LIZ'S SENIOR LEARNERS CLASS

Our fall apprenticeship ended this week with the Shinnecock Oyster Hatchery. However, we will

remain on-call for the occasional big project. On the last day of the apprenticeship, our mentor,

Mila Mckey, had an endless supply of fresh-shucked oysters for the kids to enjoy. On our way out

of the door, he surprised us with homework in a bag to bring back to school, which turned out to

be fixings for Po Boy sandwiches, sauces, oysters, and all, to make in the classroom. We fried the

oysters and enjoyed the sandwiches tremendously.

Each student has devised an independent study related to the apprenticeship, such as oyster farm-

ing, a study of eels, and the diversity of marine life in Shinnecock Bay. The kids are busy research.

ing and creating digital portfolios of their learning.

The first draft of our essays is due next week. We'll give one another helpful feedback and refine

our work through revision. The kids will spend time delving deeply into their written work, expand

ing their ideas and sentences, and attending to their essay's organizational structure.