Erin Lair's blog

And we're off...

...like a herd of turtles. At least that is what I would like the Seniors to try to think. As we get into the introduction of the Senior Project we are stepping slowly and intentionally in order to set up a successful end result. The Senior Project course will result in a final project that will reflect on a process not a product. Students are going to explore an interest and the possible implications that interest may have on their future careers or schooling. This does not need to result in a completed and published novel or a fully finished motorcycle.

Update as we close out Quarter 3

We are heading into the last week of Quarter 3 which means wrapping up Shakespeare in English 9 and starting into applications of all we have learned in Algebra I.

English 9:

We finished A Midsummer Night's Dream last week. This week we will have the opportunity to reflect on the meaning and underlying themes of the play as well as close out our exploration of humor. We will also look at sonnets, both Shakespearean and others, and have a chance to write our own in the style of Sonnet 130.

Half Way Through Quarter 3!!

Wow, we are already almost half way through 3rd Quarter!

English 9: We are charging through "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and exploring humor as a genre. Our Humor group projects will be presented on Wednesday this week. Class time will be given to complete this project today. Most groups should have a great start on these projects already.

Next week, we will continue and complete the play.

Final Greek Mythology Project

English 9 folks

As we wrap up our unit on Greek Mythology, you will complete one final project. We will discuss this project in class. Please see the attached template for this project, and the instructions below (a hard copy can be downloaded from the attachments as well).

Facebook Greek Mythology Summary (the "who"- tell me all you know about who this character is)

Pushing Toward the End of Semester 2!

In English 9, we have completed the abridged, albeit still lengthy, Odyssey by Homer. Looking in to the next two weeks we will be learning about many of the Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes described by our classmates in their Greek Mythology Tic-Tac-Toe projects. The last project is due this Thursday, January 5, 2012. Some of the myths we will discuss are "Icarus and Daedalus," "Perseus and the Gorgon," "Theseus and the Minotaur," and "Orpheus and Euridyce." We may also visit the story of "Narcissus."

Heading into Christmas Break

We are really cruising through the year!

In the next two weeks, we will be wrapping up quite a few concepts in both English and math prior to our winter break.

English 9: We will be finishing The Odyssey by Homer and taking a quiz over the second part of the story, Odysseus' return, on Monday (Dec. 12). We will move next week into a look at the hero's journey and ask the question, "What if Santa was Greek?" to create a hero's journey of good 'ol Saint Nick.

Barbie Bungee Jumping

Week of November 7

We are really cruising through the 2nd Quarter already!

In English 9:

The first of our Tic-Tac-Toe projects is due this Thursday. We will have an opportunity to share our projects and learn from each other! If we get through all the projects and have additional time, we will be continuing on our journey with Odysseus in the The Odyssey.

In Algebra 1:

Mrs. Lair's Classes

This week in English, we are continuing to discuss Homer's Odyssey. Don't forget that the first of your "Tic-Tac-Toe" projects are due next Thursday (if you do not have the project sheet, find it below).

Vocabulary Unit 5 is due Monday, November 7!

New Quarter, New Excitement!

As we curve into 2nd Quarter, I wanted to give a forecast as to what you can expect.