Week 15 Review

For the week 15 Review, I chose the video with the song Fly to Paradise. No matter what, I am always going to be drawn to music, which is why this is one of my favorite announcements. There is something about music that makes me happy. It doesn't matter what kind of mood I'm in or what I'm feeling that particular minute or day. Plus, there is always so much music out there to listen to. It can make you feel however you want it to.

Fly to Paradise by Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

(Source: YouTube)

This is my first time posting for my Famous Last Words and since this is my last week for this class it actually fits perfectly. However, since it is the last week for this class, there were not any readings for me to read. So instead, I decided to do some reading on my own. I have loved reading for as long as I can remember. It’s important or me to set aside time in my weeks to be able to go somewhere quiet and read one of my books. My favorite books to read for fun are the Harry Potter series. I’ve read the entire series all the way through at least five times. It just never gets old to me.  Every time I read the books I have questions forming in my head and I try to think about different ways the author might have written it. Before this class, I would never have questioned J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter Books

(Source: Wikipedia)

            I’ve said in previous blogs that I do not consider myself a writer and usually have a problem with the words flowing and completing the amount of words needed for the assignment. This class, however, helped get me over the hump of those troubles. I find it easier to write and not second-guess what I’m about to write. Just putting my thoughts on paper immediately definitely helped in the class along with my other classes, especially my final paper for capstone.

            What I enjoyed most about this class was reading other people’s stories. It was incredible to see their creativity and ideas. Seeing their work actually helped me in mine. It made me pay more attention to detail and to give more detail in my own writing. I also found that everyone has their own style and through the weeks, their styles advanced and grew. I even noticed it in my own writing. I wish I could go back and add more but I know I have learned a lot.

Google Timer Tech Tip

This is my first time doing a tech tip for this class and I thought it was great! I had no idea that Google had a timer, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Google has everything!!! I used the Google Timer for my Pomodoro Resource Learning Challenge. It worked like a charm. It was so easy to navigate and to use. Like you said, you just had to type it into Google and there it was. The timer went off and my computer made a noise. I know I will definitely be using this timer in the future, especially, when I don't want to use my phone since I know it will distract me.

Google image

(Source: Wikipedia)

Learning Challenge - Trying the Pomodoro Technique

I decided to try the Pomodoro Technique for my last Learning Challenge. I chose it mainly because I had final assignments due in my other classes and thought it would be the perfect thing. I think I have actually seen one of the tomato timers a long time ago, but I was completely clueless as to its use. So, although I didn't have a tomato timer to use, I used the Google Timer.

Tomato Timer

(Source: Wikipedia)

While doing this strategy on one of my assignments, I realized I was more focused. I was more focused because I knew I was actually on a timer. Plus, I knew I would get a break in 25 minutes. I only took a 3-5 minute break which was really all I needed to begin again. After my break, I actually looked forward to getting back to my work. Using the 25 minutes as a slight teaser to me made me want to get back and actually finish my homework. This strategy is one I know I will be using in the future and tell other people about.

Growth Mindset - You Are Capable

For this assignment, I decided to do a Growth Mindset Challenge. I have only done one of these several weeks ago; however, looking at it now, I wish I had done more earlier on.

Meme inspired by Carol Dweck

(Source: Blogspot)

I think we sometimes put limits on ourselves without realizing it. We truly are capable of so much more than we think possible. The problem is we don't allow ourselves to stretch that imaginary rubber band of possibilities. In the Meme it shows a cat taking a picture of itself. I think this symbolizes how we look at ourselves and how others look at us. I think if we can allow ourselves to look through a different lens and get a glance at our life, then we could better understand that.

I think these challenges are always going to be helpful. The more that we learn about ourselves and what we can do, the better off we will be later on down the road. We don't give ourselves enough credit!

Reading

Throughout the class I was able to read a ton of different stories. My favorite part was being able to read stories that I haven’t read since I was a child. As an adult I read those same stories but with a different outlook. The stories I enjoyed most were the ones related to Disney movies I have watched. I loved being able to compare and contrast the two.

What I found most helpful for the reading diary assignments was to read through all of the stories and then pick my favorites. It worked better for me to figure out the overall plot of the story first and find out the important parts of each. Then I found it helpful to hone in on a particular character and put them center-stage. These things helped when I did the storytelling assignment.

I thought the balance between the three was a little off. I thought there was definitely more writing than reading. However, I thought all of the writing has helped me in my other classes. My writing flows better and it’s easier for me to write on any topic.

My best advice for future students would be to not wait to the last second! I did that almost the entire semester and it’s definitely not smart!

Week 14 Reading Diary continued: Brothers Grimm Crane

Six Swans

By Brothers Grimm, translated by Lucy Crane (1886)

Six Swans illustrated by Walter Crane

(Source: Blogspot)

At the beginning of the story we find the King wandering aimlessly through the forest because he is lost. Out of nowhere this witch appears, agreeing to help the hopeless king, but on one condition. The agreement is that he marry her daughter. When we find the daughter sitting at home awaiting their arrival I instantly thought it was a setup and that somehow the witch caused the king to become lost in the woods. 

My thoughts occur again after the two are married. The king is afraid of how the new queen will respond to his children, so he is forced to hide them away. This shows me how much the king loved his children, the undeniable love of family. He visits them often. The queen does not like that the king keeps disappearing, and eventually follows him and discovers the children. Here we learn that the queen is wicked. At this point, we are still unsure if the witch and her daughter were scheming all along. I think this would be a fun element to write about. 

The queen turns uses her magic to turn the six boys into swans, but misses the young daughter and remains clueless about her identity. This turn of events allows the younger sister to become the major role in the story, but setting out to find her brothers. She's the lone ranger.