English II & English III

Hello Students and Families of Crane Medical Prep High School!

My name is Mr. Sean Eichenser (he/him), and I'll be your English II/III instructor this year! I started with the Crane family last year and I'm excited to step into this role and guide you on a journey through the power of language! 

A little about me: I've been an ELA, Writing, and English teacher in the CPS system for the past ten years, and I've had the privilege of working with incredible students. I'm also graduate of the International Baccalaureate program, so I'm very familiar with the IB Learner Profile and the rigor of its assessments. I believe in fostering a classroom environment where we are all thinkers, communicators, and risk-takers.  A few years ago, I was even nominated for a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, which was an incredible honor.

For English II

We'll be focusing on how culture shapes our identity and how we, in turn, can shape the world around us. We will begin by asking, "How is my identity connected to my culture?" and "To what extent am I defined by my culture?". Students will have the opportunity to reflect on these questions personally, culminating in the creation of your own original poem and an artist's statement that connects your experiences to the themes we discuss in class.

In the second half of the year, our focus will shift to the power of inquiry and advocacy, asking how research can help us tackle complex problems and how individuals can bring about change. This will lead to a significant research project where you will develop a "Proposal for Youth Activism" to address a real-world environmental issue. We will conclude our year with a deep dive into Shakespeare's Macbeth, exploring the difference between the public and private self. Your final task will be to compose a literary argument comparing different representations of this famous play.

For English III

We will be focusing on our essential question: "What drives who gets to tell their story and who gets silenced?". This inquiry will lead us through powerful texts and culminate in you crafting and delivering your own TED Talk. Our journey will continue as we examine how our pasts inform our present, analyzing works like Shakespeare's Hamlet.

For Shakespeare's Hamlet we'll be investigating its connections to modern-day issues. In the first four weeks, we'll be reading the first two acts of Hamlet and analyzing the characters and themes. We'll also be comparing and contrasting Hamlet with Kendrick Lamar's song "PRIDE." In the next five weeks, we'll be reading Acts 3 and 4 of Hamlet and continuing to explore the themes of the play. We'll also be looking at how Shakespeare uses language to create character and mood. In the final five to six weeks, we'll be finishing up Hamlet and looking at how the play has been interpreted in different ways over time. We'll also be looking at Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade and exploring the themes of gender and identity.  

Throughout the course, students will be developing their critical thinking and communication skills. They'll be participating in discussions, writing essays, and creating projects. They'll also be using technology to create and share their work with each other and with the world.

Hello Families and Caretakers of Crane Medical Prep High School!

I am a firm believer in open communication and a strong home-school connection.  Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have throughout the semester.  You can contact me via email at seichenser@cps.edu.  I'm looking forward to working together to help your child succeed in English III/IV. Please allow a 24-48 hour window for responses. I am unavailable on weekends: for emails received after the school day on Friday, please give until the end of the following Monday. For emergencies, please contact the Front Office.

Another Note About Email:

My email automatically translates into English, please write to me in whatever language you feel the most comfortable.

Mi correo electrónico se traduce automáticamente al inglés, escríbame en el idioma que le resulte más cómodo.

Mój adres e-mail automatycznie tłumaczy się na język angielski, napisz do mnie w języku, który najbardziej Ci odpowiada.

يتم ترجمة بريدي الإلكتروني تلقائيًا إلى الإنجليزية ، يرجى الكتابة لي بلغة أكثر ما تشعر به مريحة.