Thursday, March 5, 2015
Commenting Review Week
I usually look for any overarching comments that could possibly help my writing. If it is a comment about a specific blog post, I may try to keep it in my mind for the future. However if the comment cannot be applied to future blog posts, then I do not worry about them. It is usually the comments that are talking about my writing overall are the ones I remember to help improve my writing in future blog posts.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Writing Review Week
Overall, I think my writing has improved from the storytelling posts. The posts have caused me to think out of the box more, which has led me to become more creative in my writing.
The biggest challenge I find is sometimes taking the stories I have read that week and turning them into a creative writing story. Other than that, I do not have a lot of challenges when it comes to these particular posts.
I chose to use this photo to represent the storytelling post I wrote titled, "Rain's Journey". I was very proud of that post and thought I did very well on it.
The biggest challenge I find is sometimes taking the stories I have read that week and turning them into a creative writing story. Other than that, I do not have a lot of challenges when it comes to these particular posts.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Reading Review Week
As the weeks have passed by, I have started to realize the ease of using my reading diary as inspiration for my storytelling posts. I did not realize this at the beginning, so I would go through the un-textbook and try to find a story that matched my fancy. After that, I would then create a story based on the story I had just read. But now I realize I can create a story for my storytelling post based on the stories I am reading for that week. That way, I already have a story read and do not need to go through and search the textbook.
In terms of enjoyment, I am enjoying reading the stories, however I think that the reading diary posts are boring. I understand they are necessary and I know that there has to be some way for the students to show that they have done the reading. While I do not have any ideas as to what would help make the reading diaries more interesting, maybe a couple of specific questions student will have to answer, I think that there could be some way to make the reading diaries more enjoyable for the students.
I decided to use this photo because I very much enjoyed reading the Sinbad stories. The different adventures that Sinbad went on, even if he could avoided all of the terror by just not going, were always so exciting that it was a joy to read those stories. This photo came from my reading diary B, and I liked it because it shows the true scale of the Roc, or baby Rocs compared to the average human man.
In terms of enjoyment, I am enjoying reading the stories, however I think that the reading diary posts are boring. I understand they are necessary and I know that there has to be some way for the students to show that they have done the reading. While I do not have any ideas as to what would help make the reading diaries more interesting, maybe a couple of specific questions student will have to answer, I think that there could be some way to make the reading diaries more enjoyable for the students.
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I decided to use this photo because I very much enjoyed reading the Sinbad stories. The different adventures that Sinbad went on, even if he could avoided all of the terror by just not going, were always so exciting that it was a joy to read those stories. This photo came from my reading diary B, and I liked it because it shows the true scale of the Roc, or baby Rocs compared to the average human man.
Famous Last Words for Week 7
This past week has been a constant hustle and bustle. My schedule has turned into me scheduling out just about every free minute I have to prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed from everything I have to do.
I am supposed to find out about graduate school acceptances/rejections this week. The snow this past week, however, is making that a little hard to do because I have no idea whether or not the schools stayed open on the days that other interviews were supposed to happen. Right now it is just a lot of anxious waiting and trying to find other things to occupy my mind.
The good thing about the snow this past week is that it gave me some time to catch up on some of the work I needed to get done. I also had my roommates dog to keep me company, which always makes for a good study buddy.
Since we are in the middle of the semester, it can get harder and harder to stay on top of things. I know that is certainly the case for me. I just keep reminding myself to take things one day at a time and to also use the free time I have productively. It may be a pain to do that now but I know I will thank myself in the long run.
We are almost at spring break which is definitely something I am needing. That about sums it up for my week last week. Now, on to this week.
I am supposed to find out about graduate school acceptances/rejections this week. The snow this past week, however, is making that a little hard to do because I have no idea whether or not the schools stayed open on the days that other interviews were supposed to happen. Right now it is just a lot of anxious waiting and trying to find other things to occupy my mind.
The good thing about the snow this past week is that it gave me some time to catch up on some of the work I needed to get done. I also had my roommates dog to keep me company, which always makes for a good study buddy.
(Personal Photo of my roommate's dog Koda as she looks at the snow)
Since we are in the middle of the semester, it can get harder and harder to stay on top of things. I know that is certainly the case for me. I just keep reminding myself to take things one day at a time and to also use the free time I have productively. It may be a pain to do that now but I know I will thank myself in the long run.
We are almost at spring break which is definitely something I am needing. That about sums it up for my week last week. Now, on to this week.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Extra Reading Diary - Stories From The Congo
For this reading diary, I am finishing reading Stories From the Congo, which I first started last week with my extra reading diary for week 6.
The Antelope and The Leopard - This is why you always follow through with your word. Whenever you do not do this, something bad will happen.
How The Spider Won and Lost Nzambi's Daughter - At the beginning of the story, the spider expressed his intent to marry the daughter if the others helped him. They helped him and they complained, which they shouldn't have because they knew what the spider was going to do from the beginning.
The Turtle and The Man - When people don't share, and are selfish, bad things happen to them. What goes around comes around.
The Gazelle and the Leopard - This story confused me for the fact that I can't understand why there was a point of this story. I couldn't find any moral of the story or anything like that.
The Fetish Sunga - Bad things happen to bad people that do bad things. The great-uncle lied about the fish, so he then lost his ability to talk and could no longer speak.
The Rabbit and the Antelope - A lot of these stories are about bad people and what happens to bad people. The good person, like the antelope, is always able to get back at the bad person and be victorious in the stories.
The Fight Between the Two Fetishes - Compared to the other stories, it seemed like this story was a lot more historical while the other stories were just stories. It added a different twist on the story.
The Fetish of Chilunga - That is a rather powerful fetish and it seems like the fetish was the one who ruled the country, and not the princess.
The Leopard and the Crocodile - This, once again, shows that cunning beats brawn and might.
Why The Crocodile Does Not Eat The Hen - This is a creative way to show the link between all creatures, and it was certainly smart of the hen.
The Three Brothers - You never know what someone is capable of until they are nurtured and allowed to become the best they can be.
The Antelope and The Leopard - This is why you always follow through with your word. Whenever you do not do this, something bad will happen.
How The Spider Won and Lost Nzambi's Daughter - At the beginning of the story, the spider expressed his intent to marry the daughter if the others helped him. They helped him and they complained, which they shouldn't have because they knew what the spider was going to do from the beginning.
The Turtle and The Man - When people don't share, and are selfish, bad things happen to them. What goes around comes around.
The Gazelle and the Leopard - This story confused me for the fact that I can't understand why there was a point of this story. I couldn't find any moral of the story or anything like that.
The Fetish Sunga - Bad things happen to bad people that do bad things. The great-uncle lied about the fish, so he then lost his ability to talk and could no longer speak.
The Rabbit and the Antelope - A lot of these stories are about bad people and what happens to bad people. The good person, like the antelope, is always able to get back at the bad person and be victorious in the stories.
The Fight Between the Two Fetishes - Compared to the other stories, it seemed like this story was a lot more historical while the other stories were just stories. It added a different twist on the story.
The Fetish of Chilunga - That is a rather powerful fetish and it seems like the fetish was the one who ruled the country, and not the princess.
The Leopard and the Crocodile - This, once again, shows that cunning beats brawn and might.
Why The Crocodile Does Not Eat The Hen - This is a creative way to show the link between all creatures, and it was certainly smart of the hen.
The Three Brothers - You never know what someone is capable of until they are nurtured and allowed to become the best they can be.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Oh So Troublesome: Storytelling Week 7
All of the other kids in the neighborhood did not quite know how to act around Anthony. He was either a great friend, or he would stomp around and destroy everything he could. Everyday was a different day with Anthony. He could be happy all of the time or he could be happy and mad or he could be just mad.
After a lot of talking, Anthony's mother begrudgingly agreed to move out of the neighborhood. She didn't want to leave their nice little suburban house, but she really didn't have a choice. She found a nice ranch house just outside of town, where she could still make it to her job, and Anthony would be able to attend a nice public school that was nearby.
The first few months were fine. Then Anthony started bringing home notes from teachers and requests to meet with her person. When she finally agreed to sit down with the teachers, the principal was also there as well.
"We love having Anthony at our school." Started the principal, speaking for the group of faculty assembled as a whole, "But we just fear what he temperament does to the other children. Everyone is scared to play with him, no one wants to work with him on group assignments, and even a few teachers are scared or what he could possibly do."
"So what are you saying?" Asked Anthony's mother, already knowing the answer.
"We would like Anthony to no longer attend our school. While this is not something we wish we would have to say, we are just afraid for the other students, and anyone else who is in the school. We have to look out of the best interests of the general public. We hope you understand."
"I understand. His temper can get a little bit out of control. He is so much like his father in that way." Anthony's mother smiled politely and walked out of the room. From that point on, Anthony and his mother both worked from home on their ranch house. Him being homeschooled by his mom and she, being a online supervisor for her company.
Author's Note: The story I used as inspiration was The Story of Lightning and Thunder. In the story, Thunder is being described as the mother of lightning. Whenever he is mad, lightning goes around destroying things in the village they live in. The king then banishes them to the forest/outskirts of the village they live in. This doesn't help because he still causes damage and destruction in the village. Finally the king banishes thunder and lightning to the sky which is where they have stayed.
(Flickr)
It got to the point where all of the mothers were scared for their children. They went to Anthony's mom and said that the two of them could no longer live in the neighborhood. They were scared of what Anthony could possibly do and they didn't want him to hurt their children. After a lot of talking, Anthony's mother begrudgingly agreed to move out of the neighborhood. She didn't want to leave their nice little suburban house, but she really didn't have a choice. She found a nice ranch house just outside of town, where she could still make it to her job, and Anthony would be able to attend a nice public school that was nearby.
The first few months were fine. Then Anthony started bringing home notes from teachers and requests to meet with her person. When she finally agreed to sit down with the teachers, the principal was also there as well.
"We love having Anthony at our school." Started the principal, speaking for the group of faculty assembled as a whole, "But we just fear what he temperament does to the other children. Everyone is scared to play with him, no one wants to work with him on group assignments, and even a few teachers are scared or what he could possibly do."
"So what are you saying?" Asked Anthony's mother, already knowing the answer.
"We would like Anthony to no longer attend our school. While this is not something we wish we would have to say, we are just afraid for the other students, and anyone else who is in the school. We have to look out of the best interests of the general public. We hope you understand."
"I understand. His temper can get a little bit out of control. He is so much like his father in that way." Anthony's mother smiled politely and walked out of the room. From that point on, Anthony and his mother both worked from home on their ranch house. Him being homeschooled by his mom and she, being a online supervisor for her company.
Author's Note: The story I used as inspiration was The Story of Lightning and Thunder. In the story, Thunder is being described as the mother of lightning. Whenever he is mad, lightning goes around destroying things in the village they live in. The king then banishes them to the forest/outskirts of the village they live in. This doesn't help because he still causes damage and destruction in the village. Finally the king banishes thunder and lightning to the sky which is where they have stayed.
Reading Diary B - Nigerian Folk Stories
For this reading diary, I am finishing reading Nigerian Folk Stories.
The Lightening and the Thunder - I like the idea of making the lighting and the thunder a son and mother duo. It is very fitting for how they got into the sky and how they happen with each other, most of the time.
The Bush Cow and the Elephant - While a very interesting story and one that makes a lot of sense for why wild animals fight in the bush now, it is sad that the elephant and the bush cow had to die slow painful deaths in order to for it to happen.
The Cock Who Caused a Fight Between Two Towns - This was a story that turned violent quickly. If Ama Ukwa was jealous of both brothers, he could have definitely found a different way to become better than the brothers than try to create a fight that ultimately led to his death.
The Affair of the Hippopotamus and the Tortoise - I think that it was sad the hippo did not want to share his feast with the other animals. If you do not want anyone to know your name, or you are two embarrassed by it, you shouldn't have people try and guess it.
Why Dead People Are Buried - This story was short, sweet and straight to the point. I wonder why the part about the dog not being liked was included. I am assuming because in Nigeria dogs are not as much liked as they are here in America.
Of the Fat Woman Who Melted Away - The woman who was made of oil, was basically forced to go into the sun for it melted her away. But her sister was able to save her toe so she could become whole again.
Why The Moon Waxes and Wanes - Why were the people who lived in the town so concerned with the moon? They did all of their work during the day, so what would the difference be if they could not see the moon?
How the Tortoise Overcame and Elephant and the Hippopotamus - This story shows that brains will always overcome brawn.
The King and the 'Nsait Bird - The female 'nsait bird is a very pretty bird and I can see how the king would want to marry her.
Concerning the Hawk and the Owl - It was certainly rather nice of the hawk to return the owlet to its parents and then find another source of food.
The 'Nsasak Bird and the Oududu bird - Once again, this is a story that shows that cunning-ness helps over all other things.
The Election of the King Bird - Sometimes, even if you are much more cunning than the others, you have to let the one with the most brawn and greatest strength be victorious.
The Lightening and the Thunder - I like the idea of making the lighting and the thunder a son and mother duo. It is very fitting for how they got into the sky and how they happen with each other, most of the time.
The Bush Cow and the Elephant - While a very interesting story and one that makes a lot of sense for why wild animals fight in the bush now, it is sad that the elephant and the bush cow had to die slow painful deaths in order to for it to happen.
The Cock Who Caused a Fight Between Two Towns - This was a story that turned violent quickly. If Ama Ukwa was jealous of both brothers, he could have definitely found a different way to become better than the brothers than try to create a fight that ultimately led to his death.
The Affair of the Hippopotamus and the Tortoise - I think that it was sad the hippo did not want to share his feast with the other animals. If you do not want anyone to know your name, or you are two embarrassed by it, you shouldn't have people try and guess it.
Why Dead People Are Buried - This story was short, sweet and straight to the point. I wonder why the part about the dog not being liked was included. I am assuming because in Nigeria dogs are not as much liked as they are here in America.
Of the Fat Woman Who Melted Away - The woman who was made of oil, was basically forced to go into the sun for it melted her away. But her sister was able to save her toe so she could become whole again.
Why The Moon Waxes and Wanes - Why were the people who lived in the town so concerned with the moon? They did all of their work during the day, so what would the difference be if they could not see the moon?
How the Tortoise Overcame and Elephant and the Hippopotamus - This story shows that brains will always overcome brawn.
The King and the 'Nsait Bird - The female 'nsait bird is a very pretty bird and I can see how the king would want to marry her.
Concerning the Hawk and the Owl - It was certainly rather nice of the hawk to return the owlet to its parents and then find another source of food.
The 'Nsasak Bird and the Oududu bird - Once again, this is a story that shows that cunning-ness helps over all other things.
The Election of the King Bird - Sometimes, even if you are much more cunning than the others, you have to let the one with the most brawn and greatest strength be victorious.
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