Aspen to check your child's grades
This week in ELA 11/4 to 11/8
Welcome back! We truly appreciate your support during the strike and now we are back on track. This week we will begin reading our whole class novels. 7th grade will be reading Tangerine and 8th grade will be reading The Outsiders.
As of now, 8th graders are sharing their book with one other student. Our goal is to have 1:1. Please visit our Wish List to purchase/donate novels to our classroom. We truly appreciate you!
Homework:
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Reminders:
11/8 - no school - staff improvement day
11/11 - no school - Veteran's Day
11/13 - no school - Parent Teacher Conference
Sign up for Aspen to check your child's grades
Welcome back! We truly appreciate your support during the strike and now we are back on track. This week we will begin reading our whole class novels. 7th grade will be reading Tangerine and 8th grade will be reading The Outsiders.
As of now, 8th graders are sharing their book with one other student. Our goal is to have 1:1. Please visit our Wish List to purchase/donate novels to our classroom. We truly appreciate you!
Homework:
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Reminders:
11/8 - no school - staff improvement day
11/11 - no school - Veteran's Day
11/13 - no school - Parent Teacher Conference
Sign up for Aspen to check your child's grades
This week in ELA 10/15 to 10/18
This week in ELA we will begin a new unit using our first class novel. 8th graders will be reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and 7th graders will be reading Tangerine by Edward Bloor. We will use this week ti become familiar with the text and the themes we will encounter.
As of now, 8th graders are sharing their book with one other student. Our goal is to have 1:1. Please visit our Wish List to purchase/donate novels to our classroom. We truly appreciate you!
Homework:
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
This week in ELA we will begin a new unit using our first class novel. 8th graders will be reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and 7th graders will be reading Tangerine by Edward Bloor. We will use this week ti become familiar with the text and the themes we will encounter.
As of now, 8th graders are sharing their book with one other student. Our goal is to have 1:1. Please visit our Wish List to purchase/donate novels to our classroom. We truly appreciate you!
Homework:
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
This week in ELA students will begin writing our first analysis using the short stories we have been reading the last few weeks. Students will choose one story for their analysis. Directions and rubrics have been posted on google classroom.
Homework:
Monday - Complete graphic organizer
Tuesday through Wednesday - complete analysis
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Homework:
Monday - Complete graphic organizer
Tuesday through Wednesday - complete analysis
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
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Dates to remember:
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This week in ELA 9/29 to 10/06
This week in ELA we will continue with our short story unit. We will focus on close reading, annotating, identifying unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues and answering text-dependent questions with our short stories. 7th grade will read All in a Summers Day by Ray Bradbury and 8th grade will read The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant. We will focus on plot (7 and 8), making inferences (7 and 8), conflict (7) and irony (8).
Homework:
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Reminders:
Progress Reports for quarter 1 will go home Friday, October 6, 2019.
Picture Day - Tuesday, October 8, 2019
This week in ELA 9/23 to 9/27
This week we will begin our unit on short stories. We will focus on close reading, annotating, identifying unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues and answering text-dependent questions with our short stories. 7th grade will be reading Thank you Ma'am by Langston Hughes and 8th grade will read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Our Literary elements for the week are as follows: conflict (7 and 8), symbolism (8), and character traits (7).
Homework:
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Reminders:
Wednesday - Ray Warrior Family Night 4 -6
Thursday - Mandatory 8th grade parent meeting @ 4:30
This week we will begin our unit on short stories. We will focus on close reading, annotating, identifying unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues and answering text-dependent questions with our short stories. 7th grade will be reading Thank you Ma'am by Langston Hughes and 8th grade will read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Our Literary elements for the week are as follows: conflict (7 and 8), symbolism (8), and character traits (7).
Homework:
* 30 minute reading and book log
*Read Theory (4 passages)
Reminders:
Wednesday - Ray Warrior Family Night 4 -6
Thursday - Mandatory 8th grade parent meeting @ 4:30
This week in ELA 9/16 to 9/20
This week we will continue to classroom routines. We will focus on independent reading and writing as a way to create a culture that embodies the love of reading. All students will be required to check out a library book from the classroom library or they have the option to bring a novel from home. We will begin writing in our Reader's Notebook, take a reading survey and log our reading using our book log. We will also begin using Read Theory in class.
Reminders:
Tuesday and Wednesday students will be taking the beginning of the year NWEA Test
Read Theory (due Friday) and Book logs (due bi-weekly) are on going assignments
8th grade parent meeting Thursday, Sept, 26, 2019
Homework:
30 minutes of reading and mark book logs
This week we will continue to classroom routines. We will focus on independent reading and writing as a way to create a culture that embodies the love of reading. All students will be required to check out a library book from the classroom library or they have the option to bring a novel from home. We will begin writing in our Reader's Notebook, take a reading survey and log our reading using our book log. We will also begin using Read Theory in class.
Reminders:
Tuesday and Wednesday students will be taking the beginning of the year NWEA Test
Read Theory (due Friday) and Book logs (due bi-weekly) are on going assignments
8th grade parent meeting Thursday, Sept, 26, 2019
Homework:
30 minutes of reading and mark book logs
This week in ELA 9/9 to 9/13
This week we will continue working with routines and expectations. Students will set up their Reader's Notebooks and begin checking out novels for independent reading. All students will be quizzed on the Ray Way and ELA class expectations so be sure to study your notes. Students will create a pamphlet (Book Tasting Menu) of 3 books they plan to read throughout the year.
Homework:
Return all forms
Complete pamphlet (due Friday 9/13)
Study for our quiz
This week we will continue working with routines and expectations. Students will set up their Reader's Notebooks and begin checking out novels for independent reading. All students will be quizzed on the Ray Way and ELA class expectations so be sure to study your notes. Students will create a pamphlet (Book Tasting Menu) of 3 books they plan to read throughout the year.
Homework:
Return all forms
Complete pamphlet (due Friday 9/13)
Study for our quiz
Open House! Open House! Open House!
September 12, 2019 from 4-6
Come and meet your child's teacher and get to know more about how we continue to encourage a "Love for Learning" here at Ray.
September 12, 2019 from 4-6
Come and meet your child's teacher and get to know more about how we continue to encourage a "Love for Learning" here at Ray.
This week in ELA 9/3/2019 to 9/6/2019
This week we will be working on class routines and expectations. All students will need to have access to their cps email, ReadTheory, Common Lit, google classroom and class dojo. Please be on the look out for forms that will be sent home and need to come back to school. Here's to a great year!
This week we will be working on class routines and expectations. All students will need to have access to their cps email, ReadTheory, Common Lit, google classroom and class dojo. Please be on the look out for forms that will be sent home and need to come back to school. Here's to a great year!
Dear Parents and Students:
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year at Ray Elementary! I hope everyone had an excellent and relaxing summer. The middle school team is looking forward to a school year filled with a love for learning and growth. We welcome regular and consistent communication and partnership in the education of your child. Parental support will be essential!
The CPS vision statement is cool!
In young people, a high-quality education develops not only strong academic skills, but also a love of learning (Ray’s Vision too!), the ability to work with others, the motivation to take initiative, the experience to solve problems creatively, the knowledge to live healthy lives, and the desire to become active citizens in their communities.
Grades:
Current grades are posted weekly to communicate progress to students and parents/guardians on Parent Portal (https://parent.cps.k12.il.us ). My classroom blog includes links to homework assignments, assignment due dates, and a variety of other helpful information.
Communication:
Sincerely,
Mrs. Johnson-Finner
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year at Ray Elementary! I hope everyone had an excellent and relaxing summer. The middle school team is looking forward to a school year filled with a love for learning and growth. We welcome regular and consistent communication and partnership in the education of your child. Parental support will be essential!
The CPS vision statement is cool!
In young people, a high-quality education develops not only strong academic skills, but also a love of learning (Ray’s Vision too!), the ability to work with others, the motivation to take initiative, the experience to solve problems creatively, the knowledge to live healthy lives, and the desire to become active citizens in their communities.
Grades:
Current grades are posted weekly to communicate progress to students and parents/guardians on Parent Portal (https://parent.cps.k12.il.us ). My classroom blog includes links to homework assignments, assignment due dates, and a variety of other helpful information.
Communication:
- email: snjohnson7@cps.edu (best way to reach me, I try for a response within 24 - 48 hours!)
- blog (updated weekly): http://middleschoolray.weebly.com (Current Supply list is posted!)
- Parent Portal (updated weekly): https://parent.cps.k12.il.us
- Class Dojo: https://www.classdojo.com/ Class Codes will be sent home the first week of school. This is a great way to send text messages between home and school, monitor student behavior, and get updates about what is going on in the classroom.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Johnson-Finner
2019-2020 8th Grade Summer Assignments
1) Students were given a copy of Grenade, by Alan Gratz. This book should be read in its entirety over the summer. Students should choose to write a 1/2 page summary or generate 5 discussion questions for each chapter. This is your choice as long as you do at least 1 per chapter.
2) Students are to write and study the definition for each of the following terms:
ELA List of Vocabulary Words
1) Students were given a copy of Grenade, by Alan Gratz. This book should be read in its entirety over the summer. Students should choose to write a 1/2 page summary or generate 5 discussion questions for each chapter. This is your choice as long as you do at least 1 per chapter.
2) Students are to write and study the definition for each of the following terms:
ELA List of Vocabulary Words
- Tone
- Mood
- Point of View (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person limited, 3rd person omniscient)
- Theme
- Symbolism
- Author’s Purpose
- Central Idea
- Objective Summary
- Inference
- Cause and Effect
- Context Clues
- Text Structure
- Claim
- Counter-Claim
- Pre-fix
- Suffix
- Root Word
- Figurative Language
- Alliteration
- Hyperbole
- Allegory
- Irony
- Paradox
- Pun
- Oxymoron
- Verb
- Adverb
- Pronoun
- Preposition
- Conjunction
- … and finally have fun but don't forget to read!!!
Be prepared to discuss each term in depth throughout the year!
Middle School Supply List 19/20
3″ Binder with at least 5 dividers
Loose leaf paper (enough for a whole school year)
6 composition notebooks
Pens: blue or black (enough for a whole school year)
#2 pencils (enough for a whole school year)
Enclosed pencil sharpener
Colored pencils (at least a pack of 8)
Highlighters (2 different colors)
Glue stick
Scissors
Ruler (with inches and centimeters)
Pocket folders with 3 holes to keep in binder (6)
1 roll of paper towels
2 boxes of Kleenex
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
1 box of large zip lock bags
1 pack of 3″ x 5″ lined index cards
1 pack of graph paper
1 pack post-it notes
1 ream of copy paper
Safety goggles for science class
3″ Binder with at least 5 dividers
Loose leaf paper (enough for a whole school year)
6 composition notebooks
Pens: blue or black (enough for a whole school year)
#2 pencils (enough for a whole school year)
Enclosed pencil sharpener
Colored pencils (at least a pack of 8)
Highlighters (2 different colors)
Glue stick
Scissors
Ruler (with inches and centimeters)
Pocket folders with 3 holes to keep in binder (6)
1 roll of paper towels
2 boxes of Kleenex
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
1 box of large zip lock bags
1 pack of 3″ x 5″ lined index cards
1 pack of graph paper
1 pack post-it notes
1 ream of copy paper
Safety goggles for science class
Week of 6/3/2019 to 6/6/2019
This week 7th grade will be taking the End of Year NWEA test. We are so excited to show what we know and all we have learned. Please be sure all students get a full nights rest and a healthy breakfast. Our testing days are Tuesday and Thursday of this week.
8th Grade
We have started our last novel, To Kill a Mockingbird and will continue to read it throughout the remainder of the year.
Homework
7th grade - non
8th grade - up to chapter 5
Read Theory (all 8th grades and specific 7th graders; they know who they are)
This week 7th grade will be taking the End of Year NWEA test. We are so excited to show what we know and all we have learned. Please be sure all students get a full nights rest and a healthy breakfast. Our testing days are Tuesday and Thursday of this week.
8th Grade
We have started our last novel, To Kill a Mockingbird and will continue to read it throughout the remainder of the year.
Homework
7th grade - non
8th grade - up to chapter 5
Read Theory (all 8th grades and specific 7th graders; they know who they are)
Week of 5/20/2019 to 5/25/2019
7th graders will continue to use poetry to determine the figurative and literal meaning behind each text. They will begin a poetry packet which will give them the opportunity to practice with different types of poetry. Students will end this unit with a poetry essay where they will analyze work by Robert Frost.
8th graders will begin our last unit where we are reading, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird. Students will have the opportunity to practice identifying the central idea, evidence, theme and making inferences. We will also examine our characters and the choices they make. All students are responsible to reading the assigned chapters on a daily basis and should be prepared for in-class assignments and assessments.
Homework:
Read theory (4)
Book logs - 30 minutes of reading every night
7th graders will continue to use poetry to determine the figurative and literal meaning behind each text. They will begin a poetry packet which will give them the opportunity to practice with different types of poetry. Students will end this unit with a poetry essay where they will analyze work by Robert Frost.
8th graders will begin our last unit where we are reading, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird. Students will have the opportunity to practice identifying the central idea, evidence, theme and making inferences. We will also examine our characters and the choices they make. All students are responsible to reading the assigned chapters on a daily basis and should be prepared for in-class assignments and assessments.
Homework:
Read theory (4)
Book logs - 30 minutes of reading every night
Week of 5/13/2019 to 5/17/2019
This week 7th and 8th grade will be using common lit to practice poetry. Figurative Language and determining the deeper meaning of a text will be our focus.
All 7th grader should have completed their argumentative essays and should have uploaded them to Google Classroom.
All 8th graders should have turned in their poetry portfolios no later than Tuesday of this week.
The Walk-a-thon is this Friday, May 17, 2019. Please donate using this link http://rayschool.dojiggy.com
Progress Reports will go home Friday, May 17, 2019.
This week 7th and 8th grade will be using common lit to practice poetry. Figurative Language and determining the deeper meaning of a text will be our focus.
All 7th grader should have completed their argumentative essays and should have uploaded them to Google Classroom.
All 8th graders should have turned in their poetry portfolios no later than Tuesday of this week.
The Walk-a-thon is this Friday, May 17, 2019. Please donate using this link http://rayschool.dojiggy.com
Progress Reports will go home Friday, May 17, 2019.
Walk-a-thon is coming May 17, 2019!
Please join us for our annual Walk-a-Thon fundraiser, which will bring our entire school community together for a day of fun, fitness and fundraising.
Fun and Fitness: During the Walk-a-Thon, our students reach for their personal best distance during their walk-skip-run around our school playground, while family and volunteers cheer them on. Creative GREEN costumes are encouraged!
Fundraising: The Walk-a-Thon is also a fundraiser. Whether it's $5, $25 or $100, we hope that each family will financially participate in the Walk-a-Thon to the best of their ability.
Our Fundraising Goal: Ray School is committed to keeping students moving, especially in our beautiful outdoor campus, with recess and gardening activities. Active bodies contribute to active minds. Research shows that the more our students can move during the day, the more they can stay on task during class. Funds from this Walk-a-Thon will create more opportunities for movement for our students: new recess equipment and wonderful indoor/outdoor recess staff. Additionally, this year we want to install a second, new water fountain for filling water bottles, encouraging our students to drink water instead of sugary juices and soda. Let's help our children's bodies and brains stay fit and sharp!
REGISTER YOUR STUDENT TODAY!
Please join us for our annual Walk-a-Thon fundraiser, which will bring our entire school community together for a day of fun, fitness and fundraising.
Fun and Fitness: During the Walk-a-Thon, our students reach for their personal best distance during their walk-skip-run around our school playground, while family and volunteers cheer them on. Creative GREEN costumes are encouraged!
Fundraising: The Walk-a-Thon is also a fundraiser. Whether it's $5, $25 or $100, we hope that each family will financially participate in the Walk-a-Thon to the best of their ability.
Our Fundraising Goal: Ray School is committed to keeping students moving, especially in our beautiful outdoor campus, with recess and gardening activities. Active bodies contribute to active minds. Research shows that the more our students can move during the day, the more they can stay on task during class. Funds from this Walk-a-Thon will create more opportunities for movement for our students: new recess equipment and wonderful indoor/outdoor recess staff. Additionally, this year we want to install a second, new water fountain for filling water bottles, encouraging our students to drink water instead of sugary juices and soda. Let's help our children's bodies and brains stay fit and sharp!
REGISTER YOUR STUDENT TODAY!
Week 5/6/19 to 5/10/19
All students will be taking the End of the Year Benchmark Assessment
Week of 4/29/19 to 5/3/19
8TH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C.
All students will be taking the End of the Year Benchmark Assessment
Week of 4/29/19 to 5/3/19
8TH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C.
Week of 4/22/2019 to 4/26/2019
Welcome to 4th quarter! This means that we have about nine weeks of school left and things will move quickly as we approach our last NWEA Test. I still encourage everyone to continue reading independently for 30 minutes or more each day.
This week in ELA 7th grade will begin a unit on argumentative writing. We will be taking notes on the important aspects of this type of essay, choosing topics, taking a stance, writing a claim and thesis statement and developing reasons to support their claim. Parents please have open dialogue with your student about their topic.
Eighth grade will continue to use Common Lit to practice skills and areas of need. All 8th grade students should have turned in their essays the week before spring break.
In other news:
We will be taking our trip to Chicago State University for an Etiquette Luncheon. If you were chosen to participate please remember to dress up. No Jeans!
Homework:
Read theory (4)
Book logs - 30 minutes of reading every night
Complete Common Lit assignments (8th only)
Welcome to 4th quarter! This means that we have about nine weeks of school left and things will move quickly as we approach our last NWEA Test. I still encourage everyone to continue reading independently for 30 minutes or more each day.
This week in ELA 7th grade will begin a unit on argumentative writing. We will be taking notes on the important aspects of this type of essay, choosing topics, taking a stance, writing a claim and thesis statement and developing reasons to support their claim. Parents please have open dialogue with your student about their topic.
Eighth grade will continue to use Common Lit to practice skills and areas of need. All 8th grade students should have turned in their essays the week before spring break.
In other news:
We will be taking our trip to Chicago State University for an Etiquette Luncheon. If you were chosen to participate please remember to dress up. No Jeans!
Homework:
Read theory (4)
Book logs - 30 minutes of reading every night
Complete Common Lit assignments (8th only)
RAY WARRIOR PRE & POST SPRING BREAK CHALLENGE
Qualifying Criteria: On time and Present Every day and no Infractions!
Week 30 – April 12, 2019- Staff vs Students Sports Event
Week 31 – April 26, 2019-Spring Fling Party!!!
Qualifying Criteria: On time and Present Every day and no Infractions!
Week 30 – April 12, 2019- Staff vs Students Sports Event
Week 31 – April 26, 2019-Spring Fling Party!!!
Week of 4/8/2029 to 4/12/2019
Its parent teacher conferences/report card pick-up week!!! Please check classdojo for our sign-up sheet (homeroom only).
This week 7th grade will be watching the Ernest Green Story and using it to contrast with our novel, Warriors Don't Cry, as a fun way to finish the unit.
8th grade will begin using our new online resource, Common Lit to practice and improve skills in their small groups. We will start with poetry and figurative language. All assignments are linked to Google Classroom.
Homework
Read theory (4)
Book logs - 30 minutes of reading every night
Complete Common Lit assignments (8th only)
Its parent teacher conferences/report card pick-up week!!! Please check classdojo for our sign-up sheet (homeroom only).
This week 7th grade will be watching the Ernest Green Story and using it to contrast with our novel, Warriors Don't Cry, as a fun way to finish the unit.
8th grade will begin using our new online resource, Common Lit to practice and improve skills in their small groups. We will start with poetry and figurative language. All assignments are linked to Google Classroom.
Homework
Read theory (4)
Book logs - 30 minutes of reading every night
Complete Common Lit assignments (8th only)
Week of 3/25/2019 to 3/29/2019
America to Me: A Ray School Watch Party and Community Dialogue
Join Ray parents and staff to view and discuss the first episode of the critically-acclaimed documentary series, America to Me. The series explores issues of race and inequity at Oak Park River Forest High School. From 6:00-8:00 on Thursday, April 4, we will gather to eat, watch, talk about the episode and how it relates to our own experiences. 7th and 8th graders are welcome to attend with a parent. Childcare will be provided for younger children. Reach out to friendsofraypto@gmail.com with any questions.
In 7th grade ELA news we will be reading chapters 14-17 of our novel, Warriors Don't Cry. We will use our novel to compare to the poem, Equality, by Maya Angelou and answer text dependent questions. Students will have quizzes on each chapter so please be prepared by reading all chapters.
8th grade has finished our novel, Night, and will begin writing our argumentative/analysis essay. We will be watching the movie Hidden in Silence and comparing the text to the movie. Students will develop their claim and 3 reasons this week to begin drafting essays.
Homework
Read theory - 4
7th complete chapter reading
America to Me: A Ray School Watch Party and Community Dialogue
Join Ray parents and staff to view and discuss the first episode of the critically-acclaimed documentary series, America to Me. The series explores issues of race and inequity at Oak Park River Forest High School. From 6:00-8:00 on Thursday, April 4, we will gather to eat, watch, talk about the episode and how it relates to our own experiences. 7th and 8th graders are welcome to attend with a parent. Childcare will be provided for younger children. Reach out to friendsofraypto@gmail.com with any questions.
In 7th grade ELA news we will be reading chapters 14-17 of our novel, Warriors Don't Cry. We will use our novel to compare to the poem, Equality, by Maya Angelou and answer text dependent questions. Students will have quizzes on each chapter so please be prepared by reading all chapters.
8th grade has finished our novel, Night, and will begin writing our argumentative/analysis essay. We will be watching the movie Hidden in Silence and comparing the text to the movie. Students will develop their claim and 3 reasons this week to begin drafting essays.
Homework
Read theory - 4
7th complete chapter reading
Week of 3/11/2019 to 3/15/2019
Greetings!
This week students will be taking the Illinois Readiness Assessment Test (IRA). CPS has replaced this test with the PARCC Exam so please ensure that all students are well rested and have had a healthy breakfast so that they can do their best on the test. If you have any questions please contact me or the office. We will pick back up with our lessons at the top of next week.
Greetings!
This week students will be taking the Illinois Readiness Assessment Test (IRA). CPS has replaced this test with the PARCC Exam so please ensure that all students are well rested and have had a healthy breakfast so that they can do their best on the test. If you have any questions please contact me or the office. We will pick back up with our lessons at the top of next week.
Week of 2/25/2019 to 3/1/2019
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week 7th grade will read President Eisenhower's speech during the time of integration as well as look into poetry written by Langston Hughes. 8th grade will participate in in-depth discussions around the novel and interpret the meaning of several different quotations. With 2 partners, students will have the opportunity to lead a class discussion.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 8
8th grade - pages 85-97
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete text-dependent questions - 7th
Complete quote interpretations - 8th
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week 7th grade will read President Eisenhower's speech during the time of integration as well as look into poetry written by Langston Hughes. 8th grade will participate in in-depth discussions around the novel and interpret the meaning of several different quotations. With 2 partners, students will have the opportunity to lead a class discussion.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 8
8th grade - pages 85-97
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete text-dependent questions - 7th
Complete quote interpretations - 8th
Week of 2/18/2019 to 2/22/2019
Attendance Incentive Field Trip - 2/22/2019
International Movie Night - 6:00 pm
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week we will look at the different types of figurative languages used in our novels and the impact it has on the overall story.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 7
8th grade - pages 65-84
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete figurative language chart in google classroom
Attendance Incentive Field Trip - 2/22/2019
International Movie Night - 6:00 pm
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week we will look at the different types of figurative languages used in our novels and the impact it has on the overall story.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 7
8th grade - pages 65-84
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete figurative language chart in google classroom
Week of 2/11/2019 to 2/15/2019
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week we will study tone and mood. WE will look at the authors choice of words and the mood it creates for the reader as well as the characters.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 6
8th grade - pages 47 - 64
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete tone and mood charts
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week we will study tone and mood. WE will look at the authors choice of words and the mood it creates for the reader as well as the characters.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 6
8th grade - pages 47 - 64
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete tone and mood charts
Week of 2/4/2019 to 2/8/2019
Welcome to 3rd. Quarter
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week we will look at the different conflicts and how it changed our characters.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 4-5
8th grade - pages 28 - 46
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete conflict charts
Welcome to 3rd. Quarter
This week we will continue to read our class novels, Warriors Don't Cry for 7th grade and Night for 8th grade. Students are really enjoying our novels and our class discussions around the many themes and/or life lessons our characters are learning. This week we will look at the different conflicts and how it changed our characters.
This week's reading:
7th grade - chapters 4-5
8th grade - pages 28 - 46
Please be sure to stay caught up with your reading and be prepared for out end of the week quiz.
Homework:
Read theory - (4)
Novel reading and book log
Complete conflict charts
Week of 1/14/2019 to 1/18/2019
NWEA Testing this week!
This week we will be taking the MOY NWEA Test in ELA Class. All students will have to 2 days to test with Friday being a day for make up testing. Please be sure to get a good night's rest along with a healthy breakfast. All students will be testing for 2 hours straight and we want to make sure they are ready.
No Read Theory this week!
Continue to read for 30 minutes or more every day.
NWEA Testing this week!
This week we will be taking the MOY NWEA Test in ELA Class. All students will have to 2 days to test with Friday being a day for make up testing. Please be sure to get a good night's rest along with a healthy breakfast. All students will be testing for 2 hours straight and we want to make sure they are ready.
No Read Theory this week!
Continue to read for 30 minutes or more every day.
1/14/2019
Our Valentine’s Event
Attention Students/Parents/Guardians,
You are cordially invited to the Ray School Valentine’s Day sale! In an effort to spread positivity around the school, student council will be selling poems and candy bags ($2). Don’t miss out, send your children to school with money so that they will be able to purchase items to either give to friends at school or simply buy for themselves. The more money your children are supplied with, the more items they will be able purchase. All proceeds go to funding for graduation festivities at the end of the year. Student Council will be collecting the money with orders on the week of February 1st - 8th. We will ONLY take orders that week! Deliveries of poems and candy will be made to students on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Thank You,
Student Council
Our Valentine’s Event
Attention Students/Parents/Guardians,
You are cordially invited to the Ray School Valentine’s Day sale! In an effort to spread positivity around the school, student council will be selling poems and candy bags ($2). Don’t miss out, send your children to school with money so that they will be able to purchase items to either give to friends at school or simply buy for themselves. The more money your children are supplied with, the more items they will be able purchase. All proceeds go to funding for graduation festivities at the end of the year. Student Council will be collecting the money with orders on the week of February 1st - 8th. We will ONLY take orders that week! Deliveries of poems and candy will be made to students on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Thank You,
Student Council
Week of 1/7/2019 - 1/13/2019
Welcome back and Happy New Year!
This week we will begin reading our new novels. 7th grade will be reading Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo-Beals and 8th grade will be reading Night by Elie Wiesel. We will start with chapters 1 and 2 of each book, answer text-dependent questions, and annotate non-fiction articles as supplemental resources.
Homework and due dates
Book logs - due Tuesday and Wednesday
Read Theory - Due Friday
Read every night for 30 minutes and mark book log
Welcome back and Happy New Year!
This week we will begin reading our new novels. 7th grade will be reading Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo-Beals and 8th grade will be reading Night by Elie Wiesel. We will start with chapters 1 and 2 of each book, answer text-dependent questions, and annotate non-fiction articles as supplemental resources.
Homework and due dates
Book logs - due Tuesday and Wednesday
Read Theory - Due Friday
Read every night for 30 minutes and mark book log
Spelling Bee
The Ray School Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, January 9th. A list of words were given to students who were interested in participating. Our in-class spelling bee will be held on January 7th and 8th. The winners will move on to the school wide spelling bee. Good luck to all of our spellers!
The Ray School Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, January 9th. A list of words were given to students who were interested in participating. Our in-class spelling bee will be held on January 7th and 8th. The winners will move on to the school wide spelling bee. Good luck to all of our spellers!
Week of 12/17/18 to 12/21/2018
It's Spirit Week
Monday- Ugly/Beautiful Sweater Day, Contest by grade level (Junior Achievement Day)
Tuesday- Candy Cane Day, Bring to share with classmates and/or dress like one (Field trip - Wolves Hockey Game)
Wednesday- Best Green and/or Red Outfit
Thursday- Pajama, Stuff Animal, Optional Movie Day in classrooms
Friday
Morning -Winter Caroling starting @9am (Same as last year, 1st Floor first)
Afternoon -Sports Day by class or grade level
It's Spirit Week
Monday- Ugly/Beautiful Sweater Day, Contest by grade level (Junior Achievement Day)
Tuesday- Candy Cane Day, Bring to share with classmates and/or dress like one (Field trip - Wolves Hockey Game)
Wednesday- Best Green and/or Red Outfit
Thursday- Pajama, Stuff Animal, Optional Movie Day in classrooms
Friday
Morning -Winter Caroling starting @9am (Same as last year, 1st Floor first)
Afternoon -Sports Day by class or grade level
Week of 12/10/18 to 12/14/2018
This week we will continue to work with non-fiction text. 7th grade will continue to study The Civil Rights Movement while 8th grade studies The Holocaust. We will conduct 2 close reads of our articles. The first read will be for the purpose of understanding and annotating while the second read will focus on making inferences from the text. We will also continue to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in these articles and add them to our vocabulary section of our Reader's Notebook.
Homework
All assignments not finished in class should be done for homework unless stated differently
30 min reading every night (Parents I need your support to ensure this is happening)
Mark book logs (due next week)
Read theory (4)
Attendance Challenge
Please continue to arrive to school EVERYDAY and on-time for the rest of the December. Students will be rewarded for their perfect attendance for this short month, before winter break.
This week we will continue to work with non-fiction text. 7th grade will continue to study The Civil Rights Movement while 8th grade studies The Holocaust. We will conduct 2 close reads of our articles. The first read will be for the purpose of understanding and annotating while the second read will focus on making inferences from the text. We will also continue to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in these articles and add them to our vocabulary section of our Reader's Notebook.
Homework
All assignments not finished in class should be done for homework unless stated differently
30 min reading every night (Parents I need your support to ensure this is happening)
Mark book logs (due next week)
Read theory (4)
Attendance Challenge
Please continue to arrive to school EVERYDAY and on-time for the rest of the December. Students will be rewarded for their perfect attendance for this short month, before winter break.
Week of 12/03/18 to 12/07/18
This week we will continue to work on non-fiction text using A Pivotal Moment in the Civil Rights Movement for 7th grade and Facing History and Ourselves - The Holocaust for 8th grade. All students will examine and analyze non- fiction text related to these topics, looking for central ideas and evidence to support. We will also examine the structure of the text.
Homework
30 min reading every night (Parents I need your support to ensure this is happening)
Mark book logs (due next week)
Read theory (4)
This week we will continue to work on non-fiction text using A Pivotal Moment in the Civil Rights Movement for 7th grade and Facing History and Ourselves - The Holocaust for 8th grade. All students will examine and analyze non- fiction text related to these topics, looking for central ideas and evidence to support. We will also examine the structure of the text.
Homework
30 min reading every night (Parents I need your support to ensure this is happening)
Mark book logs (due next week)
Read theory (4)
Week of 11/26/2018 to 11/30/2018
This week we will continue to work on non-fiction text using A Pivotal Moment in the Civil Rights Movement for 7th grade and Facing History and Ourselves - The Holocaust for 8th grade. All students will examine and analyze non- fiction text related to these topics, looking for central ideas and evidence to support. We will also examine the structure of the text.
Homework
30 min reading every night (Parents I need your support to ensure this is happening)
Mark book logs (due next week)
Read theory (4)
Week of 11/5/2018 to 11/9/2018
This week begins the 1st week of the 2nd quarter. Just a reminder 1st quarter report card pick up will be November 14, 2018 where you will have a chance to meet with your child's teachers about their progress in school.
This week in ELA 7th grade will continue working on their personal narratives. We will focus on adding dialogue to our stories as well as learning how to show and not tell details in the story. Students will continue drafting during class this week. Parents, please check for your child's short story. They should have about half of it written at this point.
Drafts are due Friday of this week!
8th grade will be working on developing their analysis and writing skills by using our independent reading novels. It is important that students master writing an analysis. Students are required to write an analysis twice per month. We will also review a few concepts that we didn't master in quarter 1.
This week's homework
30 min reading every night (Parents I need your support to ensure this is happening)
Mark book logs (due this week)
Read theory (4)
Drafts for 7th grade (Friday)
This week begins the 1st week of the 2nd quarter. Just a reminder 1st quarter report card pick up will be November 14, 2018 where you will have a chance to meet with your child's teachers about their progress in school.
This week in ELA 7th grade will continue working on their personal narratives. We will focus on adding dialogue to our stories as well as learning how to show and not tell details in the story. Students will continue drafting during class this week. Parents, please check for your child's short story. They should have about half of it written at this point.
Drafts are due Friday of this week!
8th grade will be working on developing their analysis and writing skills by using our independent reading novels. It is important that students master writing an analysis. Students are required to write an analysis twice per month. We will also review a few concepts that we didn't master in quarter 1.
This week's homework
30 min reading every night (Parents I need your support to ensure this is happening)
Mark book logs (due this week)
Read theory (4)
Drafts for 7th grade (Friday)
Week of 10/22/2018 to 10/27/2018
We are approaching the end of our short story unit and this week 7th graders will begin drafting their narratives. We will revisit plot, point of view, dialogue and using our 5 senses to show not tell. We will draft this week and next week making sure that we are adding all important parts of a story into our narratives. 8th graders will continue to work on their short story projects and begin presenting this week.
Homework
30 minutes of reading every night - mark book log
Read Theory (4)
Due this week
Analysis (2) in the Independent Reading section of our notebooks - please see the rubric
UIC and Loyola - 10/23
U of C and DePaul - 10/25
Week of 10/15/2018 to 10/22/2018
This week we will continue with our short story unit. 7th graders will identify the different types of conflict in their story, Raymond's Run and explain how the conflict moves the story along. We will also work with developing our vocabulary be defining unfamiliar words in from the story as well. 8th grade will define unfamiliar words in their story, The Most Dangerous Game along with starting a project to go along with it. Project details can be found on google classroom.
Homework
30 minutes of reading every night - mark book log
Read Theory (4)
8th grade - begin project (due Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct 23 and Oct. 24)
This week we will continue with our short story unit. 7th graders will identify the different types of conflict in their story, Raymond's Run and explain how the conflict moves the story along. We will also work with developing our vocabulary be defining unfamiliar words in from the story as well. 8th grade will define unfamiliar words in their story, The Most Dangerous Game along with starting a project to go along with it. Project details can be found on google classroom.
Homework
30 minutes of reading every night - mark book log
Read Theory (4)
8th grade - begin project (due Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct 23 and Oct. 24)
Week of 10/8/2018 to 10/12/2018
This week we will continue our short story unit, reading The Most Dangerous Game and Raymond's Run. Students will analyze these stories, respond to text dependent questions, and examine the meaning of the figurative language used. Students will also continue to write their first analysis in their Reader's Notebooks using stop and jots and literary devices.
Please be sure that 30 minutes or more of reading is happening at home on a daily basis and reading is being logged.
This week's homework
Read Theory
Independent Reading/book logs
Due this week
Book logs with school and home reading logged - 10/11/2018
This week we will continue our short story unit, reading The Most Dangerous Game and Raymond's Run. Students will analyze these stories, respond to text dependent questions, and examine the meaning of the figurative language used. Students will also continue to write their first analysis in their Reader's Notebooks using stop and jots and literary devices.
Please be sure that 30 minutes or more of reading is happening at home on a daily basis and reading is being logged.
This week's homework
Read Theory
Independent Reading/book logs
Due this week
Book logs with school and home reading logged - 10/11/2018
Week of 10/1 to 10/5
This week in ELA class we will continue to analyze our short stories from last week, instead we will look at the many different themes in the text. Students will have an opportunity to incorporate last week's vocabulary words into this week's analysis of theme. We will also examine the types of irony in the text and determine its impact on the story.
Homework:
Theme charts are due day 2 of class
Read Theory (4)
Please continue reading every night for 30 minutes or more and log it on your book logs.
This week in ELA class we will continue to analyze our short stories from last week, instead we will look at the many different themes in the text. Students will have an opportunity to incorporate last week's vocabulary words into this week's analysis of theme. We will also examine the types of irony in the text and determine its impact on the story.
Homework:
Theme charts are due day 2 of class
Read Theory (4)
Please continue reading every night for 30 minutes or more and log it on your book logs.
Week of 9/24 to 9/28
This week we will be starting our unit on short stories. 7th grade will begin with Thank you Ma'am by Langston Hughes and end with The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, while 8th grade will be reading The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and Raymond's Run by Toni Cade Bombara. With these short stories we will be sharpening our skills of analyzing, inferring, and supporting details with evidence. We will practice literary devices such as identifying character traits, motivation (7th), symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony (8th). By the end of the unit students will have the opportunity to write their own short stories and include at least one literary device, while paying attention to plot and dialogue. We will also continue to practice our stop and jots while reading independently, at home and at school.
All students should have post-it notes. It was apart of their school supply list.
Homework
7th grade - complete character traits and motivation chart
8th grade - complete foreshadow question and symbolism chart
Read Theory (4 passages) due Friday
Reading log due - 10/8/2018
30 minutes or more of daily/nightly reading - mark book log (one side for home and one side for school)
Week of 9/17 to 9/21
Last week we were able to complete NWEA Testing. This week we are going to focus on building and organizing our classroom library. Students will have an opportunity to explore our classroom library and all of the genres we offer, check out books, and practice reading comprehension strategies such as analyzing, inferring, and predicting, using the stop and jot method. All students should have sticky notes as a part of their school supplies. They will be using sticky notes as a part of independent reading.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages) due Friday
Reading log due - 9/18/2017
30 minutes or more of daily/nightly reading - mark book log
Last week we were able to complete NWEA Testing. This week we are going to focus on building and organizing our classroom library. Students will have an opportunity to explore our classroom library and all of the genres we offer, check out books, and practice reading comprehension strategies such as analyzing, inferring, and predicting, using the stop and jot method. All students should have sticky notes as a part of their school supplies. They will be using sticky notes as a part of independent reading.
Homework
Read Theory (4 passages) due Friday
Reading log due - 9/18/2017
30 minutes or more of daily/nightly reading - mark book log
Week of 9/10 to 9/14
Reminder: Open house will be held Thursday, Sept. 13, from 4:30 - 5:30. There will be an 8th grade parent meeting at 5:30. Place TBD.
This week in ELA
This week students will be taking the Beginning of Year NWEA Test. We ask that all students have a healthy breakfast and get a good night's rest to ensure they perform their best on the test. We will continue with classroom procedures, reader's notebook set-up (all student must have a composition notebook), and classroom library logistics. It is imperative that all students are reading every night/day for at least 30 minutes or more. This will help build reading stamina, fluency and vocabulary.
Homework:
Read Theory starts this week (4 passages 70% or higher) - Due Friday, Sept, 14 by 4:00
Reading and book log
Reminder: Open house will be held Thursday, Sept. 13, from 4:30 - 5:30. There will be an 8th grade parent meeting at 5:30. Place TBD.
This week in ELA
This week students will be taking the Beginning of Year NWEA Test. We ask that all students have a healthy breakfast and get a good night's rest to ensure they perform their best on the test. We will continue with classroom procedures, reader's notebook set-up (all student must have a composition notebook), and classroom library logistics. It is imperative that all students are reading every night/day for at least 30 minutes or more. This will help build reading stamina, fluency and vocabulary.
Homework:
Read Theory starts this week (4 passages 70% or higher) - Due Friday, Sept, 14 by 4:00
Reading and book log
Week of 9/3 to 9/7
Homework
1) Return all forms signed and dated (emergency contact, lunch form, health form, class syllabus)
2) Sign up for Google Classroom, ReadTheory and Class Dojo
3) Bring a novel
*All assignments are due by Friday, 9/7/2018 and will be graded*
Homework
1) Return all forms signed and dated (emergency contact, lunch form, health form, class syllabus)
2) Sign up for Google Classroom, ReadTheory and Class Dojo
3) Bring a novel
*All assignments are due by Friday, 9/7/2018 and will be graded*
Welcome!
Dear Parents and Students:
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year at Ray Elementary! We hope everyone had an excellent and relaxing summer. The middle school team is looking forward to a school year filled with a love for learning and growth. We welcome regular and consistent communication and partnership in the education of your child. Parental support will be necessary in order for all students to reach their potential and strive to succeed beyond it.
We are looking forward to a very successful and exciting year! We have high academic and social expectations for your child and will provide supports to help your child achieve those expectations. It is our goal to provide all students with a challenging and fun experience in our classrooms.
Below you will find some needed information about some of the classroom policies.
Expectations
Only your child’s best behavior and work are expected and accepted at all times.
All students must:
Current grades are posted regularly to communicate progress to student and parents on Parent Portal (https://parent.cps.k12.il.us ). Our classroom blogs include links to homework assignments, assignment due dates, and a variety of other helpful information.
Volunteer
We welcome your help! The new CPS volunteer policy and online application are at the CPS Family and Community Engagement website at: https://cpsparentu.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=319488&type=d.
Sincerely,
Ray’s Middle School Team
Communication:
Kiesha Shaw-Nobles - Social Studies (Room 302)
Tisha Grudzien - Science (Room 309)
Nate Florell - Diverse Learners (Room 305)
Christa Kelley - DHH (Room 213)
Dear Parents and Students:
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year at Ray Elementary! We hope everyone had an excellent and relaxing summer. The middle school team is looking forward to a school year filled with a love for learning and growth. We welcome regular and consistent communication and partnership in the education of your child. Parental support will be necessary in order for all students to reach their potential and strive to succeed beyond it.
We are looking forward to a very successful and exciting year! We have high academic and social expectations for your child and will provide supports to help your child achieve those expectations. It is our goal to provide all students with a challenging and fun experience in our classrooms.
Below you will find some needed information about some of the classroom policies.
Expectations
Only your child’s best behavior and work are expected and accepted at all times.
All students must:
- Be on their honor. Students must do their own work on homework, class assignments, tests and projects.
- Respect themselves, classmates, and teachers.
- Do their best. Always give 100% and be positive.
- Be in attendance and be on time.
- Students shall not engage in activities that could cause harm to themselves or others.
- Students shall not talk to or about themselves, another student, or a teacher in a disrespectful or inappropriate manner.
- Students are to have all homework completed on the day it is due (see Ray Parent and Student Handbook at http://rayschool.weebly.com/ for full homework late policy).
- Students must be prepared each day by having proper materials.
- Students must follow the dress code in the Ray Parent and Student Handbook.
- All the policies in the CPS Student Code of Conduct and the Ray Parent and Teacher Handbook book must also be followed.
Current grades are posted regularly to communicate progress to student and parents on Parent Portal (https://parent.cps.k12.il.us ). Our classroom blogs include links to homework assignments, assignment due dates, and a variety of other helpful information.
Volunteer
We welcome your help! The new CPS volunteer policy and online application are at the CPS Family and Community Engagement website at: https://cpsparentu.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=319488&type=d.
Sincerely,
Ray’s Middle School Team
Communication:
- Email
- Blog
- Parent Portal: https://parent.cps.k12.il.us
Class Dojo: https://www.classdojo.com/
- Note: Each class will receive a special code. Codes will be sent home the first week of school.
- This is a great way to send text messages between home and school, monitor student behavior, and get updates about what is going on in the classroom.
- Email: lalbrecht@cps.edu
- Blog (updated weekly): http://304albrecht.blogspot.com/
- Email: snjohnson7@cps.edu
- Blog (updated weekly): http://middleschoolray.weebly.com/
Kiesha Shaw-Nobles - Social Studies (Room 302)
- Email:krshaw@cps.edu
- Blog (updated weekly):krshaw.weebly.com
Tisha Grudzien - Science (Room 309)
- Email: tgrudzien@cps.edu
- Blog (updated weekly): https://sites.google.com/cps.edu/ray-science-309
Nate Florell - Diverse Learners (Room 305)
- Email: njflorell@cps.edu
- Blog: http://nflorell.weebly.com/
Christa Kelley - DHH (Room 213)
- Email: clvalencia@cps.edu
- Blog (updated weekly): www.mrskelleydhh.weebly.com/
2018/2019 ELA Suggested Summer Homework
ELA List of Vocabulary Words
Directions: Define each term and study definitions
ELA List of Vocabulary Words
Directions: Define each term and study definitions
- Tone and Mood
- Point of View (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person limited, 3rd person omniscient)
- Theme
- Symbolism
- Author’s Purpose
- Central Idea
- Objective Summary
- Inference
- Cause and Effect
- Context Clues
- Text Structure
- Claim
- Counter-Claim
- Pre-fix
- Suffix
- Root Word
- Figurative Language
- Alliteration
- Hyperbole
- Allegory
- Irony
- Paradox
- Pun
- Oxymoron
- Verb
- Adverb
- Pronoun
- Preposition
- Conjunction
- … and finally have fun reading, reading, and reading!! :-)
Middle School Supply List 2018/2019
3″ Binder with at least 5 dividers
Loose leaf paper
6 composition notebooks
Pens: blue or black
#2 pencils
Enclosed pencil sharpener
Colored pencils (at least pack of 8)
Highlighters (2 different colors)
Glue stick
Scissors
Ruler (with inches and centimeters)
Pocket folders with 3 holes to keep in binder (6)
1 roll of paper towel
1 box of Kleenex
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
1 box of large zip lock bags
1 pack of 3″ x 5″ lined index cards
1 pack of graph paper
1 pack post-it notes
1 ream of copy paper
Safety goggles for science class
3″ Binder with at least 5 dividers
Loose leaf paper
6 composition notebooks
Pens: blue or black
#2 pencils
Enclosed pencil sharpener
Colored pencils (at least pack of 8)
Highlighters (2 different colors)
Glue stick
Scissors
Ruler (with inches and centimeters)
Pocket folders with 3 holes to keep in binder (6)
1 roll of paper towel
1 box of Kleenex
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
1 box of large zip lock bags
1 pack of 3″ x 5″ lined index cards
1 pack of graph paper
1 pack post-it notes
1 ream of copy paper
Safety goggles for science class
This week in ELA 5/21/2018
* NWEA testing will start the week of 5/21/2018 for 8th grade and 5/29/2018 for 7th grade. Please be sure to eat a healthy breakfast and get a good night's rest.
* Reminder
1) Complete Read Theory weekly - 3 quizzes
2) 7th grade - Work to complete all pre-writing activities (due no later than 5/22) as well as your rough draft - Due 5/24
3) 7th grade Final Essay due 6/1
* NWEA testing will start the week of 5/21/2018 for 8th grade and 5/29/2018 for 7th grade. Please be sure to eat a healthy breakfast and get a good night's rest.
* Reminder
1) Complete Read Theory weekly - 3 quizzes
2) 7th grade - Work to complete all pre-writing activities (due no later than 5/22) as well as your rough draft - Due 5/24
3) 7th grade Final Essay due 6/1
Hi Parents!
Ray School is having a roller skating party to raise funds to offset the costs for this year's 8th grade graduation activities. Please join us on May 20th from 12:30 - 3:30 at The Rink located at 1122 E.87th St. Chicago, IL 60619. The tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. All are welcome.Here is the link and we hope to see you there!
http://rayschool.weebly.com/skating-party.html
Mrs. Johnson-Finner
Ray School is having a roller skating party to raise funds to offset the costs for this year's 8th grade graduation activities. Please join us on May 20th from 12:30 - 3:30 at The Rink located at 1122 E.87th St. Chicago, IL 60619. The tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. All are welcome.Here is the link and we hope to see you there!
http://rayschool.weebly.com/skating-party.html
Mrs. Johnson-Finner
Parent/Teacher conferences
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Dear Parents,
Report Card pick-up is scheduled for Wednesday,April 18, 2018 from 11-6. Please be advised that meetings with Mrs. Finner will be on a first come first serve basis lasting up to 10 minutes. If you are unable to make it during this time please contact me at snjohnson7@cps.edu and we can set up a different time that is better for your schedule. Thanks and I hope to see you soon.
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